Life at the Top (1965)

Joe Lampton thought he had really made it by marrying the boss's daughter in his northern mill town. But he finds he is being sidelined at work and his private life manipulated by his ... See full summary »

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writers:

John Braine (novel), Mordecai Richler

Stars:

Laurence Harvey, Jean Simmons, Honor Blackman

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laurence Harvey	...	Joe Lampton
Jean Simmons	...	Susan Lampton
Honor Blackman	...	Norah Hauxley
Michael Craig	...	Mark
Donald Wolfit	...	Abe Brown
Robert Morley	...	Tiffield
Margaret Johnston	...	Sybil
Ambrosine Phillpotts	...	Mrs. Margaret Brown
Allan Cuthbertson	...	George Aisgill
Paul A. Martin	...	Harry Lampton
Frances Cosslett	...	Barbara Lampton
Ian Shand	...	Ralph Hethersett
George A. Cooper	...	Graffham
Nigel Davenport	...	Mottram
Andrew Laurence	...	McLelland

Storyline

Joe Lampton thought he had really made it by marrying the boss's daughter in his northern mill town. But he finds he is being sidelined at work and his private life manipulated by his father-in-law. Even so, he ignores an offer of a job in London and keeps away from attractive TV presenter Norah. When he finds his wife is having an affair, he reconsiders on both counts. But can he make it on his own ability down south?

---

Plot Keywords:

human relationship | sequel | business | adultery | based on novel | 

---

Taglines:

From the author of "Room At The Top"

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 1966 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Ein Platz ganz oben

Filming Locations:

Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Romulus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jean Simmons replaced Heather Sears who had played the role of Susan Brown in the previous film Room at the Top.

---

Connections

Follows Room at the Top (1959)

User Reviews

Beware of what you wish for

"Life at the Top" from 1965 is touted as a sequel to "Room at the Top," which it is, but you could watch this without having seen "Room" without much problem.

Joe Lampton (Laurence Harvey) has had his dreams fulfilled - he's married to the boss' daughter (Jean Simmons), he's working for his father-in-law in a high position, and he's managed to squash his lower-class upbringing. However, he's miserable. He's bored out of his mind and angry with his wife, who keeps getting her father to pay for things. When he meets a pretty TV correspondent (Honor Blackman) he perks up.

This is a good movie with an excellent performance by Laurence Harvey, who really picks up where he left off with Joe Lampton, angry, ambitious, resentful, and womanizing. Jean Simmons is in the Heather Sears role, and she's wonderful - beautiful, sensual, and determined to keep her husband despite her own failings. I've always thought Simmons was highly underrated as she was always in competition with Audrey Hepburn and other bigger stars of the day for roles. She is glorious in her British films that she made when she was very young, and of course, Elmer Gantry and Angel Face, to name only two.

Worth seeing, and it answers the question, will Joe Lampton ever find happiness?