Man at the Top (1973)

Director:

Mike Vardy

Writers:

John Junkin (writer)
Hugh Whitemore (writer)

Release Date:

1973 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Kenneth Haigh	...	Joe Lampton
Nanette Newman	...	Lady Alex Ackerman
Harry Andrews	...	Lord Ackerman
William Lucas	...	Marshall
Clive Swift	...	Massey
Paul Williamson	...	Tarrant
John Collin	...	Wisbech
John Quentin	...	Digby
Danny Sewell	...	Weston
Charlie Williams	...	George Harvey
Anne Cunningham	...	Mrs. Harvey
Angela Bruce	...	Joyce
Margaret Heald	...	Eileen
Norma West	...	Sarah Tarrant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nell Brennan	...	Waitress
Tim Brinton	...	Newsreader
John Conteh	...	Black Boxer
Mary Maude	...	Robin Ackerman
Patrick McCann	...	White Boxer
Verne Morgan	...	Records Clerk
Jaron Valton	...	Taranath

Runtime:

Netherlands:92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:12 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film and TV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Anglo-EMI

Early 70s cult movie which just fails to make the top grade

I recently purchased a VHS of the 1973 movie 'Man at the Top' and I see that there are no reviews yet so here is my offering.

In this film Kenneth Haigh reprises the role of Joe Lampton which he made famous a few years earlier in the TV series with the same title. I have not seen those TV programs so can't make any comparison between the film and TV versions. Joe is a gritty and straight-talking Northerner (in UK) who had travelled down to London to make a success of himself in business. In this movie he is selected for a top position within an international pharmaceuticals company headed by Lord Ackerman (played by Harry Andrews) after the previous occupant of that position mysteriously committed suicide in a London park. As the story progresses Joe becomes increasingly angry at the corruption and double-dealing he finds within the company and resolves to find out why his predecessor killed himself. Along the way the now-divorced Joe finds time for an affair with the Lord's wife Alex (played by the lovely Nanette Newman). No spoilers here so I won't reveal any more of the plot. Suffice to say that there are some cameo roles played by the boxer John Conteh and the comedian Charlie Williams. There is also of course some nudity though sadly that of Ms Newman is provided by a body-double!

This was considered quite a cult film when it was released. And it is indeed a good movie, well worth watching if you can obtain a copy (as it is now pretty rare). But for me it just fails to capture the atmosphere of the early 70s in the same way that (for example) 'Shaft' did (in US) or 'Get Carter' did (in UK). Both of these films were released around the same time as this movie. So to that extent it failed to rock my boat. But others must make their own minds up and may draw a different conclusion.