Room at the Top (1959)

An ambitious young accountant plots to wed a wealthy factory owner's daughter, despite falling in love with a married older woman.

Director:

Jack Clayton

Writers:

Neil Paterson (screenplay), John Braine (adapted from the novel by)

Stars:

Laurence Harvey, Simone Signoret, Heather Sears

Won 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simone Signoret	...	Alice Aisgill
Laurence Harvey	...	Joe Lampton
Heather Sears	...	Susan Brown
Donald Wolfit	...	Mr. Brown
Donald Houston	...	Charles Soames
Hermione Baddeley	...	Elspeth
Allan Cuthbertson	...	George Aisgill
Raymond Huntley	...	Mr. Hoylake
John Westbrook	...	Jack Wales
Ambrosine Phillpotts	...	Mrs. Brown
Richard Pasco	...	Teddy
Beatrice Varley	...	Aunt
Delena Kidd	...	Eva
Ian Hendry	...	Cyril
April Olrich	...	Mavis

Storyline

The English factory town is dreary but Joe Lampton has landed a job with a future. To have something to do at night he joins a theatrical group. His boss's daughter Susan is playing ingenue roles on stage and in real life. She is attracted to Joe and Joe thinks about how much faster he will get ahead if he is the boss's son-in-law. This plan is complicated by his strong desire to be with an older woman who also belongs to the theatrical group. She is French and unhappily married. Joe believes he can get away with seeing both women.

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Plot Keywords:

angry young man | accountant | british new wave | dominatrix | unwed pregnancy | 

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Taglines:

A Savage Story of lust and ambition

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1959 (UK)

Also Known As:

Der Weg nach oben

Filming Locations:

Halifax Railway Station, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£280,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,400,000, 31 December 1959

Company Credits

Production Co:

Romulus Films, Remus

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was essentially the first British film to openly depict adultery and suggest that sex was an enjoyable act. Naturally, this landed it in hot water with the censors, who initially refused to give it a release certificate. It eventually acquired an "X" certificate and went on to become a major box-office success, opening the floodgates for more adult fare.

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Goofs

When Joe drives past the Browns' house for the first time, the cars parked in front are obviously cardboard cutouts.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Susan Brown: Joe, wasn't it absolutely the most wonderful wedding? Now we really belong to each other, till death us do part. Darling, you're crying! I believe you really are sentimental after all.

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Connections

References A Place in the Sun (1951)

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Soundtracks

Roses from the South
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauss
Arranged by Lambert Williamson

User Reviews

Talky but fascinating, depressing

Joe Lampton (Laurence Harvey) is a young English man who wants to get ahead in life--quickly. He falls in love with a married, older (by 10 years) French woman named Alice (Simeone Signoret), but realizes he can only get ahead by marring the boss' daughter Susan (Heather Sears). What can he do? This was considered very strong stuff in its day. There is swearing, frank sex talk, pre-marital sex and adultery. The film is a bit slow, but is almost always interesting. The direction is assured and some of the shots are fascinating (Freddie Francis was the director of photography--no shock here--he was always great). The acting is simply great, especially Signoret (who is heartbreaking) and Harvey. Harvey is handsome, sexual, evil, romantic...all rolled into one. He's just incredible. Worth seeing, but be warned...it is depressing.