7.7/10
4,248
46 user 18 critic

Room at the Top (1959)

| Drama, Romance | 22 January 1959 (UK)
Room at the Top Poster
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An ambitious young accountant plots to wed a wealthy factory owner's daughter, despite falling in love with a married older woman.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (adapted from the novel by)

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
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Won 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 15 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Alice Aisgill
... Joe Lampton
... Susan Brown
... Mr. Brown
... Charles Soames
... Elspeth
... George Aisgill
... Mr. Hoylake
John Westbrook ... Jack Wales
... Mrs. Brown
Richard Pasco ... Teddy
Beatrice Varley ... Aunt
Delena Kidd ... Eva
... Cyril
April Olrich ... Mavis
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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. Written by Dale O'Connor <daleoc@interaccess,com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

angry young man | accountant | british new wave | dominatrix | unwed pregnancy | See All (42) »

Taglines:

It never happened on the screen quite this way before... See more »

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

22 January 1959 (UK)  »

Also Known As:

Der Weg nach oben  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

£280,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,400,000, 31 December 1959
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Initially no British cinema chains wanted to touch the film, as the British Board of Film Classification had given it an X certificate, then usually synonymous with exploitation fare. Eventually the ABC chain took a chance and picked it up for distribution, scoring a huge critical and commercial hit in the process. See more »

Goofs

The story takes place in 1947, but all the women's fashions and hairstyles are strictly in the contemporary 1958 mode, when the film went before the cameras. See more »

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.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Mémoires pour Simone (1986) See more »

Soundtracks

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

Q: Midwest Premiere Happened When and Where?
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User Reviews

 
Talky but fascinating, depressing
9 January 2001 | by – See all my reviews

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.
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