The L-Shaped Room (1962)

A single, pregnant woman moves into a London boarding house where she meets a group of fellow misfits.

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Lynne Reid Banks (based on an original novel by), Bryan Forbes (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Leslie Caron, Anthony Booth, Avis Bunnage

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leslie Caron	...	Jane
Anthony Booth	...	Youth in Street
Avis Bunnage	...	Doris
Patricia Phoenix	...	Sonia
Verity Edmett	...	Jane II
Tom Bell	...	Toby
Cicely Courtneidge	...	Mavis
Harry Locke	...	Newsagent
Ellen Dryden	...	Girl in Newsagent's
Emlyn Williams	...	Dr. Weaver
Jennifer White	...	Monica
Brock Peters	...	Johnny
Gerry Duggan	...	Bert
Joan Ingram	...	Woman in Park
Mark Eden	...	Terry

Storyline

Jane, a young French woman, pregnant and unmarried, takes a room in a seedy London boarding house, which is inhabited by an assortment of misfits. She considers getting an abortion, but is unhappy with this solution. She falls into a relationship with Toby, a struggling young writer who lives on the first floor. Eventually she comes to like her odd room, and makes friends with all the strange people in the house. But she still faces two problems: what to do with her baby, and what to do with Toby.

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Plot Keywords:

unplanned pregnancy | gay black man | homosexual subtext | west indian | trumpet | 

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Taglines:

"Sex is not a forbidden word!"

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 1962 (UK)

Also Known As:

El cuarto indiscreto

Filming Locations:

4 St Luke's Road, Notting Hill, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Davis-Royal, Romulus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Smiths open their album "The Queen Is Dead" with the scene of the character Mavis leading a chorus of "Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty".

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Goofs

Toby and Jane wait to cross a road as marchers go by. Toby is smoking a fresh cigarette. When they cross, his cigarette is gone and his hand is in his pocket.

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Quotes

Jane Fosset: Oh, you English are so funny about smells. You hate garlic, you're frightened of perfume unless it's very cheap and very nasty, but you *love* the smell of fish and chips. First time I went out for a walk with an Englishman, he took us two miles out of our way so I could smell a fish and chips shop.
Toby: Oh, well, you see it's a very powerful aphrodisiac for an Englishman. Before the war, most children were conceived on Friday nights.

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Connections

Referenced in Scott Walker: 30 Century Man (2006)

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Soundtracks

Mountain Desperadoes
(uncredited)
Music by Paul Sawtell

User Reviews

Long-lasting impressions

I first saw this movie when I was eleven years old, and have never been able to get it out of my mind. I'm glad to see that it hasn't been completely forgotten. I've just ordered the DVD, and I'm anxious to see if it is as poignant to me at fifty-four as it was when I was eleven. There are only one or two scenes that I can actually vividly remember, but I'd say that's pretty impressive after forty-three years! I do remember how I felt when I left the movie-house... life is not easy, some decisions are forever, the way can be rife with disappointments, but if you are honest and open with yourself and others, there will be a firm foundation of strength in your relationships that can support you through anything.