Room at the top is a 1959 british film based on the 1957 novel of the same name by john braine the novel was adapted by neil paterson with uncredited work by mordecai richler it was directed by jack clayton in his feature length directorial debut and produced by john and james woolf the film stars laurence harvey simone signoret heather sears donald wolfit donald houston and hermione baddeley.
Room at the top film review.
Room s power to touch audiences as it clearly did when it won the people s choice award at this year s toronto international film festival lies in the film s delicately rendered and highly relatable core relationship.
It is one of the most important films in the history of british cinema and mercifully it is still one of the most remarkable dramatic productions of all time.
Simone signoret won an oscar for playing alice aisquill in room at the top.
Directed by ted kotcheff.
John braine 1922 1986 was a librarian in bingley yorkshire when his novel was published.
In room at the top working class accountant joe lampton laurence harvey moves to the northern english town of warnley to take on a new job and build a new life his ruthless ambition to rise in class and social status leads him to target a local millionaire s young daughter susan heather sears while aggressively attempting to woo her he has an affair with a married french woman alice.
It s gritty and fun to watch unfold.
But he finds he is being sidelined at work and his private life manipulated by his father in law.
Joe lampton arrives in the thriving yorkshire town of warnley and sets out to elevate his social status by seducing wealthy industrialist s daughter susan brown.
It s why this small of budget yet large of heart drama is being pegged as a deserved awards season contender.
Room at the top remains a highly satisfying and beautifully conceived study of the human experience.
With laurence harvey jean simmons honor blackman michael craig.
Room at the top is a title that has become iconic the 1957 novel and this 1959 film both making a significant impact in british culture at the time.
Audience reviews for room at the top.