Room at the Top (1959)

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  April 28, 2012

  pier007

  A man who doesn't define himself is trapped, attached by the forceful and heavy chains of what society decides is best for him. If he conceals or denies his true self, the rest of the world will be oblivious, knowing he is nothing more than just another puppet among the million t... read morehey own. Incredibly brave and provoking character study.

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  June 10, 2010

  jjnxn

  Beautiful performance by Simone Signoret, completely deserving of the Oscar awarded, and perhaps a career best one from Laurence Harvey in this fine examination of naked ambition, wrong choices and the price paid for them.

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  March 25, 2012

  fb1142797643

  A powerful, influential movie. The launch point of the British New Wave, "Room at the Top" is more conventionally made than many of the '60s "kitchen sink" films that followed in its wake, yet its emotional punch is as hard as any works of its genre. A great script, and great act... read moreing from top to bottom. Laurence Harvey is iconic as the cold, ruthless, ladder-climbing Joe Lampton, and Simone Signoret's performance as his mistreated lover won the Best Actress Oscar (though her secondary part isn't as central as typical roles that win the award).

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  April 27, 2009

  hypathio7

  There are not very many Oscar winning movies that I thought were awful. I think that just about any movie that has been nominated for or won an Oscar is a step above. My average ratings are fairly high because I have seen a lot more good movies than bad. But I just didn't unde... read morerstand this one. Maybe I got a bad video transfer that was making it hard to even hear the dialog or maybe this is simply too dated. I'm going to use the same review for this and Women in Love because I don't know what else to say about it.

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  March 7, 2012

  fb611440691

  Joe is a bit of a bastard. Clearly ambitious from the get go. He's already made steps beyond his British working class into city office job. But he wants more. He sees a future where he "owns the lot". This is among the first of the British New Wave films and other than "A Hard D... read moreay's Night", it's the only one I've seen. Like the French New Wave that was occurring simultaneously, the effect of WWII led filmmakers to make a more realistic style of film. So back to Joe. Like I said, working class. He fought for the freedom of his country like everyone else. Lost his family and his home. So his attitude is a sense of entitlement against the aristocratic people he mixes with.
  
  He sets his sights on the pretty girl getting in the expensive car. His lust extends not as much to her as a being, but as an antique possession. Best of all, she's the millionaire's daughter. But he plants the seeds that impressionable young girls grow to elms. He becomes the pariah of her parents which even he acknowledges as a breakthrough. While he bides his time, he takes time with an unhappily married French actress 10-years his senior. His conflict is ultimately the audience's. Is his time with the Mrs. his true nature, or is he selfishly maneuvering to the next ladder rung?
  
  The performance of the Frenchy, Simone Signoret was the highlight and she indeed took the Oscar home. She's dark and tragic, even in her optimism. That's true of the film altogether. While this New Wave "Angry Young Man" scene had principle, it also focused on the failures of these British men and class system that they fought through. This is a great example of that sociology and the struggle is felt to the very last scene. "Darling, you're crying."

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  January 1, 2008

  flixsterbum

  Great drama about the complications of love, sex, and class in Britain. Laurence Harvey has the rakish, smoldering confidence of a young William Holden, and Simone Signoret, who resembles Gena Rowlands, is at once both confident and vulnerable. While Harvey's character Joe make... read mores quite a few questionable moves to better himself, because all the upper crust he's trying to join are such self-righteous, pompous, sneering prigs, you still root for him. He's the lesser of two evils, though what that costs him is the heart of the story. Intelligent drama for adults, could very well have been made yesterday with its modern look at adult relationships.

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• Laurence Harvey as Joe Lampton
• Simone Signoret as Alice Aisgill
• Heather Sears as Susan Brown
• Donald Wolfit as Mr. Brown
• Ambrosine Phillpotts as Mrs. Brown
• Donald Houston as Charlie Soames
• Hermione Baddeley as Elspeth
• Raymond Huntley as Mr. Hoylake
• John Westbrook as Jack Wales

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• In order to get the raspy voice of a man who is supposed to be over 120 years old, Dustin Hoffman sat in his dressing room and screamed at the top of his lungs for an hour.   Answer »

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