Room at the Top (film)

Infobox Film
name = Room at the Top

|image_size= 175px
caption = Film poster
director = Jack Clayton
producer = James Woolf
John Woolf
writer = Neil Paterson
Mordecai Richler (uncredited)
starring = Simone Signoret
Laurence Harvey
Heather Sears
Donald Wolfit
music = Mario Nascimbene
cinematography = Freddie Francis
editing = Ralph Kemplen
distributor = British Lion Films
released = flagicon|UK 1959
flagicon|USA March 30, 1959 (NYC only)
runtime = 115 min.
country = U.K.
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
imdb_id = 0053226

"Room at the Top" is a 1959 British film based on the 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 and produced by James Woolf and John Woolf.

The film stars Simone Signoret, Laurence Harvey, Heather Sears, Donald Wolfit, Donald Houston and Hermione Baddeley. In smaller roles were Allan Cuthbertson, Raymond Huntley, John Westbrook, Richard Pasco and Ambrosine Phillpotts. There are also early cameos by Prunella Scales, Wendy Craig, Derek Benfield, Miriam Karlin, Derren Nesbitt and Ian Hendry. Wilfrid Lawson makes an uncredited appearance as Harvey's uncle.

Plot

The film is set in Yorkshire in the early 1950s.

It tells the story of a Joe Lampton (Laurence Harvey), an ambitious young man who has just moved from the dreary English factory town of Dufton and arrives in Warnley to take up a secure but poorly paid post in the Borough Treasurer's Department. Determined to succeed and ignoring the warnings of a colleague, Soames (Donald Houston), he is drawn to Susan Brown (Heather Sears), daughter of the local industrial magnate, Mr. Brown (Donald Wolfit). Brown deals with the situation by sending Susan abroad, and Joe turns for solace to an older, unhappily married woman, Alice Aisgill (Simone Signoret), who falls in love with him. Susan returns from her holiday shortly after the lovers have quarrelled and is seduced by Joe, who then goes back to Alice. Brown discovers that his daughter is pregnant, and having failed to buy Joe off, he forces him to agree to give up Alice and marry Susan. Deserted and heartbroken, Alice launches on a drinking bout that culminates in her death in a car accident. Joe disappears, and after being beaten unconscious by a gang of toughs for making a drunken pass at a girl, he is rescued by Soames in time for his wedding.

Adaptation

There are some differences. His friend Charles, whom he meets at Warnley in the film, is a friend from his hometown Dufton in the novel. Warnley is called Warley James in the novel. More emphasis is paid to his lodging at Mrs Thompson's, which in the novel he has arranged beforehand and not, as in the film, his friend Charles arranges for him.

Background and production

"Room at the Top" is considered the first of the British New Wave of realistic and gritty film dramas. It was filmed at Shepperton Studios in London, with extensive location work in Halifax, Yorkshire, which stood in for the fictional towns of Warnley and Dufton.

Vivien Leigh was originally offered the part of Alice, which eventually went to Simone Signoret.

Responses

The film's relatively strong sexual content ensured it an "X" certificate, but it was saved from failure when Associated British Cinemas agreed to distribute it, making it a surprising commercial success. The film was critically acclaimed and marked the beginning of Jack Clayton's career as an important director.

"Room at the Top" was followed by a sequel in 1965 called "Life at the Top".

Cast

* Laurence Harvey - Joe Lampton
* Simone Signoret - Alice Aisgill
* Heather Sears - Susan Brown
* Donald Wolfit - Mr. Brown
* Donald Houston - Charlie Soames
* Ambrosine Phillpotts - Mrs. Brown
* Hermione Baddeley - Elspeth
* Raymond Huntley - Mr. Hoylake
* John Westbrook - Jack Wales
* Allan Cuthbertson - George Aisgill
* Mary Peach - June Samson
* Thelma Ruby - Miss Breith
* Anne Leon - Janet
* Wendy Craig - Joan

* Avril Elgar - Miss Gilchrist
* Beatrice Varley - Aunt
* Miriam Karlin - Gertrude
* Richard Pasco - Teddy
* April Olrich - Mavis
* Everley Gregg - Mayoress
* Basil Dignam - Priest
* Jack Hedley
* Ian Hendry - Cyril
* Richard Caldicot
* John Welsh - Mayor
* Prunella Scales
* Wilfrid Lawson - Uncle Nat
* Derren Nesbitt

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

Wins
* Best Actress in a Leading Role (Simone Signoret)
* Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. Nominations
* Best Picture
* Best Actor in a Leading Role, (Laurence Harvey)
* Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Hermione Baddeley)
* Best Director (Jack Clayton)

Signoret's Oscar win as Best Actress was the first time that a French cinema actress had won that award.

BAFTA Awards

Wins
* Best British Film
* Best Film from any Source
* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Simone Signoret)Nominations
* Best British Actor (Laurence Harvey)
* Best British Actor (Donald Wolfit)
* Best British Actress (Hermione Baddeley)
* Most Promising Newcomer (Mary Peach)

Golden Globe Awards

Win
* Samuel Goldwyn AwardNomination
* Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama (Simone Signoret)

Cannes Film Festival

Win
* Best Actress (Simone Signoret)Nomination
* Golden Palm (Jack Clayton)