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Room At The Top | Actors/Actresses: - Laurence Harvey - Simone Signoret "Be careful what you ask for...." Throughout the 1950s, a group of young British writers were referred to as "angry young men" because, in their novels and plays, they excoriated what they perceived to be the dominant materialistic values of their society following World War Two. They included playwrights John Osborne and Kingsley Amis and novelists John Braine, John Wain, and Alan Silitoe. This film is based on Braine's novel Room at the Top; Neil Patterson received an Academy Away for best adapted screenplay. Joe Lampton (Laurence Harvey) is the focal point. Driven by smoldering ambition to overcome his modest circumstances and deeply resentful of the wealthiest man in a North Country village (Brown, played by Donald Wolfit), he finally obtains a position in Brown's company and begins his difficult journey to "the top" while including marriage to Brown's daughter Susan (Heather Sears) among his ultimate objectives. Along the way, he meets an older but still attractive Frenchwoman, Alice Aisgill (Simone Signoret) with whom he has an affair. For Joe, it is a mere dalliance along his career path; she, however, falls in love with him. Beyond the passionate sex which she enjoys as much as he does, Alice also helps Joe to refine his social graces and increase his understanding and appreciation of the cultural arts. (Signoret received an Academy Award as best actress for her performance in this film.) Joe seems grateful for her contributions to his self-improvement but really has no long-term interest in her. He remains obsessed with reaching "the top" with wife Susan at his side, possessing great wealth, power, and prestige. And then he learns from Susan that.... Alice is the most sympathetic character in the film, largely because Joe exploits her so callously. As for Brown, "what you see is what you get": a class-conscious, hard-driving, no-nonsense capitalist. Unlike Joe, no need for dissembling. Brown is at "the top" and (by God) he intends to remain there. Susan is of great importance to Joe (and to her father, of course) but is of little importance to the film's story line except as one of the ambitious goals which motivate Joe. He really cares little for her as a person, one way or the other. Were she in his own social class, Joe would probably have little to do with her...except, perhaps, for occasional sexual gratification (for himself). At least Alice offered more than sex...she offered unconditional love. Only at the end of the film does Joe begin to realize what he has gained by reaching "the top" and at what a cost. Both in the novel and in this film, Joe symbolizes just about everything which enraged Braine and other British writers. Years later, in a brief excerpt from "The Paradox of Our Time," George Carlin observes that "We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years." He could well be de MADAME SIGNORET IS BACK English director Jack Clayton is well known for his 1961 adaptation of Henry James 's The Turn of the Screw, baptized THE INNOCENTS, with Deborah Kerr. Two years before, he had directed A ROOM AT THE TOP, a movie which received numerous international awards. Forty years later, this movie hits the DVD market hoping for a second career. Does it worth it ? Without doubt, YES ! Shot in black Too bad that the DVD is not at the level of the movie. A DVD for your library. A Great Film Simone Signoret will break your heart! She deservedly won an Oscar for one of the all time great performances ever given by any actress. She is simply devastating. Matched all the way by Laurence Harvey, alternately cruel and callous and then warm and tender. Their scenes together ring true and are timeless depictions of deep emotional and sexual intimacy. The other themes of the film, class distinctions etc. are still valid...but it will be Simone, touching the heart of this callow young man and making him better for it, feeling their age difference yet unable to stop herself from loving and hoping for happiness against her own experience, that will haunt you. A shattering film masterpiece. Buy Room At The Top at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Room At The Top Search with the Priority Search Engine on Room At The Top This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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