Room at the Top

Critics Consensus

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100%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 14

82%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,165
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Movie Info

Ruthless young working-class Englishman Laurence Harvey takes a job in a North Country village controlled by millionaire Donald Wolfit. Harvey resents Wolfit's class consciousness and vows to rise to the top by wooing the millionaire's daughter, Heather Sears. Meanwhile he has an affair with Frenchwoman Simone Signoret. Though he regards Signoret as a mere self-gratifying conquest, she takes their romance seriously enough to kill herself when Harvey impregnates Field. Only as he leaves the chapel after marrying the millionaire's daughter does Harvey that his "smart" marriage, coupled with the guarantee of a fabulous business career, has been attained at the cost of his soul. Based on the novel by John Braine, Room at the Top was one of the most successful films of the British angry-young-man school; it later spawned two sequels, as well as a weekly TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Cast

Laurence Harvey
as Joe Lampton
Simone Signoret
as Alice Aisgill
Heather Sears
as Susan Brown
Donald Wolfit
as Mr. Brown
Donald Houston
as Charlie Soames
Ambrosine Phillpotts
as Mrs. Brown
Hermione Baddeley
as Elspeth
Raymond Huntley
as Mr. Hoylake
John Westbrook
as Jack Wales
Allan Cuthbertson
as George Aisgill
Mary Peach
as June Samson
Thelma Ruby
as Miss Breith
Anne Leon
as Janet
Wendy Craig
as Joan
Avril Elgar
as Miss Gilchrist
Beatrice Varley
as Aunt
Miriam Karlin
as Gertrude
Richard Pasco
as Teddy
April Olrich
as Mavis
Everley Gregg
as Mayoress
Basil Dignam
as Priest
Paul Whitsun-Jones
as Man at Bar
Yvonne Buckingham
as Girl at Window
Doreen Dawn
as High-stepping Girl
Michael Atkinson
Derek Benfield
Richard Caldicot
Isla Cameron
Anthony Elgar
May Hallatt
Jack Hedley
Ian Hendry
as Cyril
Ruth Kettlewell
as Thespians member
Delena Kidd
as Eva
Wilfrid Lawson
as Uncle Nat
Harry Moore
Derren Nesbitt
Anthony Newlands
Bob Palmer
Sheila Raynor
Prunella Scales
Julian Somers
John Welsh
as Mayor
Brian Worth
Ann Gunning
Katherine Page
Kenneth Waller
Edward Palmer
Stephen Jack
as Darnley
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Critic Reviews for Room at the Top

All Critics (14)

View All Critic Reviews (14)

Audience Reviews for Room at the Top

  • Mar 03, 2014
    One of the earliest British films that I have seen and also one of the most rewarding to watch. It's gritty and fun to watch unfold.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Jan 08, 2012
    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 acting 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).
    Eric B Super Reviewer
  • Mar 28, 2009
    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 they own. Incredibly brave and provoking character study.
    Pierluigi P Super Reviewer
  • Aug 28, 2008
    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.
    jay n Super Reviewer
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