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Room at the Top Photos

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Movie Info

An ambitious young man from a poor family, gets a job in a mill town in Northern England. He woos the daughter of the richest man in town, but he also falls in love with a married woman with whom he has an intense affair. The married woman commits suicide and he finds himself married to a woman who loves him but whom he does not love.

Genre:

drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Jack Clayton
Producer:

James Woolf, John Woolf
Writer:

Neil Paterson
Release Date (Streaming):

Feb 10, 2020
Runtime:

1h 58m
Production Co:

Remus
Sound Mix:

Mono
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.66:1)

Cast & Crew

Laurence Harvey
Joe Lampton

Simone Signoret
Alice Aisgill

Heather Sears
Susan Brown

Hermione Baddeley
Elspeth

Donald Wolfit
Mr. Brown

Ambrosine Philpotts
Mrs. Brown

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Room at the Top

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (21)

One of the bleakest movies I know, Room at the Top also ranks among the sultriest: a wildfire smoldering in a desolate landscape. Director Jack Clayton deftly showcases the lust-drunk faces and entangled bodies of protagonists Joe and Alice.

November 13, 2020 | Full Review…

Melissa Anderson
4Columns
An adult, human picture.

March 26, 2009 | Full Review…

Variety
Basically cheerless and somber, but it has a strikingly effective view.

May 20, 2003 | Full Review…

A.H. Weiler
New York Times
Classic portrayal of ruthless ambition has sex and violence.

March 12, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Kat Halstead
Common Sense Media
A masterful film in all aspects, full of strength. [Full Review in Spanish]

February 14, 2020 | Full Review…

Alberto Abuín
Espinof
Complicated characters, a searing indictment of upper-crust snobbery, and a startling sexual frankness for its time (an X rating in the UK, banned in several cities in the US) all contribute to this movie's potency.

January 25, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Room at the Top, a British production banned in Saskatchewan, treated sex and several other universal human relationships with a power and honesty far removed from the sleazy hypocrisy of the gimmick-shows.

October 7, 2019 | Full Review…

Clyde Gilmour
Maclean's Magazine
Harvey impresses, but it's Signoret, giving one of her career best performances, who shines.

May 14, 2019 | Full Review…

Rob Aldam
Backseat Mafia
Francis and Clayton swing and glide their furtive camera through exquisitely blocked scenes in which characters are handsomely planted across multiple planes like a topiary.

March 9, 2019 | Full Review…

Patrick Dahl
Screen Slate
Room at the Top... signals a bold and personal directional talent in Jack Clayton as well as a rare departure in British film-making.

February 8, 2018 | Full Review…

MFB Critics
Monthly Film Bulletin
One of the most important films in the history of British cinema.

October 15, 2010 | Rating: 5/5

Phil Hall
Film Threat
Time has rained on its parade and it seems less daring when viewed today.

September 7, 2008 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (21)

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