{"id":77452,"date":"2021-10-19T12:43:11","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T19:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77452"},"modified":"2021-10-19T12:43:11","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T19:43:11","slug":"room-at-the-top-1959","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77452","title":{"rendered":"Room at the Top (1959)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Don&#8217;t hurt her, Joe; don&#8217;t ever hurt her.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Poster-202x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-77458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Poster-202x300.png 202w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Poster-691x1024.png 691w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Poster-86x128.png 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Poster-182x270.png 182w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Poster.png 739w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA socially aspiring young man (Laurence Harvey) from a lower-class town arrives at his new job eager to woo the pretty daughter (Heather Sears) of his boss (Donald Wolfit), whose wife (Ambrosine Phillpotts) is dead-set against her daughter dating anyone outside of her social sphere. Meanwhile, Joe (Harvey) begins a romance with an older woman (Simone Signoret) whose philandering husband (Allan Cuthbertson) keeps her locked in a loveless marriage &#8212; but will Joe&#8217;s desire for wealth and status outweigh his love for Alice (Signoret)?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Class Relations<\/li>\n<li>Jack Clayton Films<\/li>\n<li>Laurence Harvey Films<\/li>\n<li>May-December Romance<\/li>\n<li>Simone Signoret Films<\/li>\n<li>Social Climbers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nJack Clayton&#8217;s feature debut was this adaptation of <a href=\"http:\/\/Allan Cuthbertson\">John Braine&#8217;s<\/a> novel about &#8212; as Peary writes in his <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em> &#8212; &#8220;an unhappily married middle-aged woman who has an affair with an angry young social climber.&#8221; Indeed this &#8220;depressing&#8221; movie tackles challenging situations and characters head-on, introducing us right away to a head-turning young man who doesn&#8217;t hesitate to directly outline his aspirational goals to his friendly new co-worker (Donald Houston): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out-1024x621.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"388\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out-1024x621.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out-128x78.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out-768x466.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out-1536x932.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out-445x270.png 445w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Looking-Out.png 1587w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>While Peary doesn&#8217;t review <em>Room at the Top<\/em> in his <em>GFTFF<\/em>, he briefly discusses Signoret&#8217;s Oscar-winning performance in <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, where he points out that &#8220;Signoret, a French actress in a British film, became the first actress in a non-American film to win the Best Actress Oscar.&#8221; He adds: &#8220;As had been the case in her European films, Signoret was impeccable, giving one of her typically strong, moving, honest portrayals. Significantly, American viewers were taken with a rare movie female who is forty and slightly overweight yet is extremely sensual&#8230; &#8221; He asserts that while &#8220;Signoret&#8217;s part wasn&#8217;t really substantial&#8221; (I disagree), she &#8220;was impressive enough to have warranted the Best Actress Oscar&#8230; had it not been for Marilyn Monroe in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=28643\"><em>Some Like it Hot<\/em><\/a>&#8221; (who he gives the award to instead).  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3-1024x598.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"374\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3-1024x598.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3-128x75.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3-768x449.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3-1536x897.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3-462x270.png 462w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret3.png 1573w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m in agreement with Peary&#8217;s assessment of Signoret&#8217;s compelling performance, which is both heart-breaking and nuanced. This former war-bride (who surely only ended up with Cuthbertson due to lack of other options) is in an undeniable pickle, and we understand her despair when things don&#8217;t work out with Harvey as hoped. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Harvey&#8217;s character gradually shows more depth as well: while we despise his naked ambitions, we come to realize that he does feel things deeply, and has a conscience lurking just beneath the surface of his calculating demeanor. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5-1024x606.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"379\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5-1024x606.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5-1536x909.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5-456x270.png 456w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey5.png 1563w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This film doesn&#8217;t present any easy solutions to the dilemmas it poses, but its honest portrayal of class relations and thwarted romance make it well worth a one-time look (even if it may be too depressing for repeat visits). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Simone Signoret as Alice<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2-1024x608.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"380\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2-1024x608.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2-768x456.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2-1536x912.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2-455x270.png 455w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Signoret2.png 1561w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Laurence Harvey as Joe Lampton<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey-1024x612.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"383\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey-1024x612.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey-768x459.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey-1536x918.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey-452x270.png 452w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Harvey.png 1555w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine supporting performances<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears-1024x609.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"381\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears-1024x609.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears-768x457.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears-1536x914.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears-454x270.png 454w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Sears.png 1561w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Freddie Francis&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2-1024x608.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"380\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2-1024x608.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2-768x456.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2-1536x913.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2-454x270.png 454w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Cinematography2.png 1577w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain-1024x607.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"379\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain-1024x607.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain-1536x911.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain-455x270.png 455w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Rain.png 1563w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still-1024x605.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"378\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still-1024x605.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still-768x454.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still-1536x908.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still-457x270.png 457w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Room-at-the-Top-Still.png 1572w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a powerful if sobering classic. Listed as a film with Historical Importance and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Noteworthy Performance(s)<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0053226\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/trailersfromhell.com\/room-at-the-top\/\">Glenn Erickson&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/88619\/room-at-the-top#articles-reviews\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1959\/03\/31\/archives\/screen-room-at-top.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t hurt her, Joe; don&#8217;t ever hurt her.&#8221; Synopsis: A socially aspiring young man (Laurence Harvey) from a lower-class town arrives at his new job eager to woo the pretty daughter (Heather Sears) of his boss (Donald Wolfit), whose wife (Ambrosine Phillpotts) is dead-set against her daughter dating anyone outside of her social sphere. Meanwhile, Joe (Harvey) begins a romance with an older woman (Simone Signoret) whose philandering husband (Allan Cuthbertson) keeps her locked in a loveless marriage &#8212; but&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77452\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77452"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77469,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77452\/revisions\/77469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}