Life at the Top

Star Review

This sequel to Room at the Top was damned with faint praise on its first release in 1965 and has long been viewed as part of Lawrence Harvey’s decline (eventually relegated to bit parts in Columbo and second-rate horror movies). Such a critical stand however is unfair, when the film is judged alongside the likes of Look Back in Anger or Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Life at the Top could best be described as ‘what the Angry Young Man did next’.

Lawrence Harvey is Joe Lampton, unhappily married and forced to work at a job handed to him on a plate by his father-in-law. TV presenter Norah (played by Honor Blackman) offers him escape which, following his wife’s own infidelity, he leaps at, only for things to come crashing down around his ears. Bureacracy, class, office gossip and English politics all have a part to play (look out for a great cameo from Catweazle, Geoffrey Bayldon).
All told, Life at the Top shows where kitchen sink drama could have gone if we hadn’t been distracted by the titillating likes of Georgie Girl.

Peter Wild on 30th September 2009
View all 69 of Peter Wild's reviews

Film Description

Laurence Harvey turns in an excellent performance in this sequel to the highly successful Room at the Top which follows the life of a social climber whose self-doubt tarnishes his success. With his marriage to the boss' daughter on the rocks, Harvey finds himself embroiled in an affair with a London anchorwoman.

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In Stock - should be despatched within 72 hours. Despatched from Guernsey. Delivery times

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Film Details

Cast

Laurence Harvey, Honor Blackman, Robert Morley, Jean Simmons, Michael Craig, Donald Wolfit

Technical Details