Film Snail

6.2

Life at the Top

NR·1965·117m

Drama

Summary

Successful businessman Joe Lampton is married to the wealthy Susan, has two children, and lives in the mill town of Warley in northern England. But his career seems to have plateaued, leaving him disillusioned. This feeling is only exacerbated when he discovers his wife's infidelity with local man Mark. So he takes up with attractive TV host Norah and moves with her to London, aiming to reignite the fire that drove him to the top.

Cast

Laurence Harvey

Joe Lampton

Jean Simmons

Susan Lampton

Honor Blackman

Norah Hauxley

Michael Craig

Mark

Donald Wolfit

Abe Brown

Robert Morley

Tiffield

Margaret Johnston

Sybil

Ambrosine Phillpotts

Mrs. Margaret Brown

Allan Cuthbertson

George Aisgill

Paul A. Martin

Harry

Frances Cosslett

Barbara

Ian Shand

Ralph Hethersett

George A. Cooper

Graffham

Nigel Davenport

Mottram

Andrew Laurence

McLelland

Geoffrey Bayldon

Industrial Psychologist

Denis Quilley

Ben

David Oxley

Tim

David McKail

Oscar

Paul Whitsun-Jones

Keatley

Charles Lamb

Wincastle

Michael Newport

Newspaper Boy

Richard Leech

Doctor

Ingrid Anthofer

Stripper

Harry Fowler

Magic Beans Man

Lewis Alexander

Sherry Party Guest (uncredited)

Jack Armstrong

Pub Customer (uncredited)

Rex Arundel

Lord Mayor (uncredited)

Joe Beckett

Board Member (uncredited)

Hyma Beckley

Sherry Party Guest (uncredited)

Ernest Blyth

Election Agent (uncredited)

Mark Burns

Tiffield Interview Panel (uncredited)

Robin Burns

Art Exhibition Visitor (uncredited)

Pauline Chamberlain

Woman at Party (uncredited)

Mark Colleano

Bit Part (uncredited)

Peter Evans

Man at Party (uncredited)

Edward Fox

Office Supervisor (uncredited)

Victor Harrington

Board Member (uncredited)

Aileen Lewis

Sherry Party Guest (uncredited)

Richard Neller

Election Agent (uncredited)

Dido Plumb

Art Exhibitor Visitor (uncredited)

Philip Stone

Tiffield Interview Panel (uncredited)

John Tatham

Gambler (uncredited)

Lockwood West

Board Member (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Ted Kotcheff

Novel

John Braine

Screenplay

Mordecai Richler

Reviews

Geronimo1967

September 5, 2024

As sequels go, this isn't half bad. Aspirational, working-class lad "Joe" (Laurence Harvey) has managed to marry the boss's daughter "Susan" (Jean Simmons), has the semi detached trappings of middle class luxury but his life consists little of substance. His career is going nowhere fast and he is soon being tempted by the visiting television star "Norah" (Honor Blackman) as his wife embarks on an affair de coeur of her own with the rather unfortunately wooden Michael Craig ("Mark"). Has he the fortitude to go it alone; does he even really want to? The story isn't as potent as "Room at the Top" (1959) but both Harvey and Simmons as well as a strong series of cameos from the likes of Sir Donald Wolfit and Robert Morley still work well to convey many of the frustrations of a young man trying to escape the bonds of a class system and of a woman who has never had to want for anything, efficiently. It looks good. The photography is intense, almost intrusive at times, and the score from the accomplished Richard Addinsell adds much to the story and in many ways substitutes for a rather wordy and descriptive narrative. It's a good film, not a great one, and it is good to see Simmons remind us just how adaptable an actress she was.