Shirley Yanez / 23 August 2025 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows

Room At The Top Classic Movie 1959

Black and White movie

"Room at the Top" is indeed a significant film from the British New Wave movement of the 1960s, known for its gritty and realistic portrayal of post-war British society. Directed by Jack Clayton and based on the novel by John Braine, the film stars Laurence Harvey as Joe Lampton, an ambitious young man from a working-class background. His aspirations lead him to seek a relationship with Susan Brown (Heather Sears), the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, as a means to climb the social ladder. However, his pursuit of Susan is complicated by his affair with Alice Aisgill (Simone Signoret), an older, married woman who is also involved with Joe's boss, Mr. Brown (Donald Wolfit).

The film is often categorized as a "kitchen sink drama" due to its raw and unflinching look at the lives of the British working class and their struggles with social mobility. This genre, which emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, focused on the everyday lives of ordinary people, their relationships, and their attempts to escape from the confines of their social class. It was characterized by a stark, realistic style that was a departure from the more polished and stylized productions of earlier British cinema.

Throughout the film, Joe's ambitions and his entanglements with both Susan and Alice lead to a series of moral dilemmas and personal tragedies. Despite achieving some measure of success, he remains unfulfilled and haunted by his choices. The narrative is driven by Joe's internal conflict between his desire for wealth and status and his innate sense of loyalty and human connection.

Simone Signoret's performance as Alice is particularly notable and won her an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her portrayal of a woman who is both world-weary and hopeful in the face of her circumstances adds depth and complexity to the film. The tragic accident that results in Alice's death serves as a turning point for Joe and underscores the consequences of his ruthless ambition.

"Room at the Top" is a powerful exploration of class, desire, and the cost of pursuing one's dreams. It reflects the changing social landscape of post-war Britain and the tensions that arose as the traditional class structure began to shift. The film's themes of social climbing, sexual politics, and the search for personal identity resonated with audiences at the time and continue to be relevant today. This is one of my all time favourite black and white movies.