Room at the Top Directed by Jack Clayton (1958)
“Room at the Top” by Jack Clayton is the film based on John Braine‘s novel from 1957. The screenplay was adapted from the novel by Neil Paterson. It’s production company was Romulus Films and was produced by John and James Woolf. It went on general release in London on 22nd January 1959 and earlier premiered in Luton on 29th December 1958.
The film stars Laurence Harvey as Joe Lampton, Simone Signoret as Alice Aisgill and Heather Sears as Susan Brown. “Room at the Top” was later to win several awards including two at the Academy Awards. The film is closely based on the novel.
Upon it’s release it is considered to be ground-breaking film within the genre of British social realism film genre, written by the “Angry Young Men” of the 1950s. The common theme of these novels and films demonstrating the irritation felt by the generation of post-war Britain towards the hierarchical class system. Thus resulting in it’s shortfall of opportunities that arose for social mobility.
Like the novel, the film “Room at the Top”, explores ruthless ambition, social mobility and moral compromise. The film highlights that success is a process governed by emotional sacrifice and moral compromise. Jack Clayton perfectly captures the poignant emotional strain and inner conflict of the characters within the film.
Room at the Top (1959) Original Trailer
Unseen Trailers
Jun 6, 2019
Synopsis of Room at the Top by Jack Clayton
The synopsis of the film is very similar to that of the novel “Room at the Top” by John Braine. It centres around the character of Joe Lampton played by Laurence Harvey. Joe is from a working-class background and is seeking social ascent. He moves to the town of Warley as he has obtained a clerical position. Joining the local drama club, he meets Susan Brown, played by Heather Sears. Susan is the daughter of the wealthy industrialist Abe Brown.
It’s here that Joe sees an opportunity to ascend the social ladder into middle-class security. He also meets Alice Aisgill played by Simone Signoret. Alice is an older married woman trapped in an unhappy marriage. Joe begins a relationship with Alice who is able to offer him genuine emotional connection.
Conflicted and torn by ambition and love, Joe chooses to be with Susan. Whilst Joe has secured the social status he craves, this has a profound emotional and devastating effect on Alice. The film concludes by asserting that there is a human cost to be paid due Joe’s ruthless social ambition and his pursuit of class mobility.
Review of Room at the Top by Jack Clayton
Social Ambition and Class Mobility
The key take home message of the film “Room at the Top” is that Joe’s social ambition should be considered as an opportunity, inspiring optimism for the future ahead. However the film indicates that social mobility and professional advancement can be emotionally costly as well as detrimental to the expense of moral compromise.
Material Success Versus Love and Genuine Emotional Connection
“Room at the Top” invites the viewer to analyse the characters of Susan Brown and Alice Aisgill. These women are polar opposites. Susan played by Heather Sears, represents middle-class security and is from a privileged background. Her naivety is exposed within the film. Alice Aisgill played by Simone Signoret is more mature in not only age but emotionally. She is able to offer emotional security and comes across as a much stronger woman in comparison to Susan. The film highlights the difference of age, ambition and intimacy within class structure.
Simone Signoret Wins Best Actress: 1960 Oscars
Oscars
Mar 26, 2013
The Consequence of Owning Responsibility
The caveat of “Room at the Top” is that whilst Joe Lampton has “succeeded” in his quest for social mobility in order to rise through the echelons, his “success” is not one that is a cause for celebration. His end goal is overshadowed by guilt, loss and trauma.
Room at the Top: Critiquing Social Mobility
John Braine’s “Room at the Top” (1957) and Jack Clayton’s film adaptation “Room at the Top” (1958) share the same story of social climbing and moral ambiguity.
A shared narrative in both the novel and film adaptation tell the story of working-class Joe Lampton who is determined to climb the social ladder through use of strategy within his relationships as oppose to obtaining his goal through his own professional merit. Indirectly implying he’s trying to take a short cut.
In both the novel and film Joe’s relationship with Alice Aisgill offers a genuine love and an authentic emotional connection. Whereas his relationship with Susan Brown is motivated by financial security and social status. Due to Joe’s rejection of Alice in preference to Susan, it lays bear the emotional cost of ambition in it’s conclusion. Thus both the novel and film adaptation evaluates and questions that social mobility does not lead to personal fulfilment.
Room at the Top: Characterisation of Joe, Susan and Alice
Joe Lampton
The major difference between John Braine’s “Room at the Top” (1957) and Jack Clayton’s film adaptation “Room at the Top” (1958) is that the novel provides a straight forward approach to gaining the inner thoughts of Joe Lampton. They expose Joe justifying his shoddy behaviour and his feelings of resentment whilst at the same time being well aware of his moral flaws. The novel offers the reader a deeper psychological insight into Joe. That being he has a calculating nature and has morals that are ethically questionable.
Due to the film being unable to rely on the inner thoughts of Joe, the film instead incorporates Joe’s inner conflict through Laurence Harvey‘s acting performance, as well as via cinematic social realism and dialogue. Laurence Harvey‘s performance as Joe in the film presents himself as an enigmatic character, inviting the audience to decipher his motives. Whereas in the novel, it is easier to read Joe and work out his character early on.
Alice Aisgill and Susan Brown
Simone Signoret’s performance of Alice Aisgill within Jack Clayton’s film adaptation of Room at the Top (1958) is more humanised. She feels more relatable due to the visualisation within the film. Thus the viewer can “feel” her emotional suffering more as a greater emphasis is placed on this in comparison to that of John Braine‘s novel. Emotional clarity in the film shifts towards Alice as oppose to the psychology of Joe that is within the novel. Therefore a deep sense of empathy can be felt towards Alice in the film.
There is less emphasis on Susan Brown in the film in comparison to that within the novel. In the film Susan Brown played by Heather Sears is seen as a trophy of class privilege. Whilst it is clear that she is very naive and certainly not street-wise due to having a sheltered upbringing, there is less insight into her character other than this.
In Conclusion
Overall the film “Room at the Top” (1958) by Jack Clayton uses social realism to accentuate the cost of success on genuine connectivity, with powerful and excellent performances from Laurence Harvey, Simone Signoret and Heather Sears. This is a truly brilliant film and one that is not only an early and seminal work within the genre of Kitchen Sink cinema, but equally a very memorable film too.
Reference List
Braine, J. (1985). Room at the top. Penguin
Room at the Top by Jack Clayton. (1997). Polygram Video
Room at the Top by Jack Clayton. (2009). Network Distributing
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