Life at the Top
Joe Lampton, a prosperous businessman, is married to the wealthy Susan and is the father of two, living in Warley, a mill town in northern England. Yet his career has plateaued, fueling a creeping disillusionment. Things worsen when he discovers Susan's affair with a local man named Mark. He then begins a liaison with the alluring TV host Norah and moves with her to London, intent on rekindling the drive and ambition that once propelled him to the summit.
Director(s)
Ian Shand
Ted Kotcheff
Phyllis Crocker
Kip Gowans
Cast & Crew
Details
Reviews
CinemaSerf
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.
All Trailers
Part of the Series
Life at the Top FAQs
The directors of Life at the Top are Ian Shand, Ted Kotcheff, Phyllis Crocker, and Kip Gowans.
The cast of Life at the Top includes Dido Plumb as Art Exhibitor Visitor (uncredited), Victor Harrington as Board Member (uncredited), Honor Blackman as Norah Hauxley, Philip Stone as Tiffield Interview Panel (uncredited), Edward Fox as Office Supervisor (uncredited), Robert Morley as Tiffield, David McKail as Oscar, Laurence Harvey as Joe Lampton, Lewis Alexander as Sherry Party Guest (uncredited), John Tatham as Gambler (uncredited), Geoffrey Bayldon as Industrial Psychologist, Pauline Chamberlain as Woman at Party (uncredited), and more.
The duration of Life at the Top is 1h 57 mins.
Yes. You can watch the Life at the Top trailer on this Fanbiz page on Fanziz.
Life at the Top was released on 14 Dec 1965.
Life at the Top is listed under Drama on Fanbiz.
Life at the Top has 1 review on Fanziz, with an average rating of 7.0/10. One reviewer wrote: "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 detache..."
