Room at the Top is based on a novel by one of England's Angry Young Men, John Braine, who directed his quiet anger at contemporary class-bound England. “Undoubtedly the most significant British feature of the Fifties, not merely because it was the first to reflect life in an industrial town nor because of its sexual frankness but because of its brilliant
delineation of character and environment” (George Sadoul). It is the story of a young working class man's ambition to socially climb in a society with no stairs. Determined to have money and position, Joe Lampton (Laurence Harvey) pursues the town millionaire's daughter (Heather Sears). When she is sent abroad by her disapproving father, Joe finds solace with an older Frenchwoman, the neglected wife of a local Englishman.
On reading the novel, Simone Signoret was anxious to play the part. She comments in her autobiography, “One of the most fascinating aspects of the story was his love affair with a lady who was no longer quite young (she was then in her forties), whose name was Alice. Alice Aisgill. Alice was intelligent, generous, understanding, maternal, sexually liberated and socially without prejudice. Alice was a character who had everything going for her... Alice was a piece of cake to play... Did I say a piece of cake? A wedding cake is more like it: a part whose like one seldom encounters in the course of a career.” For her portrayal of Alice, Simone Signoret won top actress awards in England, France and the U.S.
We invite all who attend Room at the Top to stay for a special added free screening of another Simone Signoret film.