Life at the Top Reviews

A sequel to ROOM AT THE TOP, this was written and directed by two Canadians who were teamed again for THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ. The film later spawned a British TV series called "Man at the Top" and then a movie, MAN AT THE TOP, in 1973. It's 10 years after ROOM AT THE TOP, and Harvey has shed his working-class mannerisms for an important position in his father-in-law's (Wolfit) mill business. Harvey is an ambitious man who wonders if he would have achieved such a lofty position if he'd not married into it. He rises to power in the company, as well as in local politics; he runs as a Conservative and wins a seat on the town council. His marriage to Simmons is rapidly becoming one in name only, and his relationship with Wolfit is also on the rocks. When Wolfit asks his advice on any given matter, it is completely disregarded. Harvey's life takes a further tumble when he votes on a slum clearing matter with his conscience, rather than out of company loyalty. Then he finds Simmons in bed with his best friend, Craig, and the two occurrences combine to send him off in the arms of Blackman, a London TV newscaster. He quickly loses interest both in Blackman and the pleasures of London, and he is unable to secure employment, because he's never been schooled in anything. Simmons follows him to London and prevails upon him to return to the small town where he is a big fish. It's then that he learns that Wolfit actually likes him and that the old fellow is planning to leave him the whole business upon his retirement. He is still unsure of himself and his abilities to run a large company but resolves to give it his best efforts. Harvey is excellent and offers some very subtle shadings to the role, even more than he did in his earlier portrayal in ROOM AT THE TOP, for which he took an Oscar nomination. Simmons is good in an unsympathetic role, and Wolfit repeats the fine job he did in the original. Morley is seen briefly and effectively as a London businessman, and Johnston registers her presence as Craig's unhappy wife. LIFE AT THE TOP suffers from some slipshod lighting and other mistakes in the technical area, but the overall impression is memorable. Why they replaced Heather Sears with Jean Simmons as the wife is not apparent; Sears did well in the first film. There's not much humor to speak of, although Davenport does do one scene with Harvey that stands out in which he leads the confused young man on a tour of some London strip clubs. Harvey's brief career ended when he died of cancer at 45.