Man at the Top *** (1973, Kenneth Haigh, Nanette Newman, Harry Andrews) – Classic Movie Review 9550

Director Mike Vardy’s 1973 Man at the Top is the third film about that nasty piece of work Joe Lampton, this time a Hammer Films studios spin-off from the popular Thames TV series (1970-72) with Kenneth Haigh.

The tale is about Lampton swallowed up in boardroom clashes and a crime in marketing a drug that hasn’t been tested. Nanette Newman co-stars as Lady Alex Ackerman, with Harry Andrews as Lord Ackerman.

Following Room at the Top and Life at the Top (both with Laurence Harvey), it is the least of the three movies, not much more than a dated quality TV drama, though the three star performances have kept their allure, with that fine actor Kenneth Haigh excellent as Joe Lampton, nice and slimy and creepy. And there are thoughtful and intelligent elements to Hugh Whitemore’s script that also has some decent dialogue too. It is true to John Braine’s original work, and also is still relevant in its themes, characters and plotlines.

The Seventies found Hammer Films returning to their original remit of radio and TV spinoffs, like this, and Man About the House (1974).

Also in the cast are John Quentin, Charlie Williams, Mary Maude, William Lucas, Clive Swift, Paul Williamson, John Collin, Danny Sewell, Anne Cunningham, Angela Bruce, Margaret Heald, Norma West, Tim Brinton (Newsreader), Nell Brennan and Patrick McCann.

Newman’s nude scenes are provided by a body double.

Man at the Top is directed by Mike Vardy, runs 87 minutes, is made by Hammer Films, Anglo-EMI and Dufton, is released by Anglo-EMI Film Distributors (1973) (UK) and Ambassador Film Distributors (1975) (US), is written by Hugh Whitemore and John Junkin (additional material), based on John Braine’s original characters, is shot by Bryan Probyn, is produced by Peter Charlesworth and Jock Jacobson, is scored by Roy Budd and is designed by Don Picton.

Clive Swift died on February 1, 2019, age 82.

Kenneth Haigh (1931–2018).

Kenneth Haigh originated the role of Jimmy Porter in John Osborne’s 1956 London Royal Court theatre play Look Back in Anger and took it to Broadway, but he was dumped for the much older, more famous Richard Burton for the 1959 film adaptation Look Back in Anger. Jimmy Porter and Joe Lampton are the two characters he is remembered for, along with Sir Richard F Burton in the 1971 TV mini-series The Search for the Nile.

He suffered a terrible freak accident in 2003 when he swallowed a bone in a London Soho restaurant. Deprived of oxygen, his brain was damaged and he was confined to a nursing home till his death on 4 February 2018.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9550

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com