Marvellous film which was a bit hit but then became unfashionable to admire compared to later British kitchen sink movies - not as arty or something. It was a ridiculous thing to happen because this is a superb movie, very well directed, scripted, and acted.
Laurence Harvey gives his best performance as Joe Lampton, who is always described as ruthless - he certainly wants to get ahead, and why not? What's wrong with that - he's an accountant for the council at a low level, smart and capable... why shouldn't he better himself? His bosses like him - what right do they have to warn him off seeing rich Heather Sears? (To be fair the film doesn't criticise this, I'm taking task with the critics who simplify it).
Lampton is very sympathetic here - yes he chases after Heather Sears, but because she's good looking and likes a challenge, he isn't necessarily interested in her dad's money (just her position). He's good in bed - Sears obviously likes the first time they have sex (this is startlingly frank), and Simone Signoret likes him too. He works hard, makes friends easily, is nice to his parents who he doesn't disown. He's certainly more likeable that Sears' smug boyfriend, always going on about his war service, or Signoret's faithless, cruel husband. Yes, he's sexist but Signoret calls him on it. Yes, he drops Signoret but only after her husband points out he will fight it all the way - and he marries Sears but only after refusing a bribe from her father and finding out that Sears got pregnant. He sells out by not going off with Signoret regardless (who is broke up with then asked back) but even at the time knows it's the wrong decision and it clearly destroys him.
The film tackles class head on - Lampton goes on about it a lot, as do other characters, in a way that seems real. It also embraces sex - Lampton is a sexual beast, there are post-coital scenes with Signoret and Sears, he has sex with another woman in an alley. Signoret is superb, all melancholic sexiness and warmth. (I wonder if James Woolf, Laurence Harvey's sponsor and occasional lover in real life, related to this part - all the references to her being older and past it but the only person who loved him.) Sears isn't as good but is effective as a pretty, spoilt thing who nonetheless has some spirit.
A few things clunk - it's a drag to see Lampton beaten up by toughs as a sort of punishment for his behaviour (this sort of scene is always in movies about lotharios - it was even in Shame), it was funny to see him start social climbing by participating in amateur theatrics, some of the supporting performances of upper class types seem over the top. But it remains a gripping, strong drama.
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