The Man Upstairs (1958 film)

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The Man Upstairs
"The Man Upstairs" (1958).jpg
Original UK quad poster
Directed by Don Chaffey
Written byAlun Falconer
Robert Dunbar
Don Chaffey
Produced byRobert Dunbar
Starring Richard Attenborough
Bernard Lee
Donald Houston
Cinematography Gerald Gibbs
Edited byJohn Trumper
Release date
  • 30 September 1958 (1958-09-30)
Running time
88 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Man Upstairs is a 1958 British psychological drama film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Richard Attenborough and Bernard Lee. [1] [2] The film was produced by Robert Dunbar for Act Films Ltd. [3]

Contents

Plot

Peter Watson, a tenant of a boarding house, is troubled with pain and an inability to sleep. He repeatedly tries unsuccessfully to light the gas-fire that requires coins and seeks help from another lodger, artist Nicholas, who is spending the night with his model, and is reluctant to be disturbed. Another neighbour, Pollen, calls for police help. The other occupants in the property are awake by this time, and one of them, Mrs Barnes, tries to help the mentally confused Watson (known to them as John Wilson) but he also refuses her help. The police clash with Mr Sanderson, a mental health worker, who thinks he can take Watson, who is armed, without complications, but when a police sergeant is injured Inspector Thompson is determined to remove him by force if necessary. Eventually Mrs Barnes manages to persuade the sick man to leave his room, and Mr Sanderson accompanies him to a waiting ambulance for hospital treatment.

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "In its situation, its skilful use of suspense and even some of its details (the alarm clock, the trapped man shouting to the crowd) this film recalls Le Jour Se Léve [1939]. But in this case the focus is less on the man than on the reactions of the people around him; argument is substituted for lyricism and the conflict between kindness and brute force, despite occasional over-simplification, is absorbing. Editing and direction are crisp, while the characters are nicely pointed in the script and acting. If Richard Attenborough cannot repeat the performance of [Jean] Gabin he is effective within the compass of the part and supporting roles are uniformly well played." [4]

TV Guide wrote, "a superb performance from Attenborough is at the core of this character study." [5]

The New York Times singled out Alun Falconer's "script, the tight direction by Don Chaffey, and the performances of the principals", and noted, "although they (the performances) do not make The Man Upstairs extraordinary, they give this modest effort the sheen of honesty and quality." [6]

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References

  1. ↑ "The Man Upstairs". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  2. ↑ "The Man Upstairs (1958) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  3. ↑ Action! Fifty Years in the Life of a Union. Published: 1983 (UK). Publisher: ACTT. ISBN   0 9508993 0 5. ACT Films Limited - Ralph Bond p81 (producer listed as Robert Dunbar)
  4. ↑ "The Man Upstairs". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 25 (288): 129. 1 January 1958 – via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ "The Man Upstairs". TV Guide.
  6. ↑ "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 3 March 2022.


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