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[Inspector Tanzi]

Just finished watching the first series, cracking stuff. Wasn't too sure I was going to like it at first and it took me a couple of episodes to warm to the character and what he was like. He truly is a vile man but you find yourself rooting for him.

Thanks again to Alfetta for steering me in the direction of another 70's series I didn't know anything about   





  Man at the Top, originally screened in the early ‘70s, takes up the continuing story of Joe Lampton, the aggressively ambitious anti-hero of John Braine’s bestselling novel Room at the Top, its award-winning film adaptation of 1958, and 1965 sequel Life at the Top. Kenneth Haigh’s portrayal of Joe Lampton earned him a BAFTA nomination, while accomplished film and stage actress Zena Walker is Joe’s long-suffering wife, Susan. This intense, compelling drama series was created and co-written by John Braine, and George Markstein (Callan) features among the producers. This release contains the complete first series, available for the first time anywhere.

Thirteen years on from his marriage to the pregnant Susan – a condition of his continuing promotion by Susan’s father and his then boss, Mr. Brown – Joe Lampton has a new home in Surrey’s stockbroker belt and a career as a management consultant. As pushy and hard-headed as ever, he will go to any lengths to keep a grip on his position. Joe remains married to Susan and the couple now have two children, but his attentions rarely remain fixed and he does not fail to take advantage of all that his status and connections bring within his reach; this inevitably includes the attractive and available women he encounters. A single event, however, causes Joe to re-assess his life – with far-reaching consequences.

[Vito Cipriani]

I really enjoyed this too. Haigh is terrific as Lampton. Moving Lampton into the 1970s is a great move, as he fits in wonderfully with that era of conspicuous consumption (eg, his purchase of a car costing six grand in 'Charity Begins at Home'). Materialism runs throughout the series, and makes Lampton an interesting counterpart to Thelma and Bob in WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE LIKELY LADS?

The second series foregrounds the North-South conflict even more, and the new titles sequence of the second series plays on contrasting images of London and Yorkshire. Haigh has a great speech in one of the episodes on series two: ‘I’ve had enough of London. I mean, I’ve always known it was full of crap, but I thought I could handle that. In fact, for a while I even enjoyed it. I could always laugh up my sleeve at all of them. But yesterday, I went to visit my uncle Dick in Dufton, and driving through the streets, I felt like… I felt like I was a kid, as if I belonged there. It was nice to be back among real people again, people who’ve got real dignity and not the bullshit that passes for sophistication down here’.

I'd say the second series is definitely worth buying, if you're on the fence about it

[Inspector Tanzi]

I'd say the second series is definitely worth buying, if you're on the fence about it

Not on the fence about it, really liked the first so want to see the second, it's a lot dearer that's all so I'll get it in the near future. Have to get it by January (I'll get it way before then though) as Network lose the rights then.

[Alfetta]

I thought Series Two was magnificent - supremely bleak and cynical amid the opulent 70s trappings. Same marvellously brassy theme tune too.

[Inspector Tanzi]

Just finished watching series two. Good solid entertainment. He's just as cunning as he is in the first season. I wonder why the original actor who was Abe didn't portray him again?




I've now got the 1973 film on the way. There isn't a DVD release of it so I've had to get a VHS.

[Inspector Tanzi]