The Man Upstairs

I didn't know of this movie until I saw it availvable on download. What a gem. Tense drama, taut acting by big names of the time, and irnoically enough, despite being made in 1958, resonant of the 21st Century.

Accusations made before proof? Paparazzi? Sounds like Social Media to me. Nuff Said. The Nuff is deliberate, I hate misspelling of words. Imagine my hireing someone to work for me, and the contract says 1000 per hour. Then the mistake is seen, and should read 10.00 per hour??????????

Nuff said.

This tense drama - about a disturbed man locked in his apartment room wanted by the police and seemingly in an untenable situation - is quite unusual in its structure.

Apart from the studio and title of the film, there are no opening credits. There is no background music and the film takes place in 'real time'. These are challenging restrictions for a film but director Don Chaffey does a largely splendid job.

The secret to the film's success is that it doesn't excessively focus on the central character (played by Richard Attenborough in his typically intense, brooding style) but places him in the context of the law, support organisations and ordinary citizens (represented by other tenants of the building).

The film deftly creates a range of characterisations who either want to help or apprehend 'the man upstairs' or just have him out of their way for their own personal reasons. It highlights how a character in the plight that Attenborough's is in is reliant on sensible, selfless and practical measures by those around him to not potentially ruin his life.

While not a classic, 'The Man Upstairs' is a fine film, worth seeking out.

This a production from ACT the film technicians union who made 23 films between 1951 and 1962.The aim being to give employment to their members.It has to be said that most of the films were unmentionable and modestly budgeted.Given that this is not one of the best remembered of Richard Attenboroughs films,the film is mainly confined to the house and there is no music it could be said that the film conforms to type.At 84 minutes it rather lustrous it's welcome and it could be said that this would probably worked better as a TV play.British Lion often had a struggle to get its films booked on the major circuits so I think that any success for this film would have been limited.

Although Dickie Attenborough was appearing in some bold projects like this one, I didn't find any substance to it. I was disappointed with this film. It just dragged on wasting 90 minutes of my life. He needed to make his own films by this stage.

I don't think its any coincidence that this film came out the year after 12 Angry Men.

Dicky Attenborough is the accused and the 12-man jury is made up of his fellow tenants.

Good film but would have made a better TV episode - tighter and more focused.