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The L-Shaped Room

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6.8/10 • 36

1962-11-202h 6m

DramaRomance

Sex is not a forbidden word

Jane is young, French, pregnant and unmarried. Bucking convention, she is uninterested in settling with her baby's father or getting an abortion. After renting a room in a dingy London boarding house, Jane befriends the odd group of inhabitants and starts an affair with one boarder, Toby. As Jane's pregnancy threatens her new relationship, and the reality of single motherhood approaches, she is forced to decide what to do about both her baby and her budding romance.

Directors
Bryan Forbes
Writters
Bryan Forbes
Editors
Bryan Forbes, Anthony Harvey

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Leslie Caron

    Leslie Caron

    Jane Fosset

  2. Tom Bell

    Tom Bell

    Toby

  3. Brock Peters

    Brock Peters

    Johnny

  4. Bernard Lee

    Bernard Lee

    Charlie

  5. Avis Bunnage

    Avis Bunnage

    Doris

  6. Patricia Phoenix

    Patricia Phoenix

    Sonia

  7. Cicely Courtneidge

    Cicely Courtneidge

    Mavis

  8. Verity Edmett

    Verity Edmett

    Jane II

  9. Anthony Booth

    Anthony Booth

    Youth in Street

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Nov 6, 2022

7/10

Leslie Caron is really good in this rather quirky tale of a French lass who, pregnant, takes up residence in a pretty grotty London boarding house. Initially wary of the other "guests", "Jane" befriends aspiring writer"Toby" (Tom Bell) and the film depicts her lively relationship with him and her assimilation into this curious group of individuals whom she gradually begins to get used to. There are two things that help this stand out. The photography - it is intimate and very effective; and the use of the Brahms Piano Concerto which is as effective as any of the, frequently potent, dialogue. Caron is in her element here, her performance is confident and engaging. Tom Bell contributes strongly, as do Avis Bunnage and Patricia Phoenix, and there is something quite uplifting about Bryan Forbes' take on this outwardly rather depressing tale of solitude and abandonment. It sags just a bit in the middle with perhaps a more judicious pruning of the character establishment in order at the start, but it does hold the attention well for two hours and deals with adult topics in a remarkably - for the time - frank and plausible fashion.

Media

  • The L-Shaped Room poster
  • The L-Shaped Room poster
  • The L-Shaped Room poster
  • The L-Shaped Room poster
  • The L-Shaped Room poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
london, englandpregnancyboarding houselandladykitchen sink realism