In January 1959, a film appeared on the screen, considered a world film classic – “Road to High Society” by director Jack Clayton, with the participation of Lawrence Harvey and Simon Signore in the main roles.
The film is an adaptation of John Brain’s 1957 black-and-white novel of the same name on a budget of £280,000.
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The plot is fascinating: In the late 1940s, in Yorkshire, England, a young and ambitious provincial – Joe Lampton (Lawrence Harvey) arrives in the town of Warnley to make a career. He is so ambitious that he must carry out his plans at any cost. The beautiful daughter of the richest and most influential person in the city, the tycoon Mr. Brown – Susan, seems like the shortest way to this dream. In order to get closer to the girl, Joe joins an amateur theater troupe, in which Susan is a member. However, Alice Eisgill (Simon Signore) is also there.
She is older than him, but nevertheless a very beautiful woman. Her husband underestimates her and constantly cheats on her. Alice needs friends and fun, and at first she and Joe bond as friends. Their closeness soon developed into an intimate relationship. Alice, however, is not suitable for Joe’s purposes, and he dumps her to make every effort to make Susan fall in love with him.
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973) with actress Mia Farrow at the premiere of the James Bond film ‘Casino Royale’ at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, 14 April 1967 / Photo: Getty Images
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Her parents did not find him equal and suitable to be their daughter’s partner. To hinder their relationship, they send Susan to Europe. Joe returns to Alice again and even seems to have completely given up on his career plans. He and Alice live happily ever after and even plan to get married. Just then, Susan returns and announces that she is pregnant by Joe. Faced with the inevitable, her parents begin preparations for a wedding. Alice is devastated. Seeking solace, she gets drunk in a bar and drunkenly drives her car to the hill with which her happiest moments with Joe are associated.
On the way back, he crashed and died. Learning of Alice’s death, Joe in turn drowns his grief in alcohol and gets into a fight with unknown men who beat him to death. In the end, everything ends with a happy ending – he and Susan still get married, but this seems like a relatively happy ending for the characters in this drama.
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973) with his first wife, English actress Margaret Leighton (1922 – 1976) at London Airport, August 31, 1957 / Photo: Getty Images
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The film produced a strong impression and in 1960 received numerous awards: National Board of Film Critics Award for Best Foreign Film of 1959, second place for the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film of 1959, runner-up New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress – to Simone Signore in 1959, and runner-up New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director – to Jack Clayton in 1959 year.
Separately, the Oscar for Best Actress for Simone Signore, the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Neil Patterson, the Samuel Goldwyn Award for Best Film from the Golden Globe Awards and three BAFTA Awards for Best -Best Film of 1959, Best British Film of 1959 and Best Foreign Actress of 1959 for Simone Signore.
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Simone Signore won several more awards with this film: Best Actress at the Cannes International Film Festival, Diploma of Merit for Best Foreign Actress at the Juicy Awards, third place at the Golden Laurel Award for Best Actress dramatic role at the 1960 Laurel Awards; the award of the National Board of French Film Critics for the best actress of 1959.
The nominations, as one might guess, are more than the awards, and among them there are a few nominees that stray from the actual awards. One of them is actor Laurence Harvey, nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor and a BAFTA for Best British Actor for his role in High Society.
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973) rests at his house after breaking his leg during rehearsals, UK, 3 July 1970 / Photo: Getty Images
British actor Laurence Harvey, however, will remain forever in this tape as a memorable actor who played the main character in the drama in a superb way. Harvey has his accolades – a Golden Globe (1968) and a BAFTA Award, but his nomination for Road to High Society, which did not win a statuette, seemed unfair in the eyes of many film critics of his time.
Harvey died very young – only 45, on November 25, 1973, exactly half a century ago.
Lithuanian-born actor Lawrence Harvey (1928 – 1973) during the filming of “The Silent Enemy”, October 1957 / Photo: Getty Images
The actor was born in Lithuania on October 1, 1928 in a Jewish family. His birth name was Zvi Moshe Skikne, but everyone called him Hirsch. When he was only five, his parents left for South Africa, where the boy was renamed Harry.
Harry grew up in Johannesburg, served in the South African Army during the Second World War and then went to London, where he studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. There he changed his English name “Harry” to “Larry” and his stage name to Lawrence. He has been working professionally as an actor since 1948. He has appeared in many British and American films.
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973) smoking a cigarette during a break in rehearsals for the musical Camelot at the Theater Royal, Drury Lane, London, 1964 / Photo: Getty Images
He got his first big role in 1959, and it was actually the one we started with, as Joe in James Wolfe’s Road to High Society. Among his more famous other film roles, we will mention the tapes “Three Men in a Boat” (1956), “Expresso Bongo” (1959), “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962), “Souls in Chains” (1964), “Honey “, “Colombo: The Most Dangerous Match”, “Butterfield 8” and others. In 1964 he performed on the stage of the Royal Theater in Druid Lane, as King Arthur in the musical Camelot by Alan Jay Lerner.
Actors Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973) as John Horner and Diana Churchill (1913 – 1994) as Lady Fidget during rehearsals for the Restoration comedy ‘The Country Wife’ at the Adelphi Theater in London on February 4, 1957 / Photo: Getty Images
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Harvey impressed with his interesting look and masculinity. In his personal life he was a “conqueror”, as some critics write. He had three marriages – to Margaret Leighton (1957-1961, divorced), to Joan Perry (1968-1972, divorced) and to Pauline Stone (1972-1973, until his death), with whom he had a daughter – Domino Harvey.
Against the background of all this, the revelation in the memoirs of the British actor John Fraser – “Close Up”, published in 2004, in which he claimed that Harvey was a homosexual and had an intimate relationship with the producer, literally came as a shock to the actor’s fans. of the film “Road to High Society” James Wolfe.
Lawrence Harvey and Frank Sinatra on the set of John Frankenheimer’s thriller “The Manchurian Candidate” in Central Park, February 1962 / Photo: Getty Images
Many accused Frazier of dishonesty, especially since Harvey had no way to defend himself against his claims. The actor died on November 25, 1973 in London from stomach cancer. In his short life, he managed to play over 60 roles in cinema and television. Lawrence Harvey is the first Lithuanian actor to receive an Oscar nomination.
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973) and actress Arlene Dahl arrive at the Empire Theater in Leicester Square, London, for the Royal Film Performance, 29 October 1956 / Photo: Getty Images
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Some interesting moments of his life: In Johannesburg, when his parents were having a hard time adjusting in the post-war time of ruin, he started working in the diamond processing plant in the hardest place – “at the knife”. To study at the Royal Academy in London, he appeared at a rally, which promised a scholarship to study. He wins the race. Throughout his life he fought for his successes. Sam offers himself to theaters in London and Manchester because he has no funds for a manager.
He constantly appeared at castings, no matter how big the role he applied for. From his first appearance – in “House of Darkness” by Oswald Mitchell, he played episodic roles in the films “On the Move”, “The Road to Cairo”, “Black Rose”, the TV series “Collection” and many others. etc.
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973) as Romeo, with actress Zina Walker as Juliet, during rehearsals of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at the Memorial Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK, 1954 / Photo: Getty Images
For him, contrary to his character in “Road to High Society”, there were no “small” roles. He worked hard to make a name for himself in the profession. Attracts public attention in the image of Romeo in the film “Romeo and Juliet” from 1954. The criticism was not of one opinion, but Harvey is starting to be talked about. In the same year, he won over critics with his role in the film Richard the Lionheart.
And fame comes with “Road to High Society.” Thanks to this role, Lawrence Harvey became a sought-after actor.
Laurence Harvey (1928 – 1973) shopping in Regent Street, London, UK, 16 February 1967 / Photo: Getty Images
The last wife of the actor – Pauline Stone, is also an actress and model. Unfortunately, their daughter with Harvey – the only heir of the actor – Domino, just like her father died young – at 35. According to the press, from a drug overdose.
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