The L-Shaped Room Reviews

1962

Rated:
80
from 214 members

A woman faces life in a shabby, suburban bed-sit after being jilted and left pregnant. Sharing her desperation with an assortment of neighbours, they help her to decide whether to have an abortion, in a sensitive study of social morals at the dawning of the Sixties sexual revolution. Read more

Starring	Cicely Courtneidge, Brock Peters, Leslie Caron, Tom Bell
Director	Bryan Forbes
Genres	Drama

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Critics' reviews of The L-Shaped Room
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A queasy sample of the 'new British realism' of the early '60s, based on a novel by Lynne Reid Banks, with Caron as a... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of The L-Shaped Room
View all
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Book was better

I read and enjoyed Lynne Reid Banks 'The L-Shaped Room' and enjoyed it so I thought I'd watch the film as well. The story has been changed so much from the book that I was very disappointed. I didn't see the point of altering it to such a degree as the book was better. Despite these adaptations, it was a good film.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 04 Aug 2007 10:46
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

All a bit faded now

Lynne Reid Banks' novel is a great read,evocative or time, place and attitudes, but this film of it doesn't remotely come up to the mark. In the main, that's because Leslie Caron and Tom Bell are just too bland as the romantic couple at its heart, and are always being shoved aside by the scene-stealing characters around them, although Forbes' crushing lack of insight in the direction doesn't help matters much. What we're left with is a soap opera, pure and simple, somewhat bowdlerised from the book, and, on that level, it's fair entertainment. Those looking for more, however, will be disappointed,
- - Savage from London, England
  - Posted 20 May 2008 16:18
wonderful

I loved it.Beautifully crafted - evocative of times gone by - but a story that resonates today and is at the same time full of nostalgia.
- - A customer from glasgow scotland
  - Posted 12 Oct 2007 16:42
Most recent members' reviews (2) of The L-Shaped Room
View all
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

All a bit faded now

Lynne Reid Banks' novel is a great read,evocative or time, place and attitudes, but this film of it doesn't remotely come up to the mark. In the main, that's because Leslie Caron and Tom Bell are just too bland as the romantic couple at its heart, and are always being shoved aside by the scene-stealing characters around them, although Forbes' crushing lack of insight in the direction doesn't help matters much. What we're left with is a soap opera, pure and simple, somewhat bowdlerised from the book, and, on that level, it's fair entertainment. Those looking for more, however, will be disappointed,
- - Savage from London, England
  - Posted 20 May 2008 16:18
The L-Shaped Room

This film bought back a lot of memories as it was one of my favourite books in the early 80's. It wasn't quite the same as the book but not that far off either. I really wish they had made a sequel to this. I have a feeling there was a sequel to the book.
- - A customer from Dulwich, London
  - Posted 13 Apr 2008 18:12

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Book was better

I read and enjoyed Lynne Reid Banks 'The L-Shaped Room' and enjoyed it so I thought I'd watch the film as well. The story has been changed so much from the book that I was very disappointed. I didn't see the point of altering it to such a degree as the book was better. Despite these adaptations, it was a good film.
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 04 Aug 2007 10:46
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

All a bit faded now

Lynne Reid Banks' novel is a great read,evocative or time, place and attitudes, but this film of it doesn't remotely come up to the mark. In the main, that's because Leslie Caron and Tom Bell are just too bland as the romantic couple at its heart, and are always being shoved aside by the scene-stealing characters around them, although Forbes' crushing lack of insight in the direction doesn't help matters much. What we're left with is a soap opera, pure and simple, somewhat bowdlerised from the book, and, on that level, it's fair entertainment. Those looking for more, however, will be disappointed,
- - Savage from London, England
  - Posted 20 May 2008 16:18
wonderful

I loved it.Beautifully crafted - evocative of times gone by - but a story that resonates today and is at the same time full of nostalgia.
- - A customer from glasgow scotland
  - Posted 12 Oct 2007 16:42
[Highly rated reviewer]

A wonderful film.

A classic film,excellent performances,wonderful atmosphere,not quite the same as the book but nevermind.

Also listen out for the 'intro' borrowed from the film in the superb The Smiths tune 'The Queen is Dead'.Also one of mozzers favourite movies.
- - lee cooper from In my room.
  - Posted 10 Mar 2008 19:10
The L-Shaped Room

This film bought back a lot of memories as it was one of my favourite books in the early 80's. It wasn't quite the same as the book but not that far off either. I really wish they had made a sequel to this. I have a feeling there was a sequel to the book.
- - A customer from Dulwich, London
  - Posted 13 Apr 2008 18:12

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Critics' reviews
A queasy sample of the 'new British realism' of the early '60s, based on a novel by Lynne Reid Banks, with Caron as a... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008