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The L-Shaped Room
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Synopsis
Considered ultra-mature film fare in 1962, The L-Shaped Room stars Leslie Caron as a unmarried, pregnant French girl. Arranging for an abortion (illegal at that time), she takes up residence in a ramshackle British boarding house where most of the other residents are also outcasts of society. Many of the character types were new to films of the era, but have since become cliches: the understanding young black, the lesbian actress, the prostitutes without golden hearts. There is also a Christopher Isherwood type writer (Tom Bell) who observes the passing parade and writes a book on the subject. Director Bryan Forbes brings his usual muted sensibilities to the project, resulting in a work that downplays the sensational aspects and emphasizes characterization. Surprisingly, while The L-Shaped Room was considered too "hot" for several corporate-owned American movie houses, it was an early arrival on 1960s TV, where it frequently ran uncut. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Tom Bell Toby
Anthony Booth Youth in Street
Avis Bunnage Doris
Leslie Caron Jane Fosset
Dame Cicely Courtneidge Mavis
Ellen Dryden Girl in News Agent's
Gerry Duggan Bert
Bernard Lee Charlie
Harry Locke News Agent
Nanette Newman Girl at End
Brock Peters Johnny
Patricia Phoenix Sonia

Production Crew

Lynne Reid Banks Book Author
Douglas Slocombe Cinematographer
John Barry Composer (Music Score)
Beatrice Dawson Costume Designer
Bryan Forbes Director
John Siddall Draftsman
Anthony Harvey Editor
Harry Frampton Makeup
James Woolf Producer
John Woolf Producer
Richard Attenborough Producer
Ray Simm Production Designer
Bryan Forbes Screenwriter
Year: 1962
Runtime: 125
Country: UK
MPAA Rating:
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Produced by
British Lion Films
Columbia Pictures
Romulus Films

Awards
1962 - Best Film - Both Any Source and British - British Academy Awards
1963 - Best Foreign Film - Golden Globe
1963 - Best Picture - National Board of Review