MovieChat Forums > The L-Shaped Room (1962) Discussion > Movie and the book(s)

Movie and the book(s)

posted 19 years ago by Lorilynn1028
8 replies | jump to latest

Such a shame the film is not available to America.
I saw this about 20 years ago and I've never forgotten it.

Very sad and deep but beautiful still.

I've read the book by Lynne Reid Banks and I have to say it's definitely one of the best I've ever read and I've been reading novels all my life.

For anyone who's interested to find out what happened to Jane after she left the L Shaped Room, you should read
The Backward Shadow
and
Two is Lonely.
Both by the same author, they are the continuing story of Jane, David and Toby.

(In the book her baby was a boy she named David, in the film she has a girl).

[–] podwilliams 18 years ago

I'm amazed there's only been one comment here, Lorilynn. The film's a personal fave of mine, but I'm waiting for a decent DVD release. The Region 2 disc is reputed to be very poor.

The lion and the calf shall lie down together, but the calf won't get much sleep.

[–] steph_daisybee3 18 years ago

I've read the book and loved it

just wondering how close the film is to it. I'd like to see it

[–] bluestocking-7 14 years ago

SPOILERS ALERT

I read the book after I've seen the movie.

I'm surprised that she is not quite as helpless and alone in book as in the movie.

The movie did not show her theatre work, her hotel job, her relationship with her aunt, etc.

I think that by making her French in the movie as opposed to English in the book, the movie made it looked like she has no immediate help, resources and friends in England with the exception of the one-night stand boyfriend.

Billy Wilder Page, Movies to See, Play the Smiley Game
www.screenwritingdialogue.com

[–] ianlouisiana 18 years ago

I'm a great admirer of Mr Bryan Forbes as an actor,writer and director.His
contribution to the British cinema is,in my opinion,undervalued.If you've still got a video recorder the original VHS version is excellent if you can pick one up.
Video seems to be a "warmer" medium - much the same as vinyl seems "warmer" than CD,but that might just be an age thing!

"Either this man's dead or my watch has stopped".

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] teaandoranges 14 years ago

I saw this for the first time last night on TCM. I remember it from my childhood and that it had a adult theme. I loved the movie but hated Toby. I suppose in the context of the early 1960's his behavior was common. She was so much better than him and hopefully in the folllowing novels he realized it. I see the movie was made in Notting Hill is that the same Notting Hill in the Hugh Grant picture? It had so much more character in this movie. I loved the character of the old West End singer. Who wouldn't want to sit by her fire and have a cup of tea while she addressed her Christmas Cards. (Touching that she sends hers out early to make sure she gets cards back)

[–] chilaili 14 years ago

I watched it for the first time ever last night and MISSED THE LAST 10 MINUTES! What happened? Did she and Toby stay together? Does she stay living in the house? Does she keep the baby?

[–] tdl797 14 years ago

****MAJOR SPOILERS!!!****

***Do not read if you haven't seen the film***

She has a girl. Toby visits her in the hospital and she reveals she is moving back with her parents and that her dad has already mailed her a ticket. She gets out of the hospital and she returns to the apartment building. A young lady is already renting her room and has her luggage. They speak and the young lady is a lot like her at first, not liking the apartment or people, but she now thinks quite fondly of both. As she leaves she goes to Toby's apartment and he is not there. She places a note for Toby on his typewriter which faces the camera. It says something like:

The story has no ending. It would be marvelous with an ending.

Then the credits roll.

TCM showed a Natalie Wood film that also dealt with abortion earlier this year that was also a very touching film. That had more to do with abortion being illegal at that time and the danger of having them done outside of a clinic, whereas this one, everyone was trying to get her to do it.