Man at the Top is a 1973 British drama film directed by Mike Vardy. Joe Lampton, played by Kenneth Haigh, is from the north, and he moves to London to start his new job as the Managing Director of a pharmaceutical company owned by Lord Ackerman, played by Harry Andrews.
Joe meets Lord Ackerman's wife Alex, played by Nanette Newman, and is soon drawn to her beauty and sophistication. He also meets their daughter Robin, played by Jill Townsend, who is the same age as Joe and they begin a casual relationship.
As Joe settles into his new job, he discovers some unsettling information. His predecessor committed suicide suspiciously, and Joe begins to question the company's practices that may have led to this tragedy. Joe's curiosity and outspokenness earn him enemies, including Lord Ackerman, who becomes increasingly paranoid and controlling.
Joe's relationship with Alex also intensifies, leading to a confrontation with Lord Ackerman. In the end, Joe must decide whether to stay and fight the corruption or leave and start anew.
The film's themes of power, corruption, and the struggle for success were popular of the era, and it was a part of a series of adaptations based on John Brain's Joe Lampton novels.