Read the newspaper review of a film and try to explain the idioms in bold.
TUMBLE (James Reed 1972) BBC 2 10:45 pm
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James Reed's classic production, starring Chuck Williams, Jay Johnson and Glenda Moore, tells the tale of a man who rises to 1) the top of the ladder, before ending up as a 2) down-and-out begging for money and 3) living roughon the streets of New York.
At the beginning of the story, we meet Charlie Renton (Chuck Williams) who is 4) as poor as a church mouseand lives in a tiny basement flat inBrooklyn. By luck, he manages to get a job with a big exporting company, and so begins his rapid rise 5) from rags to riches.,
Quickly, the 6) up-and-comingyoung businessman becomes the company director's 7) right hand manand miraculously helps the firm to double its I profits in just one year. Then, following the retirement of his superior (Jay Johnson), Charlie finds himself 8) calling the shots in the company.
For a while, everything seems fine: Charlie marries Charlene (Glenda Moore), moves into a fantastic house and joins 9) the jet setwith their extravagant parties, exclusive country clubs and flashy spoils cars. Unfortunately, it is at this point that his slide down 10) the slippery slope towards self-destruction begins,
Tumble is a magnificently directed study of human behaviour with a highly talented cast. Be prepared for some tear-jerking scenes, but don't miss it.