Rent The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)
3.9 of 5 from 168 ratings
1h 40min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Following the success of Karel Reisz's 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning', Alan Sillitoe adapted another of his works for the screen, this time a short story of a disillusioned teenager rebelling against the system to make Tony Richardson's 'The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner' one of the great British films of the 1960's. Newcomer Tom Courtenay is compelling as the sullen, defiant Colin, refusing to follow his dying father into a factory job, railing against the capitalist bosses and preferring to make a living from petty thieving. Arrested for burglary and sent to borstal, Colin discovers a talent for cross-country running, earning him special treatment from the governor (Michael Redgrave), and the chance to redeem himself from anti-social tearaway to sports day hero. With Colin a favourite to win against a local public school, tensions build as the day approaches... - Actors:
- Michael Redgrave, Tom Courtenay, Avis Bunnage, Alec McCowen, James Bolam, Joe Robinson, Dervis Ward, Topsy Jane, Julia Foster, Ray Austin, John Brooking, John Bull, James Cairncross, Dallas Cavell, Peter Duguid, Raymond Dyer, Frank Finlay, Edward Fox, James Fox, Brian Hammond
- Directors:
- Tony Richardson
- Writers:
- Alan Sillitoe
- Studio:
- BFI Video
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Sports & Sport Films
- Collections:
- A World of Difference: A History of Gay Cinema, All the Twos: 1902-62, Back to School: Best Films Featuring Teachers, Behind Bars: Visit These Essential Prison Films, Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 1, Drama Films & TV, Top 100 BFI Films, Top Films
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 23/03/2009
- Run Time:
- 104 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- Bonus:
- Commentary by film historian Robert Murphy, with lead actor Tom Courtenay and writer Alan Sillitoe
- Video essay by cinematographer Walter Lassally
- Momma Don't Allow (1956), Tony Richardson's Free Cinema documentary shot by Walter Lassally
