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Drama

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

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A rebellious youth, sentenced to a boy’s reformatory for robbing a bakery, rises through the ranks of the institution by impressing its Governor through his prowess as a long distance runner. He is encouraged to compete in an upcoming race, but faces ridicule from his peers.

Release Date : 1962-09-20

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Woodfall Film Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Michael Redgrave

Character Name : Ruxton Towers Reformatory Governor

Original Name : Michael Redgrave

Gender : Male

Tom Courtenay

Character Name : Colin Smith

Original Name : Tom Courtenay

Gender : Male

Avis Bunnage

Character Name : Mrs. Smith

Original Name : Avis Bunnage

Gender : Female

Alec McCowen

Character Name : Brown, House Master

Original Name : Alec McCowen

Gender : Male

James Bolam

Character Name : Mike

Original Name : James Bolam

Gender : Male

Joe Robinson

Character Name : Roach

Original Name : Joe Robinson

Gender : Male

Dervis Ward

Character Name : Detective

Original Name : Dervis Ward

Gender : Male

Topsy Jane

Character Name : Audrey

Original Name : Topsy Jane

Gender : Female

Julia Foster

Character Name : Gladys

Original Name : Julia Foster

Gender : Female

James Fox

Character Name : Willy Gunthorpe - Ranley School Runner (uncredited)

Original Name : James Fox

Gender : Male

John Thaw

Character Name : Bosworth (uncredited)

Original Name : John Thaw

Gender : Male

Arthur Mullard

Character Name : Chief Borstal Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Mullard

Gender : Male

Philip Martin

Character Name : Stacy (uncredited)

Original Name : Philip Martin

Gender : Male

John Brooking

Character Name : Green (uncredited)

Original Name : John Brooking

Gender : Male

Raymond Dyer

Character Name : Gordon (uncredited)

Original Name : Raymond Dyer

Gender : Male

Anthony Sagar

Character Name : Fenton (uncredited)

Original Name : Anthony Sagar

Gender : Male

Peter Kriss

Character Name : Scott (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Kriss

Gender : Male

Peter Madden

Character Name : Mr. Smith (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Madden

Gender : Male

Dallas Cavell

Character Name : Lord Jaspers (uncredited)

Original Name : Dallas Cavell

Gender : Male

James Cairncross

Character Name : Mr. Jones (uncredited)

Original Name : James Cairncross

Gender : Male

Frank Finlay

Character Name : Booking Office Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Finlay

Gender : Male

Robert Percival

Character Name : Tory Politician (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Percival

Gender : Male

Ray Austin

Character Name : Harry Craig (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Austin

Gender : Male

Derek Fowlds

Character Name : Borstal Inmate (uncredited)

Original Name : Derek Fowlds

Gender : Male

Billy Murray

Character Name : Borstal Inmate (uncredited)

Original Name : Billy Murray

Gender : Male

Ernest Blyth

Character Name : Army Officer at Sports Day (uncredited)

Original Name : Ernest Blyth

Gender : Male

Jim Brady

Character Name : Man in Cafe (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Brady

Gender : Male

John Bull

Character Name : Ronalds (uncredited)

Original Name : John Bull

Gender : Male

Peter Duguid

Character Name : Doctor (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Duguid

Gender : Male

Charles Dyer

Character Name : Bit Part (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Dyer

Gender : Male

Edward Fox

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward Fox

Gender : Male

Brian Hammond

Character Name : Johnny Smith - Colin's Brother (uncredited)

Original Name : Brian Hammond

Gender : Male

William Ash Hammond

Character Name : Johnny Smith - Colin's Brother (uncredited)

Original Name : William Ash Hammond

Gender : Male

Victor Harrington

Character Name : Army Officer at Sports Day (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Harrington

Gender : Male

Aileen Lewis

Character Name : Sports Day Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Aileen Lewis

Gender : Female

Fred Machon

Character Name : Borstal Master at Meeting (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Machon

Gender : Male

Philip Martin

Character Name : Stacy (uncredited)

Original Name : Philip Martin

Gender : Male

Anita Oliver

Character Name : Alice Smith - Colin's Sister (uncredited)

Original Name : Anita Oliver

Gender : Male

Christopher Parker

Character Name : Bill Smith - Colin's Brother (uncredited)

Original Name : Christopher Parker

Gender : Male

Joe Phelps

Character Name : Borstal Master in Workshop (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Phelps

Gender : Male

Corin Redgrave

Character Name : Spectator at Sports Day (uncredited)

Original Name : Corin Redgrave

Gender : Male

Doug Robinson

Character Name : Prison Warder (uncredited)

Original Name : Doug Robinson

Gender : Male

Robert Vossler

Character Name : Plainclothes Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Vossler

Gender : Male

John Wilder

Character Name : Ranley Headmaster (uncredited)

Original Name : John Wilder

Gender : Male

Chris Williams

Character Name : Ranley Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Chris Williams

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-11-19

Tom Courtenay is superb as "Colin Smith" who, along with his pal "Mike" (James Bolam) spends much of his time committing petty crimes to alleviate the boredom of his life. When his father dies, his rather venal mother (Avis Bunnage) can't wait for the insurance money; hooks up almost immediately with another man and this all serves to push "Colin" further into his criminal activities. He is eventually apprehended after robbing a bakery and sent to a reformatory where warden Michael Redgrave spots his abilities as a runner. Determined to help the boy from his path of self-destruction the two begin an uneasy relationship that continues after his release when he must race for his school against a neighbouring private school that has advantage and privilege. It is a superbly paced, considerately directed rite-of-passage story; a young man facing indifference from family and society who lucks out, to some extent, with an authority figure who actually gives a damn. At times bleak, it offers quite an interesting insight into the (lack of) opportunity for many in early sixties Britain. The performances are strong, based on good, solid writing supported well by a few now familiar faces - Edward & James Fox; Frank Finlay and Derek Fowlds.