The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)

Director:

Tony Richardson

Writers:

Alan Sillitoe (screenplay)
Alan Sillitoe (short story)

Release Date:

8 October 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Plot:

A rebellious youth, sentenced to a boy's reformatory for robbing a bakery, rises through the ranks of...

Plot Keywords:

Runner | Told In Flashback | Flashback | Rebellion | Family Relationships

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win

Cast

Michael Redgrave	...	Ruxton Towers Reformatory governor
Tom Courtenay	...	Colin Smith
Avis Bunnage	...	Mrs. Smith
Alec McCowen	...	Brown, House Master
James Bolam	...	Mike
Joe Robinson	...	Roach
Dervis Ward	...	Detective
Topsy Jane	...	Audrey
Julia Foster	...	Gladys
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ray Austin	...	Craig
John Brooking	...	Green
John Bull	...	Ronalds
James Cairncross	...	Mr. Jones
Peter Duguid	...	Doctor
Raymond Dyer	...	Gordon, Mrs. Smith's Boyfriend
Frank Finlay	...	Booking Office Clerk
James Fox	...	Willy Gunthorpe - Ranley School Runner
William Ash Hammond	...	Johnny Smith
Peter Kriss	...	Scott
Peter Madden	...	Mr. Smith
Philip Martin	...	Stacy, Drake House Leader
Arthur Mullard	...	Craig
Christopher Parker	...	Bill Smith
Robert Percival	...	Tory Politician
Anthony Sagar	...	Fenton
John Thaw	...	Bosworth
Chris Williams	...	Public School Boy

Also Known As:

Rebel with a Cause
A hosszútávfutó magányossága (Hungary) [hu]
Die Einsamkeit des Langstreckenläufers (West Germany) [de]
Gioventù amore e rabbia (Italy) [it]
Kaikista kapinallisin (Finland) [fi]
Långdistanslöparen (Sweden) [sv]
La soledad del corredor de fondo (Spain) [es]
La solitude du coureur de fond (France) [fr]
O epanastatis (Greece) [el]
Sejr eller nederlag? (Denmark) [da]

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIA | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (re-rating) (2002) | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Camber Sands, Camber, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Woodfall Film Productions

Trivia:

First film of Julia Foster.

Quotes:

Brown, House Master: So, uh, how do you come to be here?
Colin Smith: [puzzled] I got sent, didn't I?
Brown, House Master: [chuckles] Yes, I know you got sent, but why?
Colin Smith: I got caught. Didn't run fast enough!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Master Ninja II (#4.24)" (1992)

Not as relevant as it was but still interesting, well acted and has memorable moments

After getting caught robbing a bakery, Colin Smith is sent to Ruxton Towers reformatory as punishment. Working out the system quite quickly, Colin sets out to divert attention from himself, ingratiate himself with the Governor and thus have a better chance of getting an easy ride and being let out early. His background in distance running (and speed at running from the scene of his crimes) bring him to the fore in the athletics competitions and it is not long before Colin is allowed out alone to train. During his long runs Colin has time to think back over his life outside, the fun, the family upbringing and the crimes that landed him inside.

Although it has dated and is not as relevant anymore, this is still an interesting film that looks at the trap of being born into a working class family with limited opportunities and a bleak future ahead of you. The film uses flashbacks well to judge the system without being too obvious – the family background, the small hopes and dreams, the lack of inspiration etc; they all lead Colin into a petty life of crime. The structure works well to keep both threads (in and out) moving ahead well and it is interesting enough. The film also (in my opinion) is pretty fair by showing how those at the bottom of the ladder also must blame themselves for failing to take the chances offered to them – as shown by Colin's possible athletics career. This is a fair comment and helps to prevent this becoming just a rant in defence of the downtrodden classes.

Watching it today sees it lose a lot of its relevance because the class distinction is less evident now that it was then and Colin would be a lot less likable if we were a modern day Chav with a "f*** you" attitude and no education – at least here we are able to feel for him a bit. As it is Courtenay (now Sir Courtenay) plays it very well – Colin is a human, someone we like but also someone trapped in a situation that is partly his own making. Redgrave plays the upperclass Governor very well and we at once are for him and against him, feeling sorry for his failing attempts to help. Support is pretty realistic (well – I assume anyway) for the period and Bolam is a surprise find in a young role.

Overall this is still a good film but, as with anything set in a very realistic setting, it is not as relevant today as it was then. It is still interesting though and has things to say that still generally apply today even if class is less of an issue (now money has less to do with class than it did then). The acting is good, the direction is very down to earth and realistic and the film is still well worth seeing (with that very memorable conclusion to the race being a very memorable moment).