The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE
RUNNER (15)
D: Tony Richardson
British Lion/Bryanston/Woodfall (Tony
Richardson)
UK 1962
104 mins
Drama
W: Alan Sillitoe [based on his short
story]
DP: Walter Lassally
Ed: Antony Gibbs
Mus: John Addison
Tom Courtenay (Colin Smith), Michael Redgrave (The
Governor), Avis Bunnage (Mrs. Smith), Peter Madden (Mr. Smith), James Bolam (Mike)
Tony Richardson was a hugely important and influential British
filmmaker at the turn of the 1960's, helping to create a sub-genre which came to be known as kitchen sink dramas, which made heroes out of working class men, occasionally on the wrong side of the
law.
Tom Courtenay plays angry young man Colin Smith, serving a
sentence at a Borstal prison and encouraged by the governor to participate in a sports day against a local public school. During his training for the big cross country race, he uses the solitude
of the run to reflect upon his depressing life and the crime which brought him to prison.
The story sets up an ending which doubles up as a rebellious
standoff between the young, disillusioned working class and the staid, conservative ruling class.
Tom Courtenay's debut performance is excellent, deservedly
winning him a BAFTA award for Most Promising Newcomer.
8/10
