Product Description

Classic "angry young man" movie from director Tony Richardson chronicles rebellious British teenager Tom Courtenay's experiences in a reformatory, where he finds long-distance running an outlet for his anger and defiance. Michael Redgrave, Avis Bunnage and Peter Madden co-star. 100 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #156138 in DVD
• Formats: Black & White, Widescreen, NTSC
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Customer Reviews

Powerful, Depressing Drama from 60s Cinema
This movie has the bleak, moody look and soundtrack so popular in the 1960s British cinema and is adapted by Allan Sillitoe from his excellent short story of the same name.

Courtenay gives a great performance as the working class, misguided youth whose talent for running makes him stand out in his rough, reform school environs. Dramatic, depressing but always captivating...right to the pulse pounding climax.

Too bad this no-frills DVD includes no special features. It is, however, a very good film and an excellent DVD transfer.

Powerful Story -- Decent Execution
The writer, Alan Sillitoe, wrote this British drama in the late 1950s. Tony Richardson directed Tom Courtenay as Colin Smith, the lead character, in the 1962 British film of the same name, "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.

The story shows a troubled, working class Brit who ends up in a reform school. His penchant for running earns him privileges. It seems the only time he can reflect back on his past, and how he came to be where he is, is while running.

During the big long-distance race against an always victorious private boys school, the runner experiences the final flashbacks that result in his life altering decision at the conclusion of the big race.