The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Directed by Tony Richardson
Writer: Alan Sillitoe
1962



  • Fleet-footed Colin Smith (Tom Courtenay) is a rebellious teenager in the poverty-stricken town of Nottingham, in northern England, who enjoys running as an escape from his harsh reality. Caught stealing cash from a bakery, Colin is sent to a reform school where the manipulative governor (Michael Redgrave) promotes sports as rehabilitation by enlisting Colin in a foot race against a prestigious rival school. What the governor doesn't realize is that Colin is not so easily disciplined.
  • Michael Redgrave ... Ruxton Towers Reformatory Governor
    Tom Courtenay ... Colin Smith
    Avis Bunnage ... Mrs. Smith
    Alec McCowen ... Mr. Brown
    James Bolam ... Mike
    Joe Robinson ... Mr. Roach
    Dervis Ward ... Detective
    Topsy Jane ... Audrey
    Julia Foster ... Gladys
    Ray Austin ... Harry Craig (uncredited)
    Ernest Blyth ... Army Officer at Sports Day (uncredited)
    John Brooking ... Green (uncredited)
    John Bull ... Ronalds (uncredited)
    James Cairncross ... Mr. Jones (uncredited)
    Dallas Cavell ... Lord Jaspers (uncredited)
    Peter Duguid ... Doctor (uncredited)
    Charles Dyer ... Bit Part (uncredited)
    Raymond Dyer ... Gordon (uncredited)
    Frank Finlay ... Booking Office Clerk (uncredited)
    Derek Fowlds ... Borstal Inmate (uncredited)
    Edward Fox ... Extra (uncredited)
    James Fox ... Willy Gunthorpe (uncredited)
    Brian Hammond ... Johnny Smith (uncredited)
    William Ash Hammond ... Johnny Smith (uncredited)
    Victor Harrington ... Army Officer at Sports Day (uncredited)
    Peter Kriss ... Scott (uncredited)
    Aileen Lewis ... Sports Day Spectator (uncredited)
    Peter Madden ... Mr. Smith (uncredited)
    Philip Martin ... Stacy (uncredited)
    Arthur Mullard ... Chief Borstal Officer (uncredited)
    Jim O'Brady ... Man in Cafe (uncredited)
    Anita Oliver ... Alice Smith (uncredited)
    Christopher Parker ... Bill Smith (uncredited)
    Robert Percival ... Tory Politician (uncredited)
    Doug Robinson ... Prison Warder (uncredited)
    Anthony Sagar ... Mr. Fenton (uncredited)
    John Thaw ... Bosworth (uncredited)
    Chris Williams ... Ranley Boy (uncredited)