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This Sporting Life

Name: This Sporting Life
Genre: Drama
Released: 1963-02-07
Duration: 134 min
Rating: 7

★ 7,0 /10 (124 Votes)

1963 EN 134 min

Overview

In early 1960s Northern England, Frank Machin is mean, tough and ambitious enough to become an immediate star in the rugby league team run by local employer Weaver.

Stream

Release date

07/02/1963

Votes

124

Popularity

2.0

He only believed in strength - love was a word he hadn't the power to say.

Genres

Drama

Status

Released

Language

Runtime

134 min

Budget

$286,281

Richard Harris

Frank Machin

Rachel Roberts

Mrs. Margaret Hammond

Alan Badel

Gerald Weaver

William Hartnell

'Dad' Johnson

Colin Blakely

Maurice Braithwaite

Vanda Godsell

Mrs Anne Weaver

No photo

Anne Cunningham

Judith

Jack Watson

Len Miller

Arthur Lowe

Charles Slomer

No photo

Harry Markham

Wade

George Sewell

Jeff

Leonard Rossiter

Phillips, Sports Writer

No photo

Katherine Parr

Mrs Farrer

No photo

Bernadette Benson

Lynda Hammond

No photo

Andrew Nolan

Ian Hammond

No photo

Peter Duguid

Doctor

No photo

Wallas Eaton

Waiter

No photo

Anthony Woodruff

Tom, Head Waiter

No photo

Michael Logan

Riley

No photo

Murray Evans

Hooker

Tom Clegg

Gower

No photo

Ken Traill

Trainer

Frank Windsor

Dentist

No photo

John Gill

Cameron

Edward Fox

Restaurant Barman (uncredited)

Glenda Jackson

Singer at Party (uncredited)

Roy Lansford

Man in Pub (Uncredited)

Bryan Mosley

Man in Bar (uncredited)

Anton Rodgers

Restaurant Customer (uncredited)

Original Soundtrack

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It's about time you took that rock of weight off your shoulders. This Sporting Life is directed by Lindsay Anderson and written by David Storey. It stars Richard Harris, Rachel Roberts, Alan Badel, William Hartnell, Colin Blakely, Vanda Godsell and Anne Cunningham. Music is by Roberto Gerhard and cinematography by Denys Coop. Frank Machin (Harris) gets the opportunity to utilise his brute strength and angry nature out on the Rugby League field. It looks a match made in sporting heaven as Machin quickly establishes himself as a star in waiting, but off the field he is less successful at l…

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Richard Harris is on great form here as the aspiring rugby league player "Frank" in a northern English town who is about to hit the big time. An enormous payment of £1,000 is offered and that's going to change not just his life, but possibly that of his landlady "Mrs. Hammond" (Rachel Roberts). She's quite a distant widow who keeps a low profile but he's interested in her, despite her dour exterior. Yes, in a physical way - but also because he desperately wants her to start to live again. With his new career comes cash, acclaim and success but there's also an emptiness as he seeks some greater…

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