This Sporting Life

1 9 6 3 (UK)

Great performances all round in this first-rate debut from Lindsay Anderson. Richard Harris is Frank Machin - the miner and rugby league player whose brutal environment has taught him to know only the language of violence.

Frank yearns for the love of his landlady, Mrs. Hammond (Rachel Roberts), a passionless widow, who eventually has a physical relationship with Frank but refuses any emotional involvement.

Frank meanwhile remains the star of the rugby club, and as long as he performs on the field his waywardness is tolerated. Mrs. Hammond eventually grows tired of Frank's callousness and they fight terribly at the wedding of a friend and split up.

Frank realises how much he needs Rachel’s love and tries to patch things up, but tragedy awaits his attempt at reconciliation. Finally, Frank is left only with the violent world of rugby, in which he is only as good as his last game.