A rebellious youth, sentenced to a boy’s reformatory for robbing a bakery, rises through the ranks of the institution by impressing its Governor through his prowess as a long distance runner. He is encouraged to compete in an upcoming race, but faces ridicule from his peers.
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film Cast:
- Ruxton Towers Reformatory Governor: Michael Redgrave
- Colin Smith: Tom Courtenay
- Mrs. Smith: Avis Bunnage
- Brown, House Master: Alec McCowen
- Mike: James Bolam
- Roach: Joe Robinson
- Detective: Dervis Ward
- Audrey: Topsy Jane
- Gladys: Julia Foster
- Willy Gunthorpe – Ranley School Runner (uncredited): James Fox
- Bosworth (uncredited): John Thaw
- Chief Borstal Officer (uncredited): Arthur Mullard
- Stacy (uncredited): Philip Martin
- Green (uncredited): John Brooking
- Gordon (uncredited): Raymond Dyer
- Fenton (uncredited): Anthony Sagar
- Scott (uncredited): Peter Kriss
- Mr. Smith (uncredited): Peter Madden
- Lord Jaspers (uncredited): Dallas Cavell
- Mr. Jones (uncredited): James Cairncross
- Booking Office Clerk (uncredited): Frank Finlay
- Tory Politician (uncredited): Robert Percival
- Harry Craig (uncredited): Ray Austin
- Borstal Inmate (uncredited): Derek Fowlds
- Borstal Inmate (uncredited): Billy Murray
- Army Officer at Sports Day (uncredited): Ernest Blyth
- Man in Cafe (uncredited): Jim Brady
- Ronalds (uncredited): John Bull
- Doctor (uncredited): Peter Duguid
- Bit Part (uncredited): Charles Dyer
- Extra (uncredited): Edward Fox
- Johnny Smith – Colin’s Brother (uncredited): Brian Hammond
- Johnny Smith – Colin’s Brother (uncredited): William Ash Hammond
- Army Officer at Sports Day (uncredited): Victor Harrington
- Sports Day Spectator (uncredited): Aileen Lewis
- Borstal Master at Meeting (uncredited): Fred Machon
- Alice Smith – Colin’s Sister (uncredited): Anita Oliver
- Bill Smith – Colin’s Brother (uncredited): Christopher Parker
- Borstal Master in Workshop (uncredited): Joe Phelps
- Spectator at Sports Day (uncredited): Corin Redgrave
- Prison Warder (uncredited): Doug Robinson
- Plainclothes Policeman (uncredited): Robert Vossler
- Ranley Headmaster (uncredited): John Wilder
- Ranley Boy (uncredited): Chris Williams
Film Crew:
- Producer: Tony Richardson
- Story: Alan Sillitoe
- Casting: Maude Spector
- Production Design: Ralph W. Brinton
- Art Direction: Edward Marshall
- Costume Design: Sophie Devine
- Makeup Artist: Jimmy Evans
- Hairdresser: Bobbie Smith
- Assistant Director: Basil Rayburn
- Third Assistant Director: John Danischewsky
- Second Assistant Director: Andrew Mollo
- Set Dresser: Josie MacAvin
- Sound Recordist: Norman Bolland
- Sound Editor: Don Challis
- Sound Director: Stephen Dalby
- Stunts: Dave Tracey
- Stunts: Robin Webb
- Boom Operator: Tom Buchanan
- Camera Operator: Desmond Davis
- Music: John Addison
- Director of Photography: Walter Lassally
- Editor: Antony Gibbs
- Associate Producer: Michael Holden
Movie Reviews:
- CinemaSerf: Tom Courtenay is superb as “Colin Smith” who, along with his pal “Mike” (James Bolam) spends much of his time committing petty crimes to alleviate the boredom of his life. When his father dies, his rather venal mother (Avis Bunnage) can’t wait for the insurance money; hooks up almost immediately with another man and this all serves to push “Colin” further into his criminal activities. He is eventually apprehended after robbing a bakery and sent to a reformatory where warden Michael Redgrave spots his abilities as a runner. Determined to help the boy from his path of self-destruction the two begin an uneasy relationship that continues after his release when he must race for his school against a neighbouring private school that has advantage and privilege. It is a superbly paced, considerately directed rite-of-passage story; a young man facing indifference from family and society who lucks out, to some extent, with an authority figure who actually gives a damn. At times bleak, it offers quite an interesting insight into the (lack of) opportunity for many in early sixties Britain. The performances are strong, based on good, solid writing supported well by a few now familiar faces – Edward & James Fox; Frank Finlay and Derek Fowlds.
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