Search
What's Hot
Watchlist: Add New Fall Shows
Mega Buzz
Lost: Where Are They Now?
Fall TV Day-By-Day Grid

This Sporting Life

1963, Movie, NR, 129 mins

This Sporting Life: Review

THIS SPORTING LIFE
starstarstarstar
From its virtuoso opening shot of a rugby scrum--from the bottom, looking up--to its final emotionally draining moments, THIS SPORTING LIFE is a captivating, visceral film experience. Not only is Lindsay Anderson's (IF..., O LUCKY MAN!) first feature film one of the most poignant sports-centered movies ever made, it is also a landmark in the history of British cinema, an "Angry Young Man" classic. Adapted by David Storey (who played professional rugby at one time) from his own novel, the film follows the fortunes of Frank Machin (Richard Harris), a loutish former Yorkshire coal miner who bashes his way to local celebrity as a professional rugby player. Although pursued by a number of women, Frank starves for the love of his landlady, Mrs. Hammond (Rachel Roberts), a bitter, passionless widow, who eventually has a physical relationship with Frank but refuses to give herself to him emotionally. Meanwhile, Frank remains the darling of the rugby club's management and supporters, and as long as he performs on the field, his sullen rebelliousness is tolerated. In time, Mrs. Hammond grows tired of Frank's callousness, they fight terribly, and he moves out. Realizing how much he needs her love, Frank 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. THIS SPORTING LIFE is both a biting indictment of class-based exploitation (the club owners treat the players as mindless beasts) and a tragic story of love that founders on suppressed feelings and unconscious macho insensitivity. Harris gives an extraordinary, gut-wrenching performance reminiscent of young Marlon Brando, and Roberts brings considerable complexity to her exceptional portrayal of a woman whose emotional life is as dormant as Frank's is frustrated. The game action is hard-hitting and well captured, and cinematographer Denys Coop's gritty, detailed black and white is in the best tradition of British kitchen-sink realism. leave a comment
Are You Watching?
This Sporting Life
Loading ...
Advertisement

Shop

This Sporting Life (The Criterion Collection)
Buy This Sporting Life (The Criterion Collection) from Amazon.com
From Criterion Collection (DVD)
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $30.39 (as of 06/19/13 6:25 PM EST - more info)
This Sporting Life
Buy This Sporting Life from Amazon.com
(Amazon Instant Video)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy New: $2.99 (as of 06/19/13 6:25 PM EST - more info)

more This Sporting Life products

Our Partners

Related Websites

You might be also interested in the following websites:

Most Popular TV Shows

  1. The Bachelorette
  2. Arrested Development
  3. True Blood
  4. Pretty Little Liars
  5. Mad Men
more popular tv shows

Most Popular Celebrities

  1. Kate Middleton
  2. Kim Kardashian
  3. Ben Affleck
  4. Jennifer Garner
  5. Jennifer Lawrence
more popular celebrities

Most Popular Movies

  1. Man Of Steel
  2. This Is The End
  3. Fast & Furious 6
  4. Now You See Me
  5. The Purge
more popular movies

Top Videos

  1. The Voice
  2. The Voice
  3. The Young and the Restless
  4. The Bachelorette
  5. Entourage: One Day in the Vall...
more top videos
  • © CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ad Choice
  • Terms of Use
  • Mobile User Agreement