TOM COURTENAY 'THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER'

Tom Courtenay & James Bolam THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER Year: 1962 Rating: *****

Although SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING gets credit for igniting the British New Wave, otherwise known as Kitchen Sink Dramas centering on the working class in England's late 50's/early 60's, that film's producer Tony Richardson's directorial THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER really thrust the movement forward...

With an active sport-plot behind character-driven, documentary-style social themes, Tom Courtenay plays young contented loser Colin Smith, newly arrived at a rural juvenile detention center from a renovated castle, run by ambitious warden (aka governor) Michael Redgrave...

Tom Courtenay in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runnerneous

With a narrowed scowl that Courtenay had only during his cinematic youth, he doesn't fit-in and doesn't want to... until the subtly manipulative Redgrave discovers (to win an important/anticipated race) the kid's talent in running...

An outlet for Colin's random flashbacks, with a jovial jazz score contrasting the sparse B&W aesthetic beneath a smog-soaked factory skyline — which ultimately leads to the pivotal crime that got him locked-up in the first place...

James Bolam in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

These detours include eclectic hangout sequences of family, best friend and girlfriends that would make up an otherwise ordinary Kitchen Sinker including tough, newly widowed mother Avis Bunnage (who deserved a best supporting award) and rebellious yet affable James Bolam as his partner-in-spontaneous-crimes...

Either watching a new television inside or hooking up with local girls outside (Topsy Jane and Julia Foster), the only drag is the very predictable prideful-slacker ending since, despite the grim themes of death and imprisonment, RUNNER is an otherwise optimistic and surreal, creatively-edited, darkly comedic glance into going nowhere slowly, on purpose.

Topsy Jane in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Julia Foster in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Topsy Jane

Topsy Jane in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Frank Finlay in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Joe Robinson (right() The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Avis Bunnage in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Avis Bunnage in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Waking with The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

John Thaw in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

John Thaw in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

John Thaw in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Alec McCowen (prison shrink) The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Joe Robinson

Running with The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay and Philip Martin

Tony Richardson's The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Avis Bunnage in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Titles for The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

Prison/Running Rival Philip Martin in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Topsy Jane in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Topsy Jane in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Topsy Jane in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

James Bolam in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Julia Foster

James Bolam in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Tom Courtenay

John Thaw in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with Michael Redgrave

Julia Foster and Topsy Jane in THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER

Tom Courtenay THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER