This Sporting Life (1963)

Set in a small working class town in Yorkshire, a crude and vulgar professional Rugby player (Richard Harris) is a great success on the playing field. But his attempts at romance with his landlady (Rachel Roberts) are less successful. Based on the novel by David Storey (who adapted his novel for the screen) and directed by Lindsay Anderson (O LUCKY MAN) in his feature film directorial debut.  In the mid to late 1950s, the British cinema seemed in a state of stagnation. But beginning in the 1960s, British cinema shook the international film industry with a bevy of exciting new directors like Tony Richardson, Karel Reisz, John Schlesinger, Richard Lester and John Boorman among them. Lindsay Anderson's THIS SPORTING LIFE was one of the key British films of this period. This examination of loneliness among the working class is raw and vital. Richard Harris and Rachel Roberts received Oscar nominations for their performances with Harris also getting the best actor award at the Cannes film festival and Roberts receiving the BAFTA award for best actress. Both have never been better. With Alan Badel, Colin Blakely, William Hartnell, Vanda Godsell and Arthur Lowe.