{"id":77482,"date":"2021-10-20T15:17:32","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T22:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77482"},"modified":"2021-10-20T15:25:32","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T22:25:32","slug":"loneliness-of-the-long-distance-runner-the-rebel-with-a-cause-1962","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77482","title":{"rendered":"Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, The \/ Rebel With a Cause (1962)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;It pays to play the governor&#8217;s game here.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-of-the-Long-Distance-Runner-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-of-the-Long-Distance-Runner-Poster-195x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-77483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-of-the-Long-Distance-Runner-Poster-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-of-the-Long-Distance-Runner-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-of-the-Long-Distance-Runner-Poster-176x270.png 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-of-the-Long-Distance-Runner-Poster.png 623w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA working-class British teenager (Tom Courtenay) serving time in a reformatory is encouraged by its director (Michael Redgrave) to develop his passion for long-distance running, and spends time during his runs reflecting back on the troubled past that led him to his incarceration.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Class Relations<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Juvenile Delinquents<\/li>\n<li>Michael Redgrave Films<\/li>\n<li>Tom Courtenay Films<\/li>\n<li>Tony Richardson Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary is less than enamored with this &#8220;Kitchen Sink Drama&#8221; by director Tony Richardson &#8212; based on <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Loneliness_of_the_Long-Distance_Runner\">Alan Sillitoe&#8217;s short story<\/a> &#8212; which portray&#8217;s Courtenay&#8217;s Colin Smith as &#8220;one of the many angry men of the British working-class cinema of the day.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Stealing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Stealing-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Stealing-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Stealing-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Stealing-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Stealing-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Stealing-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Stealing.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary points out that we see yet &#8220;another bleak view&#8230; of British working-class society&#8221; in, for instance, Smith&#8217;s resentment of &#8220;his shrewish mother (Avis Bunnage) frittering away his dead father&#8217;s insurance money, then kicking him out until he could contribute some money himself.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Spending.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Spending-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Spending-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Spending-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Spending-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Spending-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Spending-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Spending.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Shrew.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Shrew-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Shrew-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Shrew-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Shrew-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Shrew-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Shrew-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Shrew.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>  <\/p>\n<p>At least in addition to reflecting back on &#8220;his dreary home life&#8221; and &#8220;being beaten by a policeman,&#8221; we&#8217;re also shown Smith thinking about &#8220;his moments of escape with his girlfriend&#8221; (Topsy Jane):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Girlfriend.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Girlfriend-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Girlfriend-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Girlfriend-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Girlfriend-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Girlfriend-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Girlfriend-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Girlfriend.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With that said, I wish we were given more context about how and why Courtenay turns to a life of petty crime; as Peary writes, &#8220;Smith&#8217;s reasons for his defiance should be clearer and have to do with his developing an understanding of society and authority.&#8221; However, I disagree with Peary&#8217;s assertion that &#8220;we have to understand better why he relates the governor to his past life&#8221; &#8212; to me, it&#8217;s crystal clear that Redgrave&#8217;s &#8220;pompous, paternalistic&#8221; arrogance epitomizes everything Smith loathes about the unfair class system in Britain. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Redgrave.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Redgrave-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Redgrave-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Redgrave-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Redgrave-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Redgrave-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Redgrave-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Redgrave.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While this is not a film I relish revisiting &#8212; I hadn&#8217;t seen it since being introduced to it years ago in a Film Appreciation class in college &#8212; I believe it should be viewed once simply for its relevance in cinematic history. Watch for James Fox in his first credited role as Courtenay&#8217;s running rival: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Fox.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Fox-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Fox-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Fox-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Fox-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Fox-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Fox-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Fox.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tom Courtenay as Colin Smith<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Courtenay.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Courtenay-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Courtenay-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Courtenay-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Courtenay-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Courtenay-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Courtenay-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Courtenay.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Walter Lassally&#8217;s fine location shooting and cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Cinematography-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Cinematography-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Cinematography-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Cinematography-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Cinematography-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Cinematography-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Cinematography.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Burning.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Burning-1024x580.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-77498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Burning-1024x580.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Burning-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Burning-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Burning-768x435.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Burning-477x270.png 477w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Loneliness-Burning.png 1272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, for its historical relevance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0056194\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/the-loneliness-of-the-long-distance-runner\/review\/2000343664\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/81721\/the-loneliness-of-the-long-distance-runner#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It pays to play the governor&#8217;s game here.&#8221; Synopsis: A working-class British teenager (Tom Courtenay) serving time in a reformatory is encouraged by its director (Michael Redgrave) to develop his passion for long-distance running, and spends time during his runs reflecting back on the troubled past that led him to his incarceration. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Class Relations Flashback Films Juvenile Delinquents Michael Redgrave Films Tom Courtenay Films Tony Richardson Films Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: Peary is less than&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=77482\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77482"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77507,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77482\/revisions\/77507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}