#417: ANDERSON, Lindsay: This Sporting Life (1963)

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ANDERSON, Lindsay (United Kingdom)
This Sporting Life [1963]
Spine #417
DVD


One of the finest British films ever made, this benchmark of "kitchen-sink realism" follows the self-defeating professional and romantic pursuits of a miner turned rugby player eking out an existence in drab Yorkshire. With an astonishing, raging performance by a young Richard Harris, an equally blistering turn by fellow Oscar nominee Rachael Roberts as the widow with whom he lodges, and electrifying direction by Lindsay Anderson, in his feature-film debut following years of documentary work, This Sporting Life remains a dramatic powerhouse.

134 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
1:66:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2007
Director/Writers


Based on the novel by David Storey.
Screenplay by Storey.
Lindsay Anderson was 40 when he directed This Sporting Life.

Other Anderson films in the Collection:

#391: If.... (1969)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Thirty-six page booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Neil Sinyard and an article by Anderson from 1963.

Commentary

Featuring Paul Ryan, editor of Never Apologise: The Collected Writings of Lindsay Anderson, and Storey, screenwriter and author of This Sporting Life.

Lindsay Anerson: Lucky Man? (2004)

A short documentary from BBC Scotland featuring interviews with many of the director’s friends and collaborators.
Video interview

With Anderson’s first producer and close friend Lois Sutcliffe Smith.
Meet the Pioneers (1948)

Anderson’s first film, a documentary short about a mining engineering firm.
Wakefield Express (1952)

An early documentary by Anderson about the town that later served as the setting for This Sporting Life.
Is That All There Is? (1993)

Anderson’s autobiographical final film.
Theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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