This Sporting Life – 1963 | 134mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

David Storey’s novel This Sporting Life, was an autobiographically flavoured tale about a rugby league player in Yorkshire, it had been published in 1960 and had received critical attention. Rank secured the film rights, preliminary work with Joseph Losey as director did not lead to anything and Karel Reisz was approached to direct the film adaptation. However, Reisz was reluctant to direct another north-country subject, he contacted Lindsay Anderson and asked if he would direct This Sporting Life if Reisz produced, Anderson consented.

This Sporting Life is a kitchen sink drama telling the story of a tragic love between rugby player Frank Machin (Richard Harris), and widow Mrs Hammond (Rachel Roberts). Frank Machin, an aggressive Yorkshire coal miner becomes a local celebrity as a professional rugby player. Frank yearns for the love of his landlady, Mrs. Hammond, a passionless widow, who eventually has a physical relationship with Frank but refuses any emotional involvement. Frank meanwhile remains the star of the rugby club’, and as long as he performs on the field, his waywardness is tolerated. Mrs. Hammond eventually grows tired of Frank’s callousness; they fight terribly at the wedding of a friend and split up. Franks realises how much he needs Rachel’s love and tries to patch things up, but tragedy await 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.