This Sporting Life (1963)

Cast

Richard Harris
as Frank Machin
Edward Fox
as Restaurant Barman
William Hartnell
as 'Dad' Johnson
Glenda Jackson
as Singer At Party

Get more information about This Sporting Life (1963) on IMDb

Genres & Description

Action Drama Sport

7.8 / 10

In Northern England in the early 1960s, Frank Machin is mean, tough and ambitious enough to become an immediate star in the rugby league team run by local employer Weaver. Machin lodges with Mrs Hammond, whose husband was killed in an accident at Weaver's, but his impulsive and angry nature stop him from being able to reach her as he would like. He becomes increasingly frustrated with his situation, and this is not helped by the more straightforward enticements of Mrs Weaver.

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Comments on this trailer
Comments may include spoiler!

steve radford

Although shown on TV countless times it's only over this last Christmas (2017) that I finally watched this. Yes, very melodramatic as people always told me it was but I was very pleasantly surprised at the VERY erotic bath scene between Harris and Colin Blakely. You don't actually SEE anything but the super-macho/homo- erotic "horse play"(isn't that what they usually call it)is quite electric!. Only Northern RL hardmen types (and of course members of RM/Parachute regiment)could pull this off.If that's the correct expression in a situation like this?. - @Wednesday, December 27, 2017 1:03 PM

TungstenKid

What a load of dated crap! Were people really as dumb as that in the 1960's? - @Tuesday, January 15, 2013 12:06 AM

maritime22

Rachel Roberts was a very talented Welsh girl from Llanelli. Sadly the marriage to Rex Harrison ended in divorce. She took her own life by swallowing poison in 1980. I find this so very sad. Wales has produced many fantastic top class dramatists and actors! Listen to her in "Under Milk Wood", wonderful. - @Wednesday, April 4, 2012 12:25 AM

Deveney Smith

DUMBLEDORE!! - @Friday, January 13, 2012 8:38 PM

powergirl901

Rachel Roberts really got her face kissed by some brutish brits in her time. wow! - @Monday, December 12, 2011 8:20 PM

whispperson

Rachel Roberts is one of the most underated Actress'es that has ever been. A sadly missed talent who deserves to be better Known. - @Wednesday, February 23, 2011 7:27 PM

Similie

Richard Harris is incredible in this movie. - @Tuesday, December 14, 2010 9:13 AM

1400deadwood

@sofocles99 ~ EXCELLENT post. How very true. She definitely deserved an Oscar for her very moving portrayal. But let's face it, all too often the judges for those awards at that time were just too biased in favor of American films and actors. Perhaps this is why she didn't get that richly deserved award. - @Saturday, December 11, 2010 5:30 AM

sablin

How Rachel Roberts never won the Oscar for best actress is the real tragedy of this film.Not only a great performance for that year but one of the greatest of all time. - @Tuesday, November 2, 2010 1:55 PM

Sergio Aguero

@JuanMacready Brando was a jumped up tosspot who thought he was better than he really was. Harris was a hellraiser, genius and a powerful actor, watch the Parkinson interview at the side there and see what kind of idiot Brando was. - @Saturday, October 9, 2010 4:27 PM

StumbleUK

Don't you go dissin my wallpaper! - @Tuesday, September 28, 2010 4:37 AM

Sergio Aguero

@JuanMacready Marlon Brando impression and how did you come to that conclusion you tithead? - @Monday, September 20, 2010 9:59 AM

iown813

@JuanMacready Go watch Transformers jackass - @Monday, August 2, 2010 8:21 AM

stum py

i came from wakefield west yorkshire what a good film - @Monday, October 5, 2009 5:05 PM