History Film / TheLonelinessOfTheLongDistanceRunner

It tells a story of Colin Smith (Tom Courtenay), a rebellious young working-class lad who finds himself sentenced to the Ruxton Towers borstal after stealing from a bakery. There he attracts the attention of the Governor (Creator/MichaelRedgrave), who discovers that Colin is a capable cross-country runner and can win a prize for the borstal.

!! Tropes

* AbortedArc: The plotline of the new and fresh psychiatrist full of hopes to help the borstal inmates with his new methods is entirely dropped. He has a meaningful discussion with the governor in the beginning in which he shows himself eager to rectify the young delinquents and the sceptical governor visibly tries to cool him down. However this conflict is never developped further.
* AntiHero: The main character, Colin Smith, is the one. He is a young delinquent.
* AntiVillain: Ruxton Towers Reformatory Governor. He is quite manipulative and primarily interested in the reputation of his borstal however that goes with this trope. He is eager to play by the rules if his unruly charges are honest with him.
* AwfulWeddedLife: Invoked by Colin for his parents about whom he tells that they always quarelled. Still they had four kids together so Darwin is satisfied with them. Interestingly Colin says that his (beloved) father only threatened to bash his wife's face but not that he actually hit her.
* BetaCouple: Mike and Gladys. Characteristically both boy and girl in this couple are more attractive than Colin and Audrey. Of course Colin is way more individual than his generic guy friend.
* BigGuy: Roach

* CaptainObvious: When asked by the psychiatrist why he is in Borstal Colin replies: "because I was sent here". The psychiatrist insists: "but why". Colin replies: "I got caught. Did not run fast enough". (Interestingly this answer is in fact false as it was not exactly the lack of speed that brought him to the borstal. Though it is in line with the CentralTheme)
* CentralTheme: The urge of the character of Colin Smith to always run away. As well as the impossibility to run away for good. Invoked also by Audrey.
** Once they go side by side in the dunes and Colin suddenly starts to run urging Adrey to follow him. Of course she cannot keep up.
* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed: Subverted in the end by Colin. When his father is ill it is never mentioned what his ailment is. Later Colin Smith mentions his tumor comparing it to the cashbox hidden under his shirt.
* DontCallMeSir: Subverted by Governor who wants to be called "sir" by Colin.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The character of Michael Redgrave is credited only as "Ruxton Towers Reformatory Governor".
* AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted: Played straight for Mrs Smith who quickly spends 500 quid of allowance payed to her by the company which employed her deceased husband.
* TheGenericGuy: Mike, the friend of Colin lacks any distinctive features. Also the face of Tom Courenay is way more remarkable than that of the actor playing Mike who is conventionally handsome but in a forgettable way.
* IdiotBall: Putting the stolen money in the drainpipe was not the cleverest decision. Even though Colin actually got caught only by ContrivedCoincidence the rain would easily wash the money away not in the presense of the police inspector. Then Colin would simply lose the booty.

* MathematiciansAnswer: Colin Smith is by no means a mathematician but when asked what would he do if he wins 75 thousand pounds he answers that he will count the money.
* MirroringFactions: The final sequence is dedicated to the sport event where the Ruxton Towers borstal faces a prestigious public school. When the young delinquents meet the lads from the upper-middle class it turns out that those lads have it exactly as hard there as the borstal inmates. They are usually severely beaten as a punishment.
* ParentWithNewParamour: Colin's mother, Mrs Smith brings in Brown too soon after her husband is dead.
* PetTheDog: When the Governor does not deprive the inmates in the borstal of the show despite their riot earlier this day. Of course he does in on purpose which he also lampshades. It has to be noted that at the same time one of the inmates is brutally puinished. His beating up is intercut with the performance.

* TheReveal: In the sequence in the beginning when Colin rides in a van the viewer first sees only his face. Then the camera tilts downward and it is revealed that his hands are cuffed and he is transported to the borstal with a group of other young delinquents.
* TheShrink: Appears to be closer to ''The Well-Meaning, But Dopey and Ineffective Shrink''. At least in the frozen and sceptical perception of the main character. In any case after he plays a fairly significant role in the first act he is later forgotten.

* ThatMakesMeFeelAngry: The psychiatrist who interviews Colin after his acception into the borstal induces him to tell what he thought or felt when he robbed the bakery. Colin subverts his efforts answering very matter-of-factly. E.g. that when he was robbing the bakery he was not thinking as he was robbing it.
* {{Undercrank}}: Used here several times for comedy. Mostly in the scenes where Colin and Mike run together complete with an upbeat tune. But also in the very beginning when boys' undressing is sped up.

* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Invoked by Mike who ends in the same borstal as Colin when he learns that Colin became somewhat of a favourite for the Governor and is preparing to run for the cup to win it for the establishment.

* NotSoDifferent: The final sequence is dedicated to the sport event where the Ruxton Towers borstal faces a prestigious public school. When the young delinquents meet the lads from the upper-middle class it turns out that those lads have it exactly as hard there as the borstal inmates. They are usually severely beaten as a punishment.

* LiteralistSnarking: When Smith is presented to the governor, the latter asked his name and he answers "Smith". He then is said to say to the governor "sir". He re-answers: "Sir Smith".

* PetTheDog: When governor does not deprive the inmates in the borstal of the show despite their riot earlier this day. Of course he does in on purpose which he also lampshades. It has to be noted that at the same time one of the inmates is brutally puinished. His beating up is intercut with the performance.
* PrisonRiot: Because of the atrocious food. It is promptly suppressed and the governor even allows the inmates bar for the key culprits to watch the performace of the artists who came to the borstal.

* TheShrink: Appears to be closer to ''The Well-Meaning, But Dopey And Ineffective Shrink''. At least in the frozen and sceptical perception of the main character. In any case after he plays a fairly significant role in the first act he is later forgotten.

''The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner'' is a 1962 British New Wave[=/=]KitchenSinkDrama film directed by Tony Richardson, adapted from the short story of the same name by Alan Sillitoe.

It tells a story of Colin Smith (Tom Courtenay), a rebellious young working-class lad who finds himself sentenced to a Ruxton Towers borstal after stealing from a bakery. There he attracts the attention of the Governor (Creator/MichaelRedgrave), who discovers that Colin is a capable cross-country runner and can win a prize for the borstal.

* WhatAreYouInFor: Subverted by the governor who says that he does not have to know what they've done. Of course he can read it any time he wishes.
* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Invoked by Mike who ends in the same borstal as Colin when he learns that Colin became somewhat of a favourite for the governor and is preparing to run for the cup to win it for the establishment.

This movie is somewhat similar to ''Film/SaturdayNightAndSundayMorning''. However, being made in 1962 this one is visibly artier as the New Wave reached its peak everywhere. Also, the character played here by Tom Courtenay is edgier and more complicated than Creator/AlbertFinney's in the earlier film.

''The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner'' is a 1962 British New Wave[=/=]KitchenSinkDrama film made by Tony Richardson from the short story by Alan Sillitoe.

It tells a story of Colin Smith, a young lad who finds himself in a Ruxton Towers borstal. There he attracts attention of the governor played by Creator/MichaelRedgrave. He discovers that a boy is a capable cross-country runner and can win a prize for the borstal.

This movie is somewhat similar to ''Film/SaturdayNightAndSundayMorning''. However being made in 1962 this one is visibly artier as the New Wave reached its peak everywhere. Also the character played here by Tom Courtenay is edgier and more complicated than played there by Creator/AlbertFinney.

''The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner'' is a 1962 British New Wave//KitchenSinkDrama film made by Tony Richardson from the short story by Alan Sillitoe.

[[quoteright:309:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/long_distance.jpg]]

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner is a 1962 British New Wave//KitchenSinkDrama film made by Tony Richardson from the short story by Alan Sillitoe.

This movie is somewhat similar to Film/SaturdayNightAndSundayMorning. However being made in 1962 this one is visibly artier as the New Wave reached its peak everywhere. Also the character played here by Creator/TomCourtenay is edgier and more complicated than played there by Creator/AlbertFinney.

* IAmHavingSoulPains: The psychiatrist who interviews Colin after his acception into the borstal induces him to tell what he thought or felt when he robbed the bakery. Colin subverts his efforts answering very matter-of-factly. E.g. that when he was robbing the bakery he was not thinking as he was robbing it.

* AwfulWeddedLife: Invoked by Colin for his parents. Still they had four kids together so Darwin is satisfied with them. Interestingly Colin says that his (beloved) father only threatened to bash his wife's face but not that he actually hit her.

* Big Guy: Roach

* SmugSnake: For Colin Smtih it is Brown, the new man of his mother, whom she brought into their house immediately after their father died. He is not made up to be very sympathetic but never does anything outright condemnable. He also has nothing to do with the arrest of Colin.

* AwfulWeddedLife: Invoked by Colin for his parents. Still they had four kids together so Darwin is satisfied with them.
* BetaCouple: Mike and Gladys. Interestingly both boy and girl in this couple are more attractive than Colin and Audrey. Of course Colin is way more individual than his generic guy friend.

* TheGenericGuy: Mike, the friend of Colin lacks any distinctive features. Also the face of the actor Tom Courenay is way more remarkable than that of the actor playing Mike who is conventionally handsome but in a forgettable way.

* SmugSnake: For Colin Smtih the new man of his mother whom she brought into their house after their father died is the one. He is not made up to be very sympathetic but never does anything outright condemnable. He also has nothing to do with the arrest of Colin.

* LiteralistSnarking: When Smith is presented to the governor, the latter asked his name and he answers "Smith". He then is said to address the governor "sir". He re-answers: "Sir Smith".
* MathematiciansAnswer: Colin Smith is by no means a mathematician but when asked what would he do if he wins 75 thousand pouns he answers that he will count the money.

** Once they go side by side in the dunes and Colin suddenly starts to run urging her to follow him. Of course she cannot keep up.

* NotSoDifferent: The final sequence is dedicated to the suport event where the Ruxton Towers borstal faces a prestigious public school. When the young delinquents meet the lads from the upper-middle class it turns out that those lads have it exactly as hard there as the borstal inmates. They are severely beaten as a punishment.

* TheReveal: In the sequence in the beginning when Colin rides in a van the viewer first see only his face. Then the camera titls downward and it is revealed that his hands are cuffed and he is transported to the borstal with a group of other young delinquents.

* IdiotBall: Putting the stolen money in the drainpipe was not the cleverest decision. Even though Colin actually got caught only by ContrivedCopincidence the rain would easily wash the money away not in the presense of the police inspector. Then Colin would simply lose the booty.

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner is a 1962 British New Wave/Kitchen Sink Realism film made by Tony Richardson from the short story by Alan Sillitoe.

* AbortedArc: The plotline of the new and fresh psychiatrist full of hopes to help the Borstal inmates with his new methods is entirely dropped. He has a meaningful discussion with the governor in the beginning in which is shows himself eager to rectify the young delinquents and the sceptical governor visibly tries to cool him down. However this conflict is never developped further.

* AntiVillain: Ruxton Towers Reformatory Governor. He is quite manipulative and primarily interested in the reputation of his Borstal however that goes with this trope. He is eager to play by the rules if his unruly charges are honest with him.

* CaptainObvious: When asked by the psychiatrist why he is in Borstal Colin replies: "because I was sent here". The psychiatrist insists: "but why". Colin replies: "I got caught. Did not run fast enough". (Interestingly this answer is in fact false as it was not exactly the lack of speed that brought him to Borstal. Though it is in line with the CentralTheme)

* AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted: Played straight for Mrs Smith who quickly spends 500 quid of allowance payed to her by the company which employed her husband.
* TheGenericGuy: Mike, the friend of Colin lacks any distinctive features. Also the face of the actor Tom Courenay is way more remarkable than that of the actor playing Mike.

* ImColdSoCold: Played with. When the main character pronounces this phrase it does not turn out that he is ill and is going to die. It is just that soon he robs a bakery to buy a coat (later this matter of coat is dropped). That's the crime for which he is later sent into Borstal. So while he does not die nothing good happens after this phrase.
* IAmHavingSoulPains: The psychiatrist who interviews Colin after his acception into Borstal induces him to tell what he thought or felt when he robbed the bakery. Colin answers very matter-of-factly. E.g. that when he was robbing the bakery he wasnot thinking as he was robbing it.

* NotSoDifferent: The final sequence is dedicated to the competition where the Ruxton Towers borstal faces a prestigious public school. When the young delinquents meet the lads from the upper-middle class it turns out that those lads have it exactly as hard there as the borstal inmates. They are severely beaten as a punishment.
* PetTheDog: When governor does not deprive the inmates in the borstal of the show despite their riot earlier this day. Of course he does in on purpose which he also lampshades. It has to be noted that at the same time one of the inmates is brutally puinished.

It tells a story of Colin Smith, a young lad who finds himself in a Borstal. There he attracts attention of the governor played by Creator/MichaelRedgrave. He discovers that a boy is a capable cross-country runner.

* AntiVillain: Ruxton Towers Reformatory Governor. He is quite manipulative and primarily interested in the reputation of his Borstal however that goes with this trope. He is eager to play by the rules if his unruly charges will be honest with him.

* IdiotBall: Putting the stolen money in the drainpipe was not the cleverest decision. Even though Colin actually got caught only by ContrivedCopincidence the rain would easily wash the money away not in the presense of the police inspector. Then Colin would simply lose the loot.

* LiteralistSnarking: When Smith is presented to the governor, the latter asked his name and he answers "Smith". He then is said to address the governir "sir". He re-answers: "Sir Smith".

* NotSoDifferent: The final sequence is dedicated to the competition where the Borstal faces a prestigious public school. When the young delinquents meet the lads from the upper-middle class taught in that school it turns out that those lads have it exactly as hard there as the Borstal inmates. They are severaly beaten as a punishment.
* PetTheDog: When governor does not deprive the inmates in Borstal of the show despite their riot earlier this day. Of course he does in on purpose which he also lampshades. It has to be noted that at the same time one of the inmates is brutally puinished.
* TheShrink: Appears to be closer to ''The Well-Meaning, But Dopey And Ineffective Shrink''. At least in the frozen and sceptical perception of the main character. In any case after he playes a fairly significant role in the first act he is later forgotten.
* SmugSnake: For Colin Smtih the new man of his mother whom she brought to their house after their father died is the one. He is not made up to be very sympathetic but never does anything outright condemnable. He also had nothing to do with the arrest of Colin
* {{Undercrank}}: Used here several times for comedy. Mostly in the running sequences for Colin and Mike complete with an upbeat tune. But also in the very beginning when boys' undressing is sped up.

* WithUsOrAgainstUs: Invoked by Mike who ends in the same Borstal as Colin when he learns that Colin became somewhat of a favourite for the governor and is preparing to run for the cup to win it for the establishment.