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This Sporting Life

This Sporting Life

Drama · 1963

In early 1960s Northern England, Frank Machin is mean, tough and ambitious enough to become an immediate star in the rugby league team run by local employer Weaver.

Movie details

This Sporting Life

“He only believed in strength - love was a word he hadn't the power to say.”

1963 Drama 2h 14m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

In early 1960s Northern England, Frank Machin is mean, tough and ambitious enough to become an immediate star in the rugby league team run by local employer Weaver.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over This Sporting Life?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lindsay Anderson

Written by

David Storey

Richard Harris

Richard Harris

Frank Machin

Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts

Mrs. Margaret Hammond

Alan Badel

Alan Badel

Gerald Weaver

William Hartnell

William Hartnell

'Dad' Johnson

Colin Blakely

Colin Blakely

Maurice Braithwaite

Vanda Godsell

Vanda Godsell

Mrs Anne Weaver

A

Anne Cunningham

Judith

Court is in session

Put This Sporting Life on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.