Every actor should get a vehicle like Richard Harris got with this when they are young, strong and spunky - in it's way it's as great a launch pad as Tom Cruise had with Risky Business or Errol Flynn with Captain Blood: Harris gets to glower and swagger, thump around on the rugby league field, kiss and roger (and slap) women, suffer unrequited love, have people lust after him (even his male manager squeezes his leg), rail at the unfairness of life like the Hairy Ape, be nice to kids, have tormented relationships with everyone.
It's very 60s New Wave - black and white, Northern England setting, non-linear narrative, frank depiction of sex, working class heroes, etc. Lindsay Anderson directs with verve - it feels real and authentic, great atmosphere of the clubs, on the field, back grooms, dingy boarding houses. Harris is a charismatic star with his bulk and glowering presence.
But it goes for too long - it's over two hours - and is depressing and lacking in warmth. Harris is meant to love Rachel Roberts but he seems to rape her in one scene and slaps her in another and she's a miserable git too. There's an awful lot of Acting (yell! I want to love! yell!) which is easy to mock but it does have power. There's a strong line up of character actors (people like Colin Blakely) and it's probably the best movie ever made about rugby league.
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