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.
Acting
Richard Harris's volcanic, wounded bull of a performance.
Cinematography
Gritty monochrome that makes Yorkshire feel like a battleground.
Direction
Anderson's unflinching eye for human wreckage.
Director
Lindsay Anderson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Part of Britain's 'kitchen sink realism' movement—working-class stories told without Hollywood gloss.
Richard Harris broke his hand punching a real wall during filming; kept going. Method before it was cool.
GB
