This Sporting Life (Certificate 15)

Network DVD £12.99

ONE of the darkest and most powerful of the early-Sixties wave of gritty British cinema, this film stars Richard Harris as a rugby league player tormented by his feelings for his landlady, played by Rachel Roberts.

Both received prestigious awards for their roles in this extraordinary film, made in 1963, which is both one of the best cinema representations of working class Britain in the Sixties and one of the finest sports films.

Harris - in one of the best performances - is a miner whose rugby career brings him success. However, while that success appears to make him harsher and cruder than ever, at the same time he is struggling to articulate his sensitive side.

Lindsay Anderson's direction makes the story unfold uncomfortably, and this will not be the most fun you ever have in front of the screen. However, the performances are all powerful, and the score, by Roberto Gerhard, is an often-overlooked highlight.

Fans of British cinema and TV will also enjoy picking out well-known faces in minor roles. Look out for William Hartnell, Arthur Lowe and Leonard Rossiter among others, and keep a close eye on the background for uncredited walk-ons by Glenda Jackson and Edward Fox.

Video released on November 3