1960s british drama which centres on colin smith tom courtenay a cynical working class youth who finds himself in a boys reformatory for robbing a bakery the governor in charge of the reform school michael redgrave preaches to his inmates that exercise and physical challenge can permanently destroy a boys rebellious streak but colin is fortunate enough to be on the bosss good side due to his natural running prowess and is offered the chance to train for a race against the local public