A Kind of Loving

Alan Bates - Vic
June Ritchie - Ingrid
Thora Hird - Mrs. Rothwell
Bert Palmer - Mr. Brown
Malcolm Patton - Jim Brown
Gwen Nelson - Mrs. Brown
Pat Keen - Christine
David Mahlowe - David
Jack Smethurst - Conroy
James Bolam - Jeff
Leonard Rossiter - Whymper

A Kind of Loving was John Schlesinger's first feature film, a 'kitchen sink' drama based on the novel by Stan Barstow.

Vic Brown (Alan Bates) is an easygoing Lancashire lad who works as a draughtsman in a local factory. Vic’s trouble-free life begins to unravel simply because he begins an affair with a woman in the typing pool, Ingrid (June Ritchie), and after several dates they eventually sleep together. Ingrid becomes pregnant, and thanks to the interference of their friends, neighbours and - worst of all - her tyrannical mother (Thora Hird), they're forced into marriage. Their relationship quickly sours when they begin living with her overbearing, Ingrid suffers a miscarriage and Vic is now annoyed that he wed so hastily. Soon Vic and Ingrid realise that their marriage is just a fragile relationship based solely on sex, but they decide to persevere in the hope of finding ‘a kind of loving’. Schlesinger treats the unhappy couple with warmth, humour - and without a hint of condescension.