 | Michael Redgrave als Ruxton Towers Reformatory Governor |
 | Tom Courtenay als Colin Smith |
 | Avis Bunnage als Mrs. Smith |
 | Alec McCowen als Brown, House Master |
 | James Bolam als Mike |
 | Joe Robinson als Roach |
 | Dervis Ward als Detective |
| Topsy Jane als Audrey |
 | Julia Foster als Gladys |
 | James Fox als Willy Gunthorpe - Ranley School Runner (uncredited) |
 | John Thaw als Bosworth (uncredited) |
 | Arthur Mullard als Chief Borstal Officer (uncredited) |
| Philip Martin als Stacy (uncredited) |
| John Brooking als Green (uncredited) |
| Raymond Dyer als Gordon (uncredited) |
| Anthony Sagar als Fenton (uncredited) |
| Peter Kriss als Scott (uncredited) |
 | Peter Madden als Mr. Smith (uncredited) |
| Dallas Cavell als Lord Jaspers (uncredited) |
| James Cairncross als Mr. Jones (uncredited) |
 | Frank Finlay als Booking Office Clerk (uncredited) |
| Robert Percival als Tory Politician (uncredited) |
 | Ray Austin als Harry Craig (uncredited) |
 | Derek Fowlds als Borstal Inmate (uncredited) |
 | Billy Murray als Borstal Inmate (uncredited) |
| Ernest Blyth als Army Officer at Sports Day (uncredited) |
 | Jim Brady als Man in Cafe (uncredited) |
| John Bull als Ronalds (uncredited) |
| Peter Duguid als Doctor (uncredited) |
 | Charles Dyer als Bit Part (uncredited) |
 | Edward Fox als Extra (uncredited) |
| Brian Hammond als Johnny Smith - Colin's Brother (uncredited) |
| William Ash Hammond als Johnny Smith - Colin's Brother (uncredited) |
 | Victor Harrington als Army Officer at Sports Day (uncredited) |
| Aileen Lewis als Sports Day Spectator (uncredited) |
| Fred Machon als Borstal Master at Meeting (uncredited) |
 | Philip Martin als Stacy (uncredited) |
| Anita Oliver als Alice Smith - Colin's Sister (uncredited) |
 | Christopher Parker als Bill Smith - Colin's Brother (uncredited) |
| Joe Phelps als Borstal Master in Workshop (uncredited) |
 | Corin Redgrave als Spectator at Sports Day (uncredited) |
| Doug Robinson als Prison Warder (uncredited) |
| Robert Vossler als Plainclothes Policeman (uncredited) |
| John Wilder als Ranley Headmaster (uncredited) |
| Chris Williams als Ranley Boy (uncredited) |
| Tony Richardson | Director |
| Alan Sillitoe | Screenplay |
| Tom Buchanan | Boom Operator |
| Desmond Davis | Camera Operator |
| Tony Richardson | Producer |
| John Addison | Music |
| Walter Lassally | Director of Photography |
| Antony Gibbs | Editor |
| Alan Sillitoe | Story |
| Maude Spector | Casting |
| Ralph W. Brinton | Production Design |
| Edward Marshall | Art Direction |
| Sophie Devine | Costume Design |
| Jimmy Evans | Makeup Artist |
| Bobbie Smith | Hairdresser |
| Basil Rayburn | Assistant Director |
| John Danischewsky | Third Assistant Director |
| Andrew Mollo | Second Assistant Director |
| Josie MacAvin | Set Dresser |
| Norman Bolland | Sound Recordist |
| Don Challis | Sound Editor |
| Stephen Dalby | Sound Director |
| Dave Tracey | Stunts |
| Robin Webb | Stunts |
| Desmond Davis | Camera Operator |
