Poor Cow
1967·Drama·1h 41m
7.1
★
A young woman lives a life filled with bad choices. At a young age she marries and has a child--with an abusive thief who quickly ends up in prison. Left alone, she takes up with the guy's mate, another thief, who seems to give her some happiness but who also ends up locked up. She then takes up with a series of seedy types who offer nothing but momentary pleasure--if that.
Directed by Ken Loach
based on novel or book
homeless
kitchen sink realism
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Carol White
Joy
Terence Stamp
Dave Fuller
John Bindon
Tom
Queenie Watts
Aunt Emm
Kate Williams
Beryl
Ken Campbell
Mr. Jacks
Paddy Joyce
Photo Studio Guvnor
George Tovey
Photographer
Billy Murray
Tom's Mate
Ron Pember
Petal
Anna Karen
Neighbour
Wally Patch
Pub Customer
Crew
Ken Loach
Director
Ken Loach
Screenplay
Donovan
Original Music Composer
Chris Menges
Camera Operator
Andrew Grieve
Assistant Director
Popular Reviews
6 reviews
Syd
8.0★ · 09/17/25
I just rewatched Poor Cow today, and this is my third time, but honestly I feel so different this time...
Ken Loach’s raw storytelling still strikes hard, showing the struggles, the dreams, and the bittersweet reality of Joy’s (Carol White) life. But what touched me the most was Terence Stamp’s presence as Dave.
I know his screen time isn’t very long, but he leaves such a lasting impression. There’s this effortless charm in his youth, but also a tenderness in his performance that makes the film feel warmer amidst all the hardships it portrays. Watching him here, knowing it was one of his earliest works, feels both nostalgic and emotional 🥹
Poor Cow isn’t an easy film, it doesn’t sugarcoat life. Yet, that’s what makes it timeless. For me, this rewatch became more than just revisiting a classic, but it’s a way of remembering and cherishing Terence’s legacy. His light still shines through every frame he was in ❤️🩹
Remembering — One Month After Terence Stamp’s Passing 🕊🤍
Ken Loach’s raw storytelling still strikes hard, showing the struggles, the dreams, and the bittersweet reality of Joy’s (Carol White) life. But what touched me the most was Terence Stamp’s presence as Dave.
I know his screen time isn’t very long, but he leaves such a lasting impression. There’s this effortless charm in his youth, but also a tenderness in his performance that makes the film feel warmer amidst all the hardships it portrays. Watching him here, knowing it was one of his earliest works, feels both nostalgic and emotional 🥹
Poor Cow isn’t an easy film, it doesn’t sugarcoat life. Yet, that’s what makes it timeless. For me, this rewatch became more than just revisiting a classic, but it’s a way of remembering and cherishing Terence’s legacy. His light still shines through every frame he was in ❤️🩹
Remembering — One Month After Terence Stamp’s Passing 🕊🤍
I just rewatched Poor Cow today, and this is my third time, but honestly I feel so different this time...
Ken Loach’s raw storytelling still strikes hard, showing the struggles, the dreams, and the bittersweet reality of Joy’s (Carol White) life. But what touched me the most was Terence Stamp’s presence as Dave.
I know his screen time isn’t very long, but he leaves such a lasting impression. There’s this effortless charm in his youth, but also a tenderness in his performance that makes the film feel warmer amidst all the hardships it portrays. Watching him here, knowing it was one of his earliest works, feels both nostalgic and emotional 🥹
Poor Cow isn’t an easy film, it doesn’t sugarcoat life. Yet, that’s what makes it timeless. For me, this rewatch became more than just revisiting a classic, but it’s a way of remembering and cherishing Terence’s legacy. His light still shines through every frame he was in ❤️🩹
Remembering — One Month After Terence Stamp’s Passing 🕊🤍
Ken Loach’s raw storytelling still strikes hard, showing the struggles, the dreams, and the bittersweet reality of Joy’s (Carol White) life. But what touched me the most was Terence Stamp’s presence as Dave.
I know his screen time isn’t very long, but he leaves such a lasting impression. There’s this effortless charm in his youth, but also a tenderness in his performance that makes the film feel warmer amidst all the hardships it portrays. Watching him here, knowing it was one of his earliest works, feels both nostalgic and emotional 🥹
Poor Cow isn’t an easy film, it doesn’t sugarcoat life. Yet, that’s what makes it timeless. For me, this rewatch became more than just revisiting a classic, but it’s a way of remembering and cherishing Terence’s legacy. His light still shines through every frame he was in ❤️🩹
Remembering — One Month After Terence Stamp’s Passing 🕊🤍
SamEssss
8.0★ · 11/25/22
This definitely promises more than it delivers, and that’s ultimately what Ken Loach does with his subsequent masterpieces.
This is more rounded and less TV Docudrama compared to Cathy Come Home, which could easily be seen as a companion piece. It's also considerably sexier than a lot of KL's future works.
An excellent debut feature from the master of social realism.
This is more rounded and less TV Docudrama compared to Cathy Come Home, which could easily be seen as a companion piece. It's also considerably sexier than a lot of KL's future works.
An excellent debut feature from the master of social realism.
This definitely promises more than it delivers, and that’s ultimately what Ken Loach does with his subsequent masterpieces.
This is more rounded and less TV Docudrama compared to Cathy Come Home, which could easily be seen as a companion piece. It's also considerably sexier than a lot of KL's future works.
An excellent debut feature from the master of social realism.
This is more rounded and less TV Docudrama compared to Cathy Come Home, which could easily be seen as a companion piece. It's also considerably sexier than a lot of KL's future works.
An excellent debut feature from the master of social realism.
JK
5.0★ · 08/02/21
Bleak, listless, distanced but not a tearjerker like Kes.
Felt the need to check this out since I've watched The Limey three times since the start of the pandemic.
"I'm getting better, aren't I?"
Felt the need to check this out since I've watched The Limey three times since the start of the pandemic.
"I'm getting better, aren't I?"
Bleak, listless, distanced but not a tearjerker like Kes.
Felt the need to check this out since I've watched The Limey three times since the start of the pandemic.
"I'm getting better, aren't I?"
Felt the need to check this out since I've watched The Limey three times since the start of the pandemic.
"I'm getting better, aren't I?"
Daniel
6.0★ · 01/13/26
Franek Łuczak
9.2★ · 09/15/25