Bullied at school and ignored and abused at home by his indifferent mother and older brother, Billy Casper, a 15-year-old working-class Yorkshire boy, tames and trains his pet kestrel falcon whom he names Kes. Helped and encouraged by his English teacher and his fellow students, Billy finally finds a positive purpose to his unhappy existence.

David Bradley
as Billy

Freddie Fletcher
as Jud

Lynne Perrie
as Mrs. Casper

Colin Welland
as Mr. Farthing

Brian Glover
as Mr. Sugden

Bob Bowes
as Mr. Gryce

Bernard Atha
as Youth Employment Officer

Laurence Bould
as

Joey Kaye
as Pub Comic

Ted Carroll
as