IT was just a four-paragraph-long item in the June 9, 1980 edition of this newspaper. And, though no-one could know it at the time, its subject would turn out to be one of the most lastingly popular films ever made in Scotland.
The story said that Cumbernauld new town was providing the scene for a “historic breakthrough for the Scottish film industry.” Glasgow-born film director Bill Forsyth had started work on the first-ever Scottish-made full-length feature film to be shot for cinema distribution on 35 millimetre film.
“It is an important achievement for the Scottish industry,” the item continued. “Although some feature films have been made in Scotland before, they have always been by English or foreign-based companies.”
The film, of course. was Gregory’s Girl. It made stars of its youthful cast and earned Forsyth (seen above, behind the camera) the Screenplay award at the 1982 BAFTAs (his fellow nominees included Harold Pinter, for the French Lieutenant’s Woman, and Colin Welland, for Chariots of Fire).
Read more: Herald Diary
Talking to the Herald in 2010, on the film’s 30th anniversary, Davina Belling, one of the film’s producers, said: “We never imagined that the film would last this long or make such an impact... I think the film captures all the pain, anxiety and insecurity that every boy in particular goes through when growing up. I think it just captures that perfectly.”
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