Cumbernauld love story
What's not to love about Gregory's Girl?
A quintessential boy meets girl love story, set in surburban Scotland.
Charming, whimsical and often surreal - who can forget the wandering Penguin, or Chic Murray's scene stealing turn as the head master, or the schoolboys trying to cadge a lift to Caracas?
It was the first film I recall which not only showed a familar landscape but also had dialogue which, for once, reflected my own dialect (right down to Clare Grogan's jauntily angled beret - or as Gregory says "yer berry".)
And it created that most unlikely of concepts - a love story set in Cumbernauld.
But for Cumbernauld, read any surburban neighbourhood in the late 70s and early 80s, neat and tidy, full of new gadgets and new houses, where the children play in the street, and the worst thing the local schoolboys do is peek in bedroom windows.
It's an era now looked back on with nostalgia in films such as Son of Rambow.
But back then, this was a film which caught the imagination of Scots cinema-goers.
At Edinburgh's Dominion Cinema, it ran for three years, setting a record for both the cinema and the capital.
Dominion manager Alasdair Cameron, whose family owns the cinema, began working as an usher when the film opened in 1980, and recalls director Bill Forsyth popping in from time to time to see how it was going.
Part of the joy of the film is the performances. For most of the young cast, it was their first film, and for some their first acting experience.
Only Dee Hepburn, who played Dorothy, had much previous acting experience.
Ironically, it was she who eventually drifted out of acting.
Organisers of Sunday's 30th anniversary screening were struggling to locate her, until her daughter came along to another Glasgow Film Festival event and told co-director Alan Hunter that her mother was keen to attend.
John Gordon Sinclair has never surpassed the gangly charmy of Gregory, Claire Grogan is nicely knowing in her part as Susan and the supporting cast of enthusiastic locals is genuinely uplifting.
Among them, Amanda Muir, who was just four when she was asked to be in the film.
She's the blonde on the bike in the picture, one of a group of children playing outside Gregory's house.
She even had a line, "hullo Gregory", which she delivered like a professional.
Husband Alan, who'll join his wife at the screening on Sunday, says it's still a firm favourite in their house.
"Everyone's seen the film and everyone remembers the line," he says.
"It's got a special place in our hearts - as it does for a lot of people I think. It's like a lovely postcard from the past."
And who says a love story in Cumbernauld is unlikely?
Not the Muirs, who along with their two children, now live in the town.
"We actually live just round the corner from The Fields - where Gregory and Clare Grogan's character dance to hold on to the Earth," he says.
"Amanda's folks still live round the corner from the house where Gregory stayed.
"I still watch the film whenever it's on - and the phone always goes with someone calling to say Amanda's line is coming up."
Not London’s South Bank, but the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow - every bit as lively in cultural terms as its namesake. I’m Pauline McLean, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Scotland’s arts correspondent, and I’ll be blogging here about arts events and issues happening across the country.
Comment number 1.
At 27th Feb 2010, The Fickle Finger wrote:My favourite bit was when Dave Anderson (Gregory's dad) was talking to him during the driving lesson. It was just such dry wit, so well-captured, and spot on. Now that I have teenagers of my own, I can relate completely!
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Comment number 2.
At 27th Feb 2010, The Fickle Finger wrote:In fact, in the great spirit of nostalgia, how about the Cameo putting on a night of Bill Forsythe, with Gregory's Girl, Local hero and my personal favourite, Comfort and Joy on the bill? Seventies clothes preferred - choose your charity!
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Comment number 3.
At 27th Feb 2010, Rory Forbes wrote:The memories I associate with this film are just great, holidaying in Pitlochry, where I first saw the film and , being an expat (forcibly ripped from my roots at age 9 (1975) to move to England), this was just perfect timing and I revisit the film at least once a year.
My favourite line. "how do want your coffee? Black or white?" to which Gregory answers "Brown" - magic!!!
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Comment number 4.
At 27th Feb 2010, niall_g wrote:As in all Bill Forsyth's films superbly cast and a quality script. The throwaway lines are wonderful - Gregory telling a younger child to act his age and break some windows is a personal favourite. Superb cameo by Chic Murray. And when I was 13 I would have watched Claire Grogan peeling spuds - I was more than a touch jealous of Gregory! The screen in Dominion 3 was not much bigger than a large modern plasma tv but the feeling that you were in someone's living room watching the film added to it.
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Comment number 5.
At 27th Feb 2010, Mabozza wrote:Was a big part of my growing up years and could quote virtually every line......still can.
Moved away from Scotland but still remains a big part of me. When meeting up with other Scots of similar age, I mention Gregory's Girl and we are off on a fantastic vein of comedy. It was incredible to watch a film I could relate to through accent, language, humour and location plus we all knew characters resembling those nearby.
I had two customers who were retail managers when I knew them who were in the film - they were the blond & dark haired boys eating chips outside the chippy on Gregory's second date.
Never be matched!
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Comment number 6.
At 28th Feb 2010, Haircutter wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 7.
At 28th Feb 2010, stuartyboy1103 wrote:I was living in the SSEB Hostel in Seafar when this film came out which, for those that know Cumbernauld, was the building used in the peeping-tom schoolboy scene - I think the room directly below mine if memory serves. Sorry to say that in my two years in the hostel I never came accross what the boys saw in that room. The film was great, and although the context for Gregory's exploits was far removed from those of a studying and working apprentice like me and the 200+ other lads there at the time, it does bring back some happy memories of my time there every time I see it.
Fomative years indeed.....
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Comment number 8.
At 1st Mar 2010, µþ±ð²¹²õ³Ù¾±±ðµþ³ó´Ç²â®™ wrote:comment by niall_g
" I would have watched Claire Grogan peeling spuds" priceless but true
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Comment number 9.
At 1st Mar 2010, paolopablo wrote:Gregory drying hair
Dorothy walks in Got any plasters'
Gregory covers his nipples with index finger on each hand
When comparing war wounds
'My brother threw a bike at me when I was 7'
and of course BTFTL
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Comment number 10.
At 1st Mar 2010, Jeannette Mooney wrote:My family lived 3 doors away from Gregory's house in the picture in fact I had to show the film crew how to set their central heating!!
The wee girl in the blue dress is actually my daughter Debbie who is married now with a wee girl of her own. This movie has been the subject of many discussions in our family since it was launched - Fantastic!!
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