Butch Cassidy Meets Gregory's Girl

There aren't many films I choose to watch more than once. But tonight there are two on television which are among my favourite flicks. Firstly, the excellent Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the Oscar-winning western comedy drama from 1969. Paul Newman and Robert Redford are just wonderful as the outlaws whose penchant for robbing banks has them on the run constantly. This film brings back memories for me of returning to Cumbernauld in 1970 for the first time since my parents divorced. I spent a week with my father and he took me to the pictures to see this film. The film score composed by the genius that is Burt Bacharach is sublime, particularly Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head - whenever I hear this song, even today, it reminds me of being back in Cumbernauld.

And speaking of the new town, the second film on the small screen tonight is Gregory's Girl, Bill Forsyth's brilliant coming of age film. With John Gordon Sinclair, Dee Hepburn and the gorgeous Clare Grogan, the film is set in Cumbernauld and so has a special place in my heart. And it also has a wonderful script, a superb performance from Sinclair and quaint wee cameo from the legend that is Chic Murray (off you go you small boy!) And I have I mentioned Clare Grogan??!

So tonight,from just before six o'clock, it's feet up, crack open a few bottles of cider and indulge in four hours of nostalgia. Perfect Sunday night viewing ahead of another gruesome week at work.

Have I mentioned Clare Grogan.....?

Local Hero

One of the best films ever made - Local Hero - was on the Freeview channel Film Four tonight. I hadn't seen it for ages and thoroughly enjoyed watching it again.

For those who haven't seen it - and it's astonishing to think a quarter of a century has passed since it was made - Burt Lancaster plays an oil billionaire Happer who sends colleague Mac to a remote Scottish village to secure the property rights for an oil refinery they want to build. Mac teams up with Danny and starts the negotiations, the locals are keen to get their hands on the 'Silver Dollar' and can't believe their luck. However a local hermit and beach scavenger, Ben Knox, lives in a shack on the crucial beach which he also owns. Happer is more interested in the Northern Lights and Danny in a surreal girl with webbed feet, Marina. Mac is used to a Houston office with fax machines but is forced to negotiate on Bens terms.

It's great seeing the likes of Scots actors Peter Capaldi - now famous for his incessant swearing in the fabulous political comedy The Thick of It - Denis Lawson (uncle of Ewan McGregor) and Alex Norton in early roles. The sadly departed Fulton Mackay is also there as is John Gordon Sinclair, better known for Gregory's Girl (by the same director, Bill Forsyth) And an early role for a young Jonathan Watson, now the star of the football comedy Only an Excuse.

Add the emotion tugging theme music from Mark Knopfler and you have a truly fabulous film. Just the thing to cheer up a miserable Monday!