Bill Forsyth
Encyclopedia
Bill Forsyth is a Scottish
film director
and writer, noted for his commitment to national film-making.
Forsyth first came to attention with a low-budget film, That Sinking Feeling
, made with youth theatre actors and featuring a cameo appearance by the Edinburgh gallery owner Richard Demarco
. The relative success of the film was carried to a far higher level by his next film Gregory's Girl
in 1981. This featured some of the same young actors, in particular John Gordon Sinclair
, as well as the acting debut of Clare Grogan
. The film was a major hit and won 'Best Screenplay' in that year's BAFTA Awards. In 1983 he wrote and directed the successful Local Hero
, produced by David Puttnam
, and featuring Burt Lancaster
. It was rated in the top 100 films of the 1980s in a Premiere
magazine recap of the decade. Forsyth's next film was the 1984 Comfort and Joy, about a Glasgow radio DJ caught between rival ice cream companies, which again featured Clare Grogan
.
When Puttnam went to Hollywood, Forsyth followed, but had limited success. The 1987 Housekeeping
was his first American film. Another movie, Being Human, was shelved by the studio for four years after Puttnam was ousted. Gregory's Two Girls
from 2000 appeared as a sequel to Gregory's Girl, with John Gordon Sinclair playing the same character, but it received mixed reviews. In a June 2009 interview on BBC Radio 5 Live
, Forsyth stated that he is currently working on a new film project with the working title of Exile.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and writer, noted for his commitment to national film-making.
Forsyth first came to attention with a low-budget film, That Sinking Feeling
That Sinking Feeling
That Sinking Feeling is a 1980 comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth, his first film as a director. The film is set in his home city, Glasgow, Scotland. The young actors in film were members of the Glasgow Youth Theatre. The film also features Richard Demarco, the Edinburgh gallery...
, made with youth theatre actors and featuring a cameo appearance by the Edinburgh gallery owner Richard Demarco
Richard Demarco
Richard Demarco, CBE is an Italian Scottish artist and promoter of the visual and performing arts.-Richard Demarco Gallery:...
. The relative success of the film was carried to a far higher level by his next film Gregory's Girl
Gregory's Girl
Gregory's Girl is a 1981 Scottish coming-of-age romantic comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth.The film is set in and around a state secondary school in the Abronhill district of Cumbernauld. It features Gordon John Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, and Clare Grogan, among others...
in 1981. This featured some of the same young actors, in particular John Gordon Sinclair
John Gordon Sinclair
John Gordon Sinclair is a Scottish actor most famous for playing Gregory in Gregory's Girl. He was born as Gordon John but took the stage name 'John Gordon Sinclair' because Equity already had a Gordon John registered....
, as well as the acting debut of Clare Grogan
Clare Grogan
Clare Grogan is a Scottish actress and singer. She is sometimes credited as C. P. Grogan.-Early life:...
. The film was a major hit and won 'Best Screenplay' in that year's BAFTA Awards. In 1983 he wrote and directed the successful Local Hero
Local Hero
Local Hero is a 1983 Scottish comedy-drama film starring Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster. It was directed by Bill Forsyth and produced by David Puttnam....
, produced by David Puttnam
David Puttnam
David Terence Puttnam, Baron Puttnam, CBE, FRSA is a British film producer. He sits on the Labour benches in the House of Lords, although he is not principally a politician.-Early life:...
, and featuring Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
. It was rated in the top 100 films of the 1980s in a Premiere
Premiere (magazine)
Premiere was an American and New York City-based film magazine published by Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., published between the years 1987 and 2007. The original version of the magazine, Première , was started in France in 1976 and is still being published there.-History:The magazine originally...
magazine recap of the decade. Forsyth's next film was the 1984 Comfort and Joy, about a Glasgow radio DJ caught between rival ice cream companies, which again featured Clare Grogan
Clare Grogan
Clare Grogan is a Scottish actress and singer. She is sometimes credited as C. P. Grogan.-Early life:...
.
When Puttnam went to Hollywood, Forsyth followed, but had limited success. The 1987 Housekeeping
Housekeeping (novel)
Housekeeping is a novel by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson. It was published in 1980, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction , and given the PEN/Hemingway Award for best first novel.In 2003, the Guardian Unlimited named Housekeeping one of the 100 greatest novels of all...
was his first American film. Another movie, Being Human, was shelved by the studio for four years after Puttnam was ousted. Gregory's Two Girls
Gregory's Two Girls
Gregory's Two Girls is a 1999 British film. It is the sequel to 1981's Gregory's Girl, which also starred John Gordon Sinclair and was written and directed by Bill Forsyth...
from 2000 appeared as a sequel to Gregory's Girl, with John Gordon Sinclair playing the same character, but it received mixed reviews. In a June 2009 interview on BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
, Forsyth stated that he is currently working on a new film project with the working title of Exile.
Filmography
- That Sinking FeelingThat Sinking FeelingThat Sinking Feeling is a 1980 comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth, his first film as a director. The film is set in his home city, Glasgow, Scotland. The young actors in film were members of the Glasgow Youth Theatre. The film also features Richard Demarco, the Edinburgh gallery...
(1980) - Gregory's GirlGregory's GirlGregory's Girl is a 1981 Scottish coming-of-age romantic comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth.The film is set in and around a state secondary school in the Abronhill district of Cumbernauld. It features Gordon John Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, and Clare Grogan, among others...
(1981) - Andrina (1981)
- Local HeroLocal HeroLocal Hero is a 1983 Scottish comedy-drama film starring Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster. It was directed by Bill Forsyth and produced by David Puttnam....
(1983) - Comfort and Joy (1984)
- HousekeepingHousekeeping (novel)Housekeeping is a novel by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marilynne Robinson. It was published in 1980, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction , and given the PEN/Hemingway Award for best first novel.In 2003, the Guardian Unlimited named Housekeeping one of the 100 greatest novels of all...
(1987) - Breaking InBreaking InBreaking In is a 1989 American crime comedy film directed by Bill Forsyth, and written by John Sayles. It stars Burt Reynolds, Casey Siemaszko and Lorraine Toussaint. It is a movie about how professional small-time criminals live and practice their trades....
(1989) - Being Human (1993)
- Gregory's Two GirlsGregory's Two GirlsGregory's Two Girls is a 1999 British film. It is the sequel to 1981's Gregory's Girl, which also starred John Gordon Sinclair and was written and directed by Bill Forsyth...
(1999)