Main Cast: Robert Buchanan, John Hughes, Billy Greenlees, Douglas Sannachan, Alan Love
Release Year: 1979
Country: UK
Run Time: 82 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Bill Forsyth displays some of the fey quirkiness that would distinguish his later, better-known directorial efforts in 1979's That Sinking Feeling. The film details the misadventures of four aimless Scottish youths, who impulsively steal a shipment of stainless-steel sinks. Once they've made off with their booty, the boys have quite a time unloading it on prospective buyers. Much of the humor is verbal, which can be a trial for viewers unwilling to decipher the cast's thick Glasgow accents. That Sinking Feeling was released in the U.S. only after the success of Forsyth's 1980s efforts Gregory's Girl and Local Hero. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cast
Robert Buchanan - Ronnie
John Hughes - Vic
Billy Greenlees - Wal
Douglas Sannachan - Simmy
Alan Love - Alec
John Gordon Sinclair - Andy; Danny Benson - Policeman; Eddie Burt - Van Driver; Tom Mannion - Doctor; Margaret Adams - Gang Girl; Alex Mackenzie - Tramp; Janette Rankin - Mary; Dave Scott - Hi-Fi Salesman; David Scott Milton - Hi-Fi Salesman
Credit
Adrienne Atkinson - Costume Designer, Bill Forsyth - Director, John Gow - Editor, Colin Tully - Composer (Music Score), Adrienne Atkinson - Production Designer, Michael Coulter - Cinematographer, Bill Forsyth - Producer, Bill Forsyth - Screenwriter
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 Glasgow gallery owner, playing himself. The four main actors went on to feature in Forsyth's following film, the far more well known 1981 film, Gregory's Girl.
Dubbed Soundtrack
For the American market (MGM) the soundtrack was re-dubbed using upper-class Edinburgh accents, the difference in timing makes for rather stilted dialogue. The MGM version cost more to re-dub than the entire budget for the film itself. The film was only released in the USA four years after the UK, following the success of Gregory's Girl and Local Hero.
In the early 1990's the original master prints of the film were lost when the production company went into administration. In 2009 the dubbed version of the movie was re-released on DVD.
Plot
Ronnie (Robert Buchanan), Wal (Billy Greenlees), Andy (John Gordon Sinclair) and Vic (John Hughes) are four bored, unemployed teenagers from Glasgow. One day Ronnie comes up with the idea of stealing stainless steel sinks from a warehouse and selling them. Their plan involves dressing up as girls and using a stop-motion potion.
