Figure 1.--.

We have not seen these films, but HBC readers have mnentioned them to us. Hopefully HBC readers will provide more details on the films. Bill Douglas (1934-91) is Scotland's most aclaimed film maker. His autobiographical trilogy is a seminal work in the Scottish cinema. There are few really classic Scottish works to compare with it. Douglas was born in Newcraighall, a depressed miming village near Edinburgh. His boyhood experiences are starkly depicted in his film. The trilogy deals with his youth from 8-18 years of age. The first part of the trilogy, "My Childhood" (1971) is of greatest interest to HBC. The two boys with the lead roles are not porofessional actors. The main character, Jamie, is wonderfully played by Stephen Archibald. Douglas found Stephen and his brother (cast as Tommy) when the two boys approached him for cigarettes in an Edinburgh bus station. Jamie is growing up in a mining village during the 1940s. There is little money, food, are affection. Jamie lives in squalor with his half-brother Tommy and elderly grandmother, a true Dickensian figure. There are some perty gritty scenes. Tommy’s father brings home a rare gift--a canary. When the cat eats the canary, Tommy beats the cat to death. The Douglas production has sparse dialogue, using visual images to make his point. A reviewer describes " ... haunting and often dreamlike expressions of a harsh emotional landscape". The other two films in the trilogy are "My Ain Folk" (1973) and "My Way Home" (1978). In "My Ain Folk" Tommy is taken into care by welfare workers. Jamie escapes but leads a stark existence until he is also taken into care.

Bill Douglas (1934-91)

Bill Douglas is Scotland's most aclaimed film maker. His autobiographical trilogy is a seminal work in the Scottish cinema. There are few really classic Scottish works to compare with it. Douglas was born in Newcraighall, a depressed miming village near Edinburgh. His boyhood experiences are starkly depicted in his film. Douglas recalls films as one of the few espaces from a rather stark childhood. He often did have the money for the admission, but the local cinema accepted old jam jars in payment. [Douglas]

The Trilogy

The trilogy deals with his youth from 8-18 years of age.

My Childhood (1970)

The first part of the trilogy, "My Childhood" (1971) is of greatest interest to HBC. The two boys with the lead roles are not porofessional actors. The main character, Jamie, is wonderfully played by Stephen Archibald. Douglas found Stephen and his brother (cast as Tommy) when the two boys approached him for cigarettes in an Edinburgh bus station. Jamie is growing up in a mining village during the 1940s. There is little money, food, are affection. Jamie lives in squalor with his half-brother Tommy and elderly grandmother, a true Dickensian figure. There are some perty gritty scenes. Tommy’s father brings home a rare gift--a canary. When the cat eats the canary, Tommy beats the cat to death. The Douglas production has sparse dialogue, using visual images to make his point. A reviewer describes " ... haunting and often dreamlike expressions of a harsh emotional landscape".

My Ain Folk (1973)

The next films in the trilogy is "My Ain Folk". Tommy is taken into care by welfare workers. Jamie escapes but leads a stark existence until he is also taken into care.

My Way Home (1978)

The final film in the trilogy is "My Way Home".

Filming

Bill Douglas deliberately shot his film in black-and-white - the only colour sequence being when Jamie and Tommy are watching Lassie in the cinema. This must have been a real memory for Douglas as the film came out in the 19 40s here.

Costuming

A Scottish reader writes, "A plea for Scottish films made in Scotland. Though dour Bill Douglas trilogy does show something of the clothing worn by poorer boys in the 40s and 50s. I was reminded of it when I sent information on Sammy Going South. As Jamie (the "hero" of the trilogy) ends up doing his National Service in Egypt - like my father did. (I remember him telling me that he was called up to "make a man of you" and the first thing they did was put him back into short trousers--the British Army uniform in hot climates at the time). I remembered this when I saw the film, not long after it came out. For the rest of the film Jamie and the other boys wear the standard clothes of the time--short trousers, a jersey and, if lucky, boots. There are scenes in school, and in the home the boy is taken to. There's a particularly powerful scene where the boy sweeps his dinner plate from the table at the welfare home when he percieves another boy getting the attention he so desperately wants (needs) himself. Anyhow - it's worth watching as a record of the 40s/50s in Scotland. I found some information which I'll send - the boys watching Lassie in the cinema is interesting and the paying to get in with jamjars. Also the comparison with the Yorkshire film "Kes" and it's director--Ken Loach. Believe me this is a lot bleaker - but uplifting at the end - that's Scotland for you!"

Sources

Douglas, Bill. Palace of Dreams: The making of a film-maker.

Created: December 29, 2003
Last updated: January 24, 2004