Local Hero (1983)

Director:

Bill Forsyth

Writer:

Bill Forsyth (written by)

Release Date:

17 February 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

An American oil company sends a man to Scotland to buy up an entire village where they want to build a refinery. But things don't go as expected.

Plot Keywords:

Oil | Beach | Scotland | Village | Webbed Toes

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Felix Happer
Peter Riegert	...	Mac
Fulton Mackay	...	Ben
Denis Lawson	...	Urquhart
Norman Chancer	...	Moritz
Peter Capaldi	...	Oldsen
Rikki Fulton	...	Geddes
Alex Norton	...	Watt
Jenny Seagrove	...	Marina
Jennifer Black	...	Stella
Christopher Rozycki	...	Victor
Gyearbuor Asante	...	Rev Macpherson (as Christopher Asante)
John M. Jackson	...	Cal (as John Jackson)
Dan Ammerman	...	Donaldson
Tam Dean Burn	...	Roddy
Luke Coulter	...	Baby
Karen Douglas	...	Mrs Wyatt
Kenny Ireland	...	Skipper
Harlan Jordan	...	Fountain
Charles Kearney	...	Peter
Betty Macey	...	Switchboard Operator
David Mowat	...	Gideon
John Poland	...	Anderson
Brian Rowan	...	Ace Tone
Ann Scott-Jones	...	Linda Fraser (as Anne Scott Jones)
Ian Stewart	...	Mr Bulloch
Tanya Ticktin	...	Russian Girl
Jonathan Watson	...	Jonathan
Mark Winchester	...	Ace Tone
Dave Anderson	...	Fraser (as David Anderson)
Alan Clark	...	Ace Tone
Alan Darby	...	Ace Tone
Caroline Guthrie	...	Pauline
Ray Jeffries	...	Andrew
Willie Joss	...	Sandy
James Kennedy	...	Edward
Michele McCarel	...	Switchboard Operator
Roddy Murray	...	Ace Tone
Buddy Quaid	...	Crabbe
Edith Ruddick	...	Old Lady
John Gordon Sinclair	...	Ricky
Anne Thompson	...	Switchboard Operator
Sandra Voe	...	Mrs Fraser
Dale Winchester	...	Ace Tone
Jimmy Yuill	...	Iain

Directed by
Bill Forsyth

Writing credits
Bill Forsyth		(written by)

Produced by
David Puttnam	....	producer
Iain Smith	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Knopfler

Cinematography by
Chris Menges		(lighting cameraman)

Film Editing by
Michael Bradsell

Production Design by
Roger Murray-Leach

Art Direction by
Adrienne Atkinson
Frank Walsh
Ian Watson

Makeup Department
Karen Dawson	....	makeup assistant
Tommie Manderson	....	makeup supervisor
Barbara Sutton	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Patricia Churchill	....	production manager: U.S. (as Pat Churchill)
Robin Douet	....	production manager: U.K.

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jonathan Benson	....	first assistant director
Matthew Binns	....	assistant director
Melvin Lind	....	assistant director
Joel Tuber	....	assistant director: U.S.
Richard Hawley	....	second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Steve Allaway	....	chargehand carpenter
Tony Allaway	....	carpenter (as Anthony Allaway)
Les Beaver	....	chargehand rigger
Dennis Bovington	....	carpenter
Dave Coldham	....	plasterer (as David Coldham)
Roy Evans	....	construction manager
Barry Gates	....	stagehand
John Gorham	....	graphics
Martin Hammerton	....	stand-by carpenter
Roy Hansford	....	carpenter
Alec Hearn	....	drape
George Hobbs	....	stand-by rigger
John Hogan	....	props
John Hurley	....	painter
George Malin	....	dressing props
Norman North	....	stand-by painter
Jill Quertier	....	production buyer
Eamonn Redmond	....	stand-by stagehand
Cornelius 'Ted' Restall	....	chargehand painter (as Ted Restall)
Ray Staples	....	plasterer
Bill Stark	....	props
Ted Stickley	....	dressing props
Arthur Wicks	....	property master

Sound Department
Allan Brereton	....	sound assistant
Ian Fuller	....	dubbing editor
David Grimsdale	....	assistant dubbing editor
Louis Kramer	....	sound mixer
Ray Merrin	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Bill Rowe	....	dubbing mixer
Mike Tucker	....	boom operator
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roy Carnell	....	special effects
Stuart Galloway	....	special effects
Dennis Harrison	....	special effects rigger
Peter Hutchinson	....	special effects
Patrick McColgan	....	special effects
Tommy Parker	....	special effects rigger
Peter Skehan	....	special effects
Wally Veevers	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Steve Simmonds	....	modeller

Camera and Electrical Department
James Ainslie	....	clapper loader
Kenneth Atherfold	....	camera grip (as Ken Atherfold)
Graham Attwood	....	unit stillsman
John Beach	....	electrician
Michael Coulter	....	camera operator (as Mike Coulter)
Micky Davey	....	electrician
Ron Lyons	....	electrician
Brian Martin	....	chargehand electrician
Jan Pester	....	focus puller
Ronnie Rampton	....	gaffer electrician
Micky Wilson	....	electrician

Casting Department
Susie Figgis	....	casting
Penny Perry	....	casting: U.S.

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pip Newbery	....	costumes
Penny Rose	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Jim Howe	....	first assistant editor
Anne Sopel	....	second assistant editor

Transportation Department
Robbie Sandison	....	driver: grip truck (uncredited)

Other crew
Dennis Bishop	....	location manager: U.S.
David Brown	....	location manager
Iain Brown	....	National Film School attachment
Diane Chittell	....	producer's secretary: U.S.
Teresa Colman	....	director's secretary
Louise Coulter	....	assistant accountant
Susan d'Arcy	....	unit publicist (as Susan D'Arcy)
Charles Finch	....	runner
John Hemmings	....	liaison: Kay Laboratories London
Gus Maclean	....	runner
Maggie Phelan	....	assistant accountant
Ron Phipps	....	production accountant
Pat Rambaut	....	continuity
Anne Rapp	....	continuity: U.S.
Mary Richards	....	production secretary
Lynda Smith	....	producer's secretary
Rona Lamont	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Celandine Films (uncredited)
• Enigma Productions (for Goldcrest) (as An Enigma Production)
• Goldcrest Films International (as Goldcrest)

Distributors

• Arcadia Digital (2005) (Greece) (TV) (Cyprus) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1987) (USA) (TV)
• MK2 Diffusion (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Tobis (1983) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1983) (UK)
• Atlantic Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Karelia Food (1994) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV) (1991) (Finland) (TV)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Showtime Networks (19??) (Finland) (VHS)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1984) (Sweden) (video) (16 mm)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (UK) (DVD)
• VMP (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (UK) (video)
• YLE Teema (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2004) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Autobonn Motors of Houston  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Banff Springs Hotel  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• British Caledonian Airways  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Burberry  this film was made with the help and co-operation of (as Burberry's of London)
• Cuisines Chabert Duval U.K. Limited  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• E.M.I. Elstree Studios  re-recorded at (as EMI Elstree Studios, Borehamwood)
• Elon Tiles U.K. L imited  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Enigma (Local Hero) Limited  filmed entirely on location in Scotland and Texas by (as Enigma {Local Hero} Limited, 81 Piccadilly, London W1V 0JH, England)
• Evans Monical Inc. Houston  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Foleys, Houston  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Fullerscopes, London  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• GSE  titles and opticals (as G.S.E.)
• Gerald D Hines Interests, Houston  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• J&J Film Foods Ltd.  location catering (as J & J Foods)
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Lochailort Inn  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Long John International Limited  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Mark Cross Inc. Houston  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording (uncredited)
• Patek Philippe Geneve  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Penguin Books  novel published world wide by
• People of Pennan, Arisaig and Morar, Scotland, The  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Phonogram Records U.K. Limited  album available on
• R.E.A. Bott Limited, London  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Rotan-Mosle Financial Corporation, Houston  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Royal Air Force (RAF)  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Science Museum, London, The  this film was made with the help and co-operation of (as Science Museum, London)
• Scottish Television Enterprises  funding (uncredited)
• Take 6  this film was made with the help and co-operation of (as Take 6, London)
• Texas Commerce Tower, Houston  this film was made with the help and co-operation of
• Turnbull & Asser  this film was made with the help and co-operation of (as Turnbull & Asser, London)
• Woodhouse  this film was made with the help and co-operation of (as Woodhouse, London)
• Zapa Zapata Corporation, Houston  this film was made with the help and co-operation of

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Denmark:15 | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

Celandine Films

Trivia:

"Happer Boulevard" (seen when Happer is leaving for Scotland) is actually Milam St. in downtown Houston.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Happer leaves his penthouse office to enter his adjacent apartment, he uses a remote control to reveal the apartment's single doorway entrance. Yet in the next sequence, Happer is shown cooking in the kitchen, with the same entrance in the background - double-doored.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
MacIntyre: [concerning the payphone] I need more change!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Way it Always Starts

Pure magic...

I have no idea what provoked me to see this film in the theatre lo those many years ago, but I am grateful to the serendipity which has brought this piece of magic into my life. I am constantly amazed that a piece of fiction (and not even a written one) could have such an impact on my heart and soul.

From the edgy humor of Happer's encounters with his analyst (I will always consider this to be Mr. Lancaster's most charming performance in a body of excellent work) to the poignant scene in which (an albeit drunken) Mac confesses his coveting Gordon's life, this film draws me in like no other. Whenever I am asked my favorite film, I answer Local Hero without hesitation - there is never a question of its position on my list.

I must confess, I am surprised there are no other reviews of Local Hero by women. I've always found the lyrical nature of the film to have a distinctly female sensibility. But on the other hand, I don't know any other women beyond myself who have seen it (or recall having seen it). The best recommendation I can make for this film is, when I find the world closing in on me, I watch Local Hero. I smile. I laugh. I even cry a bit. But most importantly, I come away knowing that I might someday find that very possible magic in my life.