The Gorbals Story ** (1950, Howard Connell, Betty Henderson, Russell Hunter, Roddy McMillan, Archie Duncan) – Classic Movie Review 12,807

The 1950 British drama film The Gorbals Story is a grim, glum story from the Glasgow slums, based on the 1946 play by Robert McLeish, staged by the Glasgow Unity Theatre. It features Russell Hunter, Roddy McMillan, Archie Duncan and Andrew Keir.

Writer/ director David MacKane’s 1950 British drama film The Gorbals Story is a gloomy, static, cheaply made support feature, featuring players of the left-wing Glasgow Unity Theatre. It is directed and written by MacKane from the highly successful 1946 stage play by Robert McLeish, staged by the Glasgow Unity Theatre.

It stars Howard Connell and Marjorie Thomson as Willie Mutrie and Jean Mutrie, with Betty Henderson as Peggie Anderson, though the best work comes from the reliable Scottish acting names – Russell Hunter (as Johnnie Martin), Roddy McMillan (as Hector), Archie Duncan (as Bull) and Andrew Keir (as pub chucker-outer), members of the Glasgow Unity Theatre.

It is a grim, glum story from the Glasgow slums of 75  years ago about Johnnie (Russell Hunter), now a successful artist, who recalls in flashback the infamous centre city slum tenement life that drove him perilously close to committing murder.

The Gorbals Story is directed by David MacKane, runs 74 minutes, is made by New World Pictures, is released by Eros Films (UK), is written by David MacKane, is shot in black and white by Stanley Clinton, is produced by Ernest Gartside, is scored by John Bath, and is designed by George Haslam.

The cast are Howard Connell, Marjorie Thomson, Betty Henderson, Russell Hunter, Roddy McMillan, Isobel Campbell, Jack Stewart, Archie Duncan, Sybil Thomson, Eveline Garratt [Evie Garratt], Andrew Keir, Ian Dalgleish, Berta Cooper, Allan Scott, and Lothar Lewinsohn,

Release date: January 1950 (UK).

Ironically, it is made in England, and the Glasgow accents are toned down for Sassenachs. The entirely set-bound film is made in the studio at Merton Park Studios, Merton, London, England. Nevertheless, there are some interesting events and characters, as well as ideas here, and there is no doubt that is its as well meaning as it is depressing.

Several of the actors went on to highly successful, long-lasting careers.

Russell Hunter is best remembered as Lonely in the TV thriller series Callan, starring Edward Woodward,

Archie Duncan is best remembered as Little John in  Sapphire Films’ ITV show The Adventures of Robin Hood from 1955 to 1959.

Roddy McMillan is best remembered  as Para Handy for BBC Scotland’s TV series, The Vital Spark and for starring in Edward Boyd’s private eye series, The View from Daniel Pike.

Andrew Keir is best remembered  as Professor Bernard Quatermass in Hammer’s film version of Quatermass and the Pit (1967).

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,807

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