Venus Peter *** (1989, Ray McAnally, David Hayman, Sinéad Cusack, Gordon R Strachan) – Classic Movie Review 12,024

Director Ian Sellar’s 1989 British drama film Venus Peter is set on a western isle of Scotland in the 1950s and stars Ray McAnally, David Hayman, Sinéad Cusack and Gordon R Strachan.

Venus Peter is an amusing and touching tale of the childhood of a boy called Peter (played by an appealing Gordon R Strachan) and of his dreams of going out with his fisherman grandfather (played by a dignified Ray McAnally) in the boat of the title. The boy is devastated to discover his sea captain father has abandoned the island family for the richer mainland.

Début director Sellar delivers a well-made and imaginative version of Christopher Rush’s novel, A Twelvemonth and a Day, full of strange characters and exotic thoughts, and beautifully filmed in the bleak Orkney Islands in the North of Scotland.

Also in the cast are Sam Hayman as Baby Peter, Caroline Paterson as Mother and Peter Caffrey as Father, while Orkney Islanders are paid extras.

It is produced by Christopher Young for Young films.

Venus Peter is directed by Ian Sellar, ryns 94 minutes, is made by BFI, Channel Four, Scottish Film Production Fund, Orkney Island Council, British Screen, and Recorded Releasing, is written by Ian Sellar and Christopher Rush, based on the novel A Twelvemonth and a Day by Christopher Rush, is shot by Gabriel Beristain, is produced by Christopher Young, and scored by Jonathan Dove.

The cast are Ray McAnally as Grandfather, David Hayman as Kinnear, Sinéad Cusack as Miss Balsilbie, Gordon R Strachan as Peter, George Anton as Billy, Louise Breslin as Leebie, Juliet Cadzow as Princess Paloma, Peter Caffrey as Father, Emma Dingwall as Jenny, Ken Drury as Gowans, Christopher Fairbank as Blind man, Cecil Garson as Gollie, Sam Hayman as Baby Peter, Scott Heddle as Peem, Ray Jeffries as Bank manager, Sheila Keith as Epp, Mary MacLeod as Miss Sangster, Alex McAvoy as Beadle, Robin McCaffrey as Georgina, Julia McCarthy as Agnes, Caroline Paterson as Mother, Alan Tall as McCreevie, Cameron Stout as Bystander, Lorraine Buchan as Bystander, and Justin Kimmett as Little Boy.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,024

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