That Sinking Feeling
Encyclopedia
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 Edinburgh gallery owner, playing himself. The four main actors went on to feature in Forsyth's following film Gregory's Girl
.
), 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 chemical 'stop-motion' potion.
, Dennistoun
, Springburn
and Bishopbriggs railway station
s, Cowcaddens
, Sighthill
and the Butney
in Maryhill
.
. For the American market, (MGM
) the soundtrack was re-dubbed using more mainstream accents. The MGM version cost more to re-dub than the entire budget for the film itself.
In September 2009, a restored copy of the film was re-released on DVD by 2 Entertain
. This has generated controversy however due to the use of the re-dubbed soundtrack, which had the effect of impinging upon the delivery of the dialogue and character of the film.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
written and directed by Bill Forsyth
Bill Forsyth
Bill Forsyth is a Scottish film director and writer, noted for his commitment to national film-making.Forsyth first came to attention with a low-budget film, That Sinking Feeling, made with youth theatre actors and featuring a cameo appearance by the Edinburgh gallery owner Richard Demarco...
, his first film as a director. The film is set in his home city, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The young actors in film were members of the Glasgow Youth Theatre. The film also features Richard Demarco
Richard Demarco
Richard Demarco, CBE is an Italian Scottish artist and promoter of the visual and performing arts.-Richard Demarco Gallery:...
, the Edinburgh gallery owner, playing himself. The four main actors went on to feature in Forsyth's following film Gregory's Girl
Gregory's Girl
Gregory's Girl is a 1981 Scottish coming-of-age romantic comedy film written and directed by Bill Forsyth.The film is set in and around a state secondary school in the Abronhill district of Cumbernauld. It features Gordon John Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, and Clare Grogan, among others...
.
Plot
Ronnie (Robert BuchananRobert Buchanan (actor)
Robert "Rab" Buchanan is a former Scottish actor, most famous for playing in three films by director Bill Forsyth: That Sinking Feeling , Gregory's Girl , and Comfort and Joy . Buchanan, like other young actors in these films, had come to the notice of Forsyth while at the former Glasgow Youth...
), Wal (Billy Greenlees), Andy (John Gordon Sinclair
John Gordon Sinclair
John Gordon Sinclair is a Scottish actor most famous for playing Gregory in Gregory's Girl. He was born as Gordon John but took the stage name 'John Gordon Sinclair' because Equity already had a Gordon John registered....
) 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 chemical 'stop-motion' potion.
Locations
Filming took place on location around the city of Glasgow; scenes featured locations such as Kelvingrove ParkKelvingrove Park
Kelvingrove Park is a public park located on the River Kelvin in the West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, containing the world-famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.-History:...
, Dennistoun
Dennistoun
Dennistoun is a district of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated north of the River Clyde in the east end of the city. It is made up of a number of smaller districts - Milnbank to the north, 'The Drives' in the centre of the area and Bellgrove below Duke Street to the south. In a 2004...
, Springburn
Springburn railway station
Springburn Railway Station serves the Springburn district of Glasgow, Scotland. The station is 2 km north of Glasgow Queen Street station on the Cumbernauld Line and is a terminus of the Springburn branch, a spur from Bellgrove Station, on the North Clyde Line.Cumbernauld Line trains, running...
and Bishopbriggs railway station
Bishopbriggs railway station
Bishopbriggs railway station is a railway station serving Bishopbriggs in East Dunbartonshire. It is located on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line 6 km north of Glasgow Queen Street, but is currently only served by SPT services on the Croy Line.-History:Bishopbriggs was one of the...
s, Cowcaddens
Cowcaddens
Cowcaddens is an area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is virtually in the city centre and is bordered by the areas of Garnethill to the south and Townhead to the east....
, Sighthill
Sighthill, Glasgow
Sighthill is a Housing estate in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde.Sighthill is part of the wider Springburn district in the North of the city...
and the Butney
Botany, Glasgow
Botany is an area of the Maryhill district in the Northwest of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. The area derived its name from the fact that it was viewed as a rougher part of the then village of Maryhill, with many rough and tumble lodging houses and public houses, and many of its residents were...
in Maryhill
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
.
Dubbed soundtrack
The film was released in the USA four years after the UK, following the success of Gregory's Girl and Local HeroLocal Hero
Local Hero is a 1983 Scottish comedy-drama film starring Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster. It was directed by Bill Forsyth and produced by David Puttnam....
. For the American market, (MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
) the soundtrack was re-dubbed using more mainstream accents. The MGM version cost more to re-dub than the entire budget for the film itself.
In September 2009, a restored copy of the film was re-released on DVD by 2 Entertain
2 Entertain
2 Entertain is a British video and music publisher, formed by the merger of BBC Video and Video Collection International in 2004....
. This has generated controversy however due to the use of the re-dubbed soundtrack, which had the effect of impinging upon the delivery of the dialogue and character of the film.