Geordie – 1955 | 95 mins | Drama | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Heart-warming Highland drama scripted by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat from the novel by David Walker.

A puny young Scottish gamekeeper’s son, Geordie (Paul Young), nicknamed Wee Geordie because of his delicate physique. After seeing a newspaper advert for the Henry Samson bodybuilding course, he enrols due to the teasing of his classmates and to impress the girl of his dreams, Jean (Anna Ferguson). The film proceeds to a now mature Geordie (now played by Bill Travers), working alongside his father as a gamekeeper to the Laird (Alastair Sim). As he matures into a Samson’s star bodybuilding pupil, Henry Samson informs Geordie that now is the time for him to take up a sporting challenge, and suggests one with a national characteristic; hammer throwing!

After plenty of practice, which involves nearly hitting the Laird with a hammer, Geordie goes on to compete and win in the Highland Games. On the strength of this he is selected for the Olympic games hammer-throwing event in Melbourne, Australia. Leaving his girl (now played by Norah Gorsen) behind at the railway station, Geordie heads for the Olympics. On the sea journey to Australia, he meets muscular Danish shot-putter Helga (Doris Goddard), and the two become good friends. During the Games, Geordie dreams of Jean for inspiration and breaks the hammer-throwing world record, but just as he does so Helga pounces on her restrained fellow competitor in a passionate embrace. A heartbroken Jean back in Scotland hears the incident relayed during a radio broadcast and the returning hero is shunned by the town’s folk for his momentary lapse. On hearing the gossip, Geordie goes to confront Jean with the truth.