Nosey Dobson (1976) / Isle of Arran Films

[Dunc]

I wonder if anyone has a copy of 'Nosey Dobson'. This was one of the Children's Film Foundation films, from approx. 1976 I think.

It was set on the Isle of Arran around Brodick Castle. I have hazy recollections of the film and want to refresh my memory as Arran was a place I visited quite a few times on holiday in childhood.

While on the subject of Arran, does anyone know of any other films set or filmed there? A quick google hasn't unearthed a great deal.

Thanks.

[maturin]

Hi

There's the beautiful Grierson documentary 'Man of Aran' from 1934.
R

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by maturin Hi There's the beautiful Grierson documentary 'Man of Aran' from 1934. R

Ah yes, the great fakery that led to the "Documentary movement".
The fisherman had apparently given up the old techniques and stopped things like shark fishing years ago. But Flaherty (it was directed by Robert J. Flaherty, not Grierson) thought they would look more picturesque so he got them to fish the way their forefathers had fished. All the action is carefully directed and the three main characters aren't related and don't even all come from Aran (or Arran).

The scenery is quite good though

Steve

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Dunc I wonder if anyone has a copy of 'Nosey Dobson'. This was one of the Children's Film Foundation films, from approx. 1976 I think. It was set on the Isle of Arran around Brodick Castle. I have hazy recollections of the film and want to refresh my memory as Arran was a place I visited quite a few times on holiday in childhood. While on the subject of Arran, does anyone know of any other films set or filmed there? A quick google hasn't unearthed a great deal. Thanks.

The Governess (1998) with Minnie Driver apparently had some scenes filmed at Brodick Castle

Steve

[maturin]

Aha!
I've always suspected that he did the same with Night Train - looks suspiciously like my old Hornby Double'O' LMS Royal Scot class locomotive with Royal Mail carriage. As I recall the thing actually picked up mailbags so he didn't need to fake much!
R

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by maturin Aha! I've always suspected that he did the same with Night Train - looks suspiciously like my old Hornby Double'O' LMS Royal Scot class locomotive with Royal Mail carriage. As I recall the thing actually picked up mailbags so he didn't need to fake much! R

Night Mail (1936) by Harry Watt & Basil Wright.
The scenes of the postal workers sorting the mail inside the train are shot in the studio. An impression of movement was given by gently swinging the string that was hanging down from the top of the sorting boxes before each shot was filmed and telling the postal workers to walk with a rolling gait.

The sound recordists equipment was unable to record a realistic sound of the mail train clattering over the joints in the track during the "two bridges and 45 beats" trackside mailbag collection sequence. Eventually they resorted to recording the sound of a model train being pushed back and forth over joints in a model railway track in time to the film of the man on the train counting the beats.

Sorry if that spoils any illusions. But even the most rigorous "Documentary" is still partly fiction and drama. The director (& editor) select which scenes are included even from those that are actually filmed. The only true documentary would be to just leave a camera running somewhere. But that'd probably be quite boring

Steve

[maturin]

Well,
It fooled me! Actually, having just come home from the pub & having had a few, I wouldn't mind Grierson and his team were available to fool the other half. Is there a website I can access?
Richardc
(the c , as most thick fingered typists would agree is silent)
Richard