Geordie (film)
| Geordie | |
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US film poster for Geordie
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| Directed by | Frank Launder |
| Produced by |
Sidney Gilliat Frank Launder |
| Screenplay by | Sidney Gilliat Frank Launder |
| Based on | Wee Geordie by David Walker |
| Starring |
Bill Travers as Geordie Paul Young as Young Geordie Alastair Sim as The Laird Norah Gorsen as Jean |
| Music by | William Alwyn |
| Cinematography | Wilkie Cooper |
| Edited by | Thelma Connell |
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Production
company |
Argonaut Film
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| Distributed by | British Lion Films (UK) |
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Release date
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Running time
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100 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £218,384 (UK) |
Geordie (released in the United States. as Wee Geordie) is a 1955 British film directed and co-produced by Frank Launder, with Bill Travers in the title role as a Scotsman who becomes an athlete and competes at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.
The film is based on David Walker's 1950 novel of the same title, adapted for the screen by Launder and his co-producer Sidney Gilliat.
Geordie MacTaggart is a "wee" (small) Scottish schoolboy. Although his best friend Jean does not mind his height, after he sees a newspaper advertisement for a bodybuilding correspondence course offered by Henry Samson, he sends for the course and embarks diligently on Samson's fitness programme. By the time Geordie turns 21, he has grown into a tall, fit man who continues to follow Samson's long-distance instructions. Jean, however, disapproves of the amount of time he spends training.
Geordie works as assistant to his father, the local laird's head gamekeeper. When his father later dies, the laird makes Geordie the new gamekeeper.
One day, he gets a letter from Samson, who suggests he take up hammer throwing. On his first attempt, he almost hits the laird, who then tries to show him how it is done. However, the laird's own hammer throw almost hits the local minister, who is passing by on his bike. It turns out that the minister is knowledgeable about the sport; he trains Geordie himself. At the minister's urging, Geordie reluctantly enters a highland games and makes two bad throws. But after the unexpected appearance (and encouragement) of Jean, he wins with his final throw.
Two members of Olympics selection committee visit him and invite him to join the British team for the Melbourne Olympic Games in Australia. Geordie is once again reluctant, as he does not particularly care to compete against others, but finally agrees. He takes the train to London, where he finally gets to meet Henry Samson, who has come to see him off when he boards the ship for Australia.
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Wikipedia