This film is part of Free
The County Clerk
The Scottish County Clerk: the unlikely Superhero of local daily life.
Overview
This is a ‘day in the life’ look at the duties of a Scottish County Clerk, a bespectacled, even-tempered man with a hat and pipe. The narrator states that ‘a County Clerk is concerned with every single event that happens in the running of the County’ and illustrates the Clerk’s involvement in an incredibly wide range of services. These include: the investigation of a possible cholera outbreak at a port, the local housing programme, fire stations, civil defence, police matters, a site for a new factory, new roads, the replanting of trees, and several more. A recurring theme within the film is the possible closure of a village school, which is resolved happily by the end.
The narrator declares that the County Council ‘carries out the policy laid down by Parliament’, meaning Westminster. Powers in many areas including local government were devolved to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
Related
Dollarbeg (Part 2) Dollarbeg (Part 2)
Amateur film 1936 13 mins Silent Location: Dollarbeg
Continuation of an amateur film capturing a family holiday in Dollarbeg Castle, including trips to Stirling and Edinburgh.
Fox Hunt Fox Hunt
Non-Fiction 1914 14 mins Silent Location: Stirling
The Beaufort hunt meets in Chipping Sodbury before riding out in pursuit of their quarry.
Scotland Speaks Scotland Speaks
Documentary 1941 20 mins Location: Stirling
Well-known landmarks such as Stirling Castle and Bannockburn fields feature in this propaganda film about Scotland during the Second World War.
The Open Road The Open Road
Travelogue 2006 65 mins Location: Land's End
Startling colour photography of 1920s Britain imbues Claude Friese-Greene’s 1920s road trip around Britain.
Introducing Scotland Introducing Scotland
School programme and Educational film 1958 20 mins Location: Glasgow
Take a whirlwind tartan tour of 1950s Scotland in this educational colour film, with fun facts about fishing, transport, coal, shipbuilding, steelworks, farming and tourism.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Luke Bean of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Samantha Arnold of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.
Horace Ové on Pressure Horace Ové on Pressure
Inside Film 2005 36 mins
The acclaimed director discusses his landmark film in this interview from 2005.
Baltimore - Exclusive Q&A Baltimore - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 28 mins
Directors Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor dig deep into their thrilling biopic Baltimore, in discussion with Nadia M Oliva.
Pressure star Herbert Norville on Horace Ové's masterpiece, the first full-length Black British film Pressure star Herbert Norville on Horace Ové's masterpiece, the first full-length Black British film
Inside Film 2023 17 mins
Actor Herbert Norville discusses working with the pioneering filmmaker on his groundbreaking 1975 drama, Pressure.
Horace Ové: Reflecting the People – A Career Retrospective Horace Ové: Reflecting the People – A Career Retrospective
Inside Film 2023 77 mins
An impassioned discussion on the life, work and legacy of the eminent filmmaker Horace Ové, chaired by Samira Ahmed.