Scotland's Moving Image Archive at National Library of Scotland preserves over 100 years of Scottish filmed history reflecting 20th century social, cultural and industrial heritage. The films capture the lives of ordinary people across the generations and celebrate the achievements of Scottish based film-makers.
This film is part of Free
Introducing Scotland
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.
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Overview
Take a trip to 1950s Scotland, to see “stout of heart” puffers and steam trains, and get fascinating glimpses into Scotland’s lost industries - impressive shipyards, coal mines and steelworks, at a time when men were men, and women slaved over typewriters and factory production lines. Wheech round the Highlands for a tartan tour, “popular with Britishers and foreigners alike”, or stop off at the golfers’ Mecca of St Andrews in this fact-filled educational colour film.
Directed by Stanley L Russell, one of a group of cine enthusiasts who set up the Meteor ('Shooting Star') Film Producing Society in 1932. They organised an Open Competition in 1933, the first Scottish Amateur Film Festival. Russell joined Malcolm Irvine's company Scottish Film Productions in 1936, attracting an array of clients, from the Clyde Navigation Trust to the Ministry of Information. In 1945 the company became known as Thames and Clyde Films, specialising in industrial and educational commissions. Russell was an active evangelist for the establishment and expansion of a Scottish film industry, arguing for the need to create a domestic outlet for the obvious existence of Scottish talent.
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