Biography of 'Films of Scotland Committee'

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Production and distribution organisation

The Films of Scotland collection comprises some 150 documentary films which chart the changing face of Britain from 1955 to 1982, produced under the auspices of the second Films of Scotland Committee established under the aegis of the Scottish Council for
Development and Industry.

Films of Scotland was born in the 1930s when Scotland hosted the 1938 Empire Exhibition. Walter Elliot, Scottish Secretary, was keen to see a series of films produced for screening to the millions of visitors expected, films that would reflect the upsurge of national feeling at the time. His decision to use the medium of film for this purpose arose from admiration of John Grierson’s pioneering documentary films DRIFTERS and NIGHT MAIL. Elliot formed a committee - Films of Scotland - whose purpose was to promote Scotland both nationally and internationally, depicting all aspects of Scottish life – social, cultural and industrial. Grierson was appointed as adviser for the production of a series of seven films that as a group would reflect the spectrum of modern Scotland and its people in a vivid and meaningful way and would form the centrepiece of the film programme for the Exhibition. The Committee stood down in 1939 having done their job.

At its re-establishment in 1954 membership of the Committee represented all branches of the film industry, tourism and local and national administration and manufacturing.

The collection represents one of the most coherent local and national film collections in the UK. Arguably it offers a different model for film studies from the usual sources and opens up the possibility of fresh material for a critique of the post-war British documentary. Grierson was a leading member of the second Committee producing several treatments for them, as well as his autobiographical film I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER (1968 ). The collection includes the little known early work of British film makers who moved from documentary into feature film such as Bill Forsyth, screen writing credits for novelists such as William McIlvanney and Alasdair Gray and music composed by Muir Mathieson and John Maxwell Geddes.

The extensive written archive of administrative records, production files, scripts, stills, marketing materials and programme booklets offer a discrete set of data on the infrastructure and distribution methods of a UK film agency, with evidence of audience and industry reception to the works both domestically and internationally in an era of transition from cinema-going to television viewing. These records can be consulted at the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive.

Researcher: Janet McBain

Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'

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Asc Desc
	A9 HIGHLAND HIGHWAY [1962] Add to my films A documentary on the remaking, over ten years, of the A9 between Perth and Inverness - the highest trunk road in Britain.		1982 sound col
	ABERDEEN BY SEASIDE AND DEESIDE [1371] Add to my films An impressionistic account of the attractions that Aberdeen and Deeside offer the summer visitor.		1971 sound col
	AMAZING MOMENTS OF THE GREAT TRACTION ENGINES, the [1356] Add to my films A small boy inherits a steam road roller. A film fantasy by Edward McConnell.		1969 sound col
	AS LONG AS YOU'RE YOUNG [2804] Add to my films A year of youth hostelling in Scotland; hikers enjoying walking by Loch Lomond, skiers in Glen Coe, cyclists in the Borders, yachting on the Clyde.		1962 sound col
	AYR FROM THE AULD BRIG [2792] Add to my films The story of the town of Ayr and its links with Robert Burns.		1961 sound col
	BAGPIPE AND THE ZITHER [3070] Add to my films A co-production describing the twin cities of Munich and Edinburgh, highlighting their differences and similarities. (43 mins)	Onsite only	1975 sound col
	BEECHAM CHEMICAL FACTORY - IRVINE [4393] Add to my films Tests being carried out in the laboratories of Beecham's chemical factory, Irvine.		mute col
	BEYOND THE GRAMPIANS [1501] Add to my films A description of the life of the fishing and farming communities in Aberdeenshire.		1963 sound col
	BIG MILL, the [0387] Add to my films The production of sheet steel at the Ravenscraig and Gartcosh Works of Colvilles Ltd. Lanarkshire. Ravenscraig steel works produced steel in many forms - to make cars and desks, bridges and ships for worldwide markets.		1963 sound col
	BLACK WATCH, the [3018] Add to my films The freedom ceremony of the Black Watch at Aberfeldy where the Regiment was first established. (9 mins)		1971 sound col
	BOAT, the [3067] Add to my films A light-hearted comedy about a man who inherits a cabin cruiser and the misadventures of his first trip. Featuring Chic Murray.		1975 sound col
	BO'NESS FAIR [7793] Add to my films An official record of the Bo'ness Fair in 1974, filmed between 22nd - 28th June.		1974 sound col
	BONNETS OVER THE BORDER [1602] Add to my films A record of the three-day rally organised by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, starting in Edinburgh and finishing at Turnberry via the Trossachs and Glasgow.		1962 sound col
	BORDERS: Where Scotland and England Meet, the [2223] Add to my films The changing forces in the traditional borderland; in the fishing and textile industries, farming, forestry and housing.		1970 sound col
	BUILDING CONSTRUCTION - CUMMINS ENGINEERING [4408] Add to my films Factory construction at the Cummins Engineering works, Shotts.		1978 mute col
	BUSMAN'S HOLIDAY [0345] Add to my films A Galloway bus driver goes on a coach tour to John O' Groats.		1959 sound col
	BY LOCHABER I WILL GO [2202] Add to my films The travelling bank in Lochaber and the island of Lewis.		1960 sound col
	CALTREX CALENDERING LINE [2248] Add to my films The partnership of an Edinburgh and a Manchester based firm in the manufacturing of PVC film for packaging. (10 mins)		1978 sound col
	CASTLE AND CAPITAL [2262] Add to my films A descriptive essay on the city of Edinburgh, and in particular of Edinburgh Castle.		1979 sound col
	CHAMPIONS IN THE SUN [2203] Add to my films Documentary about the 1964 Royal Highland Show at Ingliston.		1964 sound col
	CHILDREN'S STORY, the [1059] Add to my films One of a group of seven documentaries made for the 1938 Empire Exhibition under the supervision of John Grierson, describing the history of Scottish education.		1938 sound bw
	CLYDESCOPE [1481] Add to my films A panorama of the Clyde, from Biggar to Brodick, with Billy Connolly as guide.	Onsite only	1974 sound col
	COME AWAY IN [3021] Add to my films A dramatised documentary on the day to day work in an SSEB electricity showroom.		1973 sound col
	CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORTH ROAD BRIDGE [2222] Add to my films The engineering work-in-progress of the construction of the Forth Road Bridge. [See also ref. 2208 for alternative version]. (48 mins)		1965 sound col
	COUNTRY OF THE BLIND, the [2002] Add to my films The work of the Scottish National Institution for the War Blinded.		1968 sound col
	COUNTY OF THE CLYDE [2204] Add to my films The changing pattern of life in Lanarkshire.		1963 sound col
	COUNTY ON THE MOVE [2205] Add to my films The towns, industries and places of interest in the county of West Lothian.		1966 sound col
	CROMARTY BRIDGE, the [3054] Add to my films How a bridge was built over the Cromarty Firth and how an environment was preserved for migratory seabirds.		1979 sound col
	CRUACHAN [2790] Add to my films A description of the building of the pumped-storage hydro-electric scheme at Loch Awe, Argyll.		1966 sound col
	CUMBERNAULD, TOWN FOR TOMORROW [2227] Add to my films The New Town of Cumbernauld: its housing, recreational facilities and industries.		1970 sound col
	CUMMINS ENGINEERING, SHOTTS [4407] Add to my films Machinery at work in the Cummins Engineering works, Shotts.		mute col
	DIFFERENT VALLEY, a [5780] Add to my films Filmed over the six year creation period of the Megget Valley reservoir and dam. Shots before, during and after construction.		1983 sound col
	DRAM LIKE THIS, a [2201] Add to my films The distilling of whisky at the William Grant Glenfiddich, Girvan and Ladyburn distilleries.		1972 sound col
	DUNA BULL, the [2229] Add to my films A light-hearted comedy where Duna is an imaginary island lying far west of the Hebrides. When the islanders' only bull has to be destroyed they are faced with the problem of getting another to the island.		1972 sound col
	DUNDEE [1061] Add to my films The city of Dundee and its industries; jute, jam manufacturing and journalism. [Premiered at a meeting of the British Association in Dundee, September 1939, the screening was abandoned midway owing to the declaration of war].		1939 sound bw
	DUNFERMLINE [2267] Add to my films The town of Dunfermline, its past and present. Film includes brief shots of frigate sailing up the Forth and of USS aircraft carrier moored.		1974 sound col
	EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 1964, the [0459] Add to my films Documentary on the Edinburgh Festival 1964 including excerpts from plays, opera, ballet and the military tattoo.		1965 sound col
	EDINBURGH ON PARADE [2793] Add to my films The streets of Edinburgh at 1969 Festival time, featuring the parade along Princes Street.		1970 sound col
	ENAMEL AND CONCRETE PIPE COATINGS BY BREDERO PRICE [5463] Add to my films Promotional film about enamel and concrete pipe coatings by Bredero Price.		1981 sound col
	ENCHANTED ISLES [1943] Add to my films The route to the Hebrides taken by Bonnie Prince Charlie.		1957 sound col
	ERSKINE BRIDGE, the [2254] Add to my films The building of the Erskine Road Bridge. (21 mins)		1972 sound col
	FACE OF SCOTLAND, the [0034] Add to my films One of a group of seven documentaries made for the 1938 Empire Exhibition under the supervision of John Grierson depicting the character of Scotland and its people.		1938 sound bw
	FESTIVAL IN EDINBURGH [1493] Add to my films Compilation of events, people and shows which helped to create the 1954 Edinburgh Festival.		1955 sound col
	FETTES [2207] Add to my films Activities and events at Fettes College, Edinburgh including a visit by HM the Queen Mother.		1970 sound col
	FORTH ROAD BRIDGE, the [2208] Add to my films The construction of the Forth Road Bridge from the initial survey to the official opening.		1965 sound col
	FRASERS' RETURN, the [0038] Add to my films A Scots-Canadian emigrant family on their first return visit to Scotland, where they see industrial improvement due to the Scottish Electric Grid.		1963 sound col
	FROM GLASGOW GREEN TO BENDIGO [2209] Add to my films Carpet manufacturing processes in the Templeton factory, Glasgow.		1961 sound col
	GARDENS BY THE SEA [2894] Add to my films The botanical gardens at Poolewe, Kirkcudbright, Port Logan, Culzean Castle, Arran, Ghia and Colonsay.		1973 sound col
	GEORGE IV's EDINBURGH [2210] Add to my films A reconstruction of George IV's visit to Edinburgh in 1822 drawing a contrast between the old town and the New Town which the King was able to see in development. (15 mins)		1960 sound col
	GIVING VOICE: A Writer in the Classroom [3269] Add to my films Poet and playwright Donald Campbell giving poetry workshops at Broughton High School, Edinburgh.		1976 sound col