Biography of 'Pelicula Films'

Production company

Mike Alexander and Mark Littlewood formed Pelicula Films in 1971. Both had already established themselves in the Scottish film industry, through working with Campbell Harper Films and BBC Scotland, Alexander developing as writer/director and Littlewood as cameraman.

As a team, Alexander and Littlewood produced through Pelicula a variety of different films, both fiction and documentary. They made a number of promotional films for Films of Scotland such as Dunfermline (1974), Lothian Landscape (1974) and Castle and Capital (1980) and a series of sports documentaries: The Long Sprint (1976) about athlete David Jenkins, No Easy Way (1980) on Olympic Gold Medal winner Allan Wells and Doin’ the Business (1988), a portrait of snooker player Steven Hendry.

They have also made an acclaimed series of music documentaries. Pelicula’s fiction output includes Nosey Dobson (1976) for the Children’s Film Foundation, The Donegals (1977) financed by the Scottish Arts Council; and The Adman (1980).

Their first full-length theatrical feature was the Gaelic language As An Eilean (1993). Pelicula continues to produce films today for cinema and television.

Researcher: Melissa Stewart

Films associated with 'COCOZZA, Enrico'

28 hits

Asc Desc
	AS AN EILEAN = FROM THE ISLAND [4329] Add to my films Filmed on location in Wester Ross, this tale revolves around a collection of very different characters, each in their own particular circumstance, drawing each to embark on a psychological journey of 'finding one's self'.		1993 sound col
	AYRSHIRE LANG SYNE [4745] Add to my films Mid-eighteenth century costume drama, set in Robert Burn's Ayrshire. The theme of the play is the hypocritical, unsympathetic form of (so-called) 'puritanism' that lorded it over the land at the time.		1972 sound col
	BEYOND THE MAYPOLE [4716] Add to my films A man from Zimbabwe in search of traditional English Music.		1991 sound col
	BOWING PRINCIPLES FOR STRING PLAYERS [0308] Add to my films New video Joan Dickson, a cellist, demonstrates bowing principles for string players.		1975 sound bw
	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
	DOWN-HOME: Cape Breton And Quebec [4722] Add to my films Aly Bain presents the music of Quebec French-Canadian fiddler Jean Carignan, and the musicians Bottines Souriantes, Denis Lanctot, Denis Pepin, Gilles Losier		1985 sound col
	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
	EDGELAND [4721] Add to my films Documentary investigating the crofter's lot and the somewhat fractious relationship the crofting industry has had with the UK government, throughout the 20th century.		1986 sound col
	FOLLOW THE MOONSTONE [4720] Add to my films A performance based, interpretative film of a modernist suite by Norway's Henning Sommero, specially composed for Shetland fiddle virtuoso Aly Bain and rooted in traditional Scandinavian and Scottish melodies. Features the ensemble performing intercut with land and seascapes from these areas. [synopsis from Scottish Screen Catalogue of Short Films 1993 - 1999 "Kicking Up A Storm"]		1996 sound col
	GRAMSCI: Everything That Concerns People [4821] Add to my films Documentary on life of Italian neo-Marxist and political philosopher Antonio Gramsci. Features archive footage, interviews, historical location gvs, and acted scenes (starring John Sessions as Gramsci).		1987 sound col
	HOME ECONOMICS [5744] Add to my films An educational film depicting the work of a school Home Economics Department (cookery and dressmaking), and progression to Technical College, where students learn further professional catering skills. The film was made at Brechin High School, Inverness Technical College and Summerhill Secondary School, Aberdeen.		1972 sound col
	IONA - DOVE ACROSS THE WATER [3068] Add to my films The island of Iona is glimpsed in summer and winter, through the lambing and harvest seasons, from sunrise to sunset.		1982 sound col
	IT WASN'T ME MISTER [2540] Add to my films A dramatic description of a youngster taken on his first shoplifting spree by an older boy and both ending up in trouble with the police.		1974 sound col
	JOHN BROWN: The Man Who Drew A Legend [4996] Add to my films Introduced by the journalist Jack Webster, this is the story of John Brown and the ships he helped design at John Brown & Co Shipyard, Clydebank. The film concentrates on the history of the Queen Mary, upon the 59th Anniversary of her launch, celebrated in California, where she now resides as a hotel and tourist attraction. Includes much archive footage of the Queen Mary, the shipyard and interviews with John Brown to illustrate the story.		1995 sound col
	KILROY WAS THERE [4708] Add to my films A film about the National Service that was compulsory for young men in the 1950s and 60s. There are interviews with men who were former 'conscripts' and footage from that era.		1988 silent bwcol
	LIVINGSTON - A PLAN FOR LIVING [2228] Add to my films A young family take a look round the new town of Livingston to discover what it has to offer.		1976 sound col
	LONG SPRINT: Diary of an Olympic Athlete [3920] Add to my films The film follows David Jenkins through his training for the 400m from 1975 through to the heats for the Olympics. David qualified for the final heat but did not receive a medal.	Onsite only	1975 sound col
	LOTHIAN LANDSCAPE [2258] Add to my films The towns, castles and farmland of East Lothian.		1974 sound col
	MAN AND ENERGY Part 2: Man the Destroyer [4702] Add to my films A film discussing the various forms of energy used by man.	Onsite only	1976 sound col
	NEIL GUNN - LIGHT IN THE NORTH [0589] Add to my films Neil Gunn, the Scottish novelist, talks to George Bruce about his life and work.		1972 sound col
	NO EASY WAY: Allan Wells, One Man's Olympics [4713] Add to my films Fly-on-the-wall documentary following the Edinburgh sprinter Allan Wells and his gruelling preparations for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where he won Gold in the 100m and Silver in the 200m. Features footage of training in Edinburgh, Australia, the Cote D'Azur and Moscow. Includes extensive interviews with Allan.		1980 sound col
	NORMAN MacCAIG: A MAN IN MY POSITION [2802] Add to my films The poet Norman MacCaig talks about his work to Magnus Magnusson and John MacInnes.		1977 sound col
	ORPHEUS IN ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME [4715] Add to my films The story of Orpheus through the mediums of myth, song, drama and poetry.		1984 sound col
	SCAPA FLOW 1919: With All Flags Flying [4718] Add to my films The story of the scuttling of the German High Fleet in Scapa Flow, 1919.		1986 sound col
	ST. ANDREWS BY THE NORTHERN SEA [2247] Add to my films A look at the university town of St. Andrews.		1972 sound col
	STOCK OF BROOM - THE EDINBURGH MERCHANT COMPANY [2255] Add to my films Made to commemorate the tercentenary of the Company of Merchants of the city of Edinburgh featuring the tradition of teaching in Merchant Company schools.		1981 sound col
	TOWN CALLED AYR, a [2261] Add to my films The town of Ayr with the World Pipe Band Championships and the Ayr races.		1974 sound col
	VICTORIAN SCOTLAND [4707] Add to my films A film sponsored by the Scottish Tourist Board, highlighting the areas of Scotland influenced by the Victorian Era. There is footage of Queen Victoria in Scotland and general views of Great Scottish landmarks both in Victorian and modern times.	Onsite only	1980 sound col