Scotland's fear and Scotland's pride, Rob Roy MacGregor…

 

The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival (HippFest) is pleased to announce that it will open its 2019 programme with a rare screening of Rob Roy accompanied by a new score composed and performed by multi-instrumentalist David Allison.

 

Tickets for the opening night screening at the Hippodrome in Bo’ness on Wednesday 20 March, will go on sale at 12 noon on St Andrew’s Day (Friday 30 November).

 

Opening Night: Rob Roy (1922) 

Accompanied by multi-instrumentalist David Allison

Dir. William Kellino / UK / 1h 20m approx. + short

With: David Hawthorne, Gladys Jennings, Wallace Bosco, Simeon Stuart

 

 

This impressive biopic of Scottish folk hero Rob Roy starring David Hawthorne in tartan kilt and tammy was shot entirely on location in the Trossachs and nearby Stirling Castle, whilst the 10th Duke of Argyll gave permission to the production to film on his estates. The film makes liberal use of Scots for the intertitles (“dinnae fash yersel”) and has epic fight scenes abound, with 800 men of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders enlisted as extras in a dramatic battle.  

 

At the opening of the film, screenwriter Alicia Ramsey explains via the first intertitle that this is not an adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's novel, but the story of the principal events in the life of the famous outlaw (“To Scotland, not to Scott, did we go for the facts…").  Never prone to letting these “facts” get in the way of a good story, the film is a gleeful adventure yarn with a strong romantic streak.  

 

To accompany this rare silent source from the British Film Institute National Archive, HippFest has commissioned multi-instrumentalist and composer David Allison to create a new score. David Allison makes a welcome return to HippFest after winning fans for his beautiful scores for Nosferatu (HippFest 2011) and The Last of the Mohicans (HippFest 2018).  

 

Festival Director (Falkirk Community Trust) Alison Strauss said: “We are delighted to be opening the 2019 Festival with this impressive early film version of the life of Roby Roy. Stand aside Liam Neeson… Davie Hawthorne cuts a very fine figure as the outlawed romantic hero – striding across the glens, fighting injustice and confounding his enemies, This wasn’t the first film version of the subject but it is certainly the most epic, and it hasn’t been screened since it took Scottish picture houses by storm in 1922. Now, and with the added wow-factor of David Allison’s new score, we are sure people will experience all the thrill and excitement of seeing this significant Scottish production on the big screen, just like the audiences one hundred years ago.”

 

 

Musician David Allison said: "I'm really looking forward to coming back to this wonderful festival at the Hippodrome which is truly an extraordinary venue. ‘Rob Roy’ is an ambitiously staged tale of romance and nationalist pride and it’s an honour to get to write and perform music to one of Scotland’s most iconic figures.”

 

Tickets for Rob Roy (1922) priced at £14/£11.50 are available from Friday 30 November from Falkirk Community Trust’s Box Office on 01324 506850, 

 

 

The full programme for the 2019 Festival will be announced on Tuesday 5 February. 

 

For interviews, hi-res images and press tickets please contact Emma Henderson on 07977134614 or emma@pi-communications.co.uk

 

 

Notes for Editors:

 

Musician David Allison has created a number of successful live soundtracks for silent films, including ‘The Island Tapes’ and ‘The St Kilda Tapes’ which toured internationally and sold out at festivals such as Celtic Connections. As well as last year’s HippFest opening title The Last of the Mohicans (1920), and the 1922 horror classic ‘Nosferatu’ (HippFest 2011),  David has produced three solo studio albums: Reporting, Guitar Gi-tar and Acoustic Movies.

 

"Thoughtful and crafted acoustic guitar music"

Time Out.

 

 

The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival was launched in 2011 and has since become a key annual event in the cultural calendar, drawing audiences from across Scotland and beyond, and generating significant UK-wide media coverage. The event is organised by Falkirk Community Trust with key funding from Creative Scotland, Falkirk Council and Film Hub Scotland part of the British Film Audience Network.

 

 

The Hippodrome in Bo’ness is an independent pre-art deco picture palace dating back to 1912. In 2009, following a major restoration, it was reopened with digital and 35mm projectors and a state-of-the-art sound system, a café and licensed bar, and is a four-star Visit Scotland attraction. The cinema screens a range of new and recent releases, as well as archive and silent movie classics. The venue is run by Falkirk Community Trust, a charitable company set up by Falkirk Council to deliver culture, library, recreation, and sport services on its behalf. 

 

Falkirk Community Trust is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status and was established by Falkirk Council.  On 1 July 2011 the company assumed responsibility for the management and operation of a range of community facing sport, recreation, arts, heritage and library services.

As a not-for-profit organisation it strives to support community aspirations, deliver inspiring services and ensure that the experiences we offer provide equality of opportunity and access for all.   www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org

 

The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival runs from 20-24 March 2019 and is a Falkirk Community Trust initiative supported by Falkirk Council, Creative Scotland and Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network.