Major Jim "Lance" Lansing, an American ex-pilot of the U.S. Air Corps, returns to Scotland after the war and finds much trouble in the glen where he settles because of the high-handed activi... Read allMajor Jim "Lance" Lansing, an American ex-pilot of the U.S. Air Corps, returns to Scotland after the war and finds much trouble in the glen where he settles because of the high-handed activities of the local laird, Sandy Mengues, a wealthy South American who, with his daughter Ma... Read allMajor Jim "Lance" Lansing, an American ex-pilot of the U.S. Air Corps, returns to Scotland after the war and finds much trouble in the glen where he settles because of the high-handed activities of the local laird, Sandy Mengues, a wealthy South American who, with his daughter Marissa, has returned to the land of his forefathers. Led by Lansing, the people eventually ... Read all
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- Dandy Dinmont
- (as Ann Gudrun)
- Alsuin
- (as Margaret McCourt)
- Bishop's Wife
- (uncredited)
- Old Tinker Woman
- (uncredited)
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
- Bishop
- (uncredited)
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Featured reviews
John Ford wanted to do the film for years and went with Republic Pictures because he didn't have to pay for John Wayne's services. Still the penny pinching founder and head of Republic, Herbert J. Yates drove Ford crazy with his budget cutting here and there. It was a miracle the film was made at all and on location.
So when The Quiet Man becomes a big artistic and commercial triumph, now Yates must be thinking himself a genius so why not assemble the same team, but without that troublesome John Ford. Go to Herbert Wilcox to produce and direct and we can even get Orson Welles who'll do just about anything to finance his projects. Since we'd now have to pay John Wayne a big salary since he's no longer under contract to Columbia, we'll get a second line actor like Forrest Tucker for his role.
I can see all the wheels turning in Mr. Yates's mind as he probably plunged enthusiastically into Trouble in the Glen which can be described as a Scottish version of The Quiet Man. The problem is that it really did need the touch of John Ford to make it a great film.
As it is it's not a bad film, Orson Welles and Victor McLaglen are at their scene stealing best. Forrest Tucker and Margaret Lockwood who is Welles's daughter are an attractive pair of romantic leads. The film is about an heir to a Scottish estate returning from South America and taking over the family place, but then getting into a quarrel with the locals and cutting them off from the use of a road running through his property. Forrest Tucker is like John Wayne, the stranger from America who has ties to the place also that we don't really learn about until almost the end of the film.
Trouble in the Glen has the same kind of beautiful location cinematography that The Quiet Man has. But it really needed someone like John Ford at the helm.
Following the success of similar films trading on Celtic/Gaelic "charm" and the like, this film was produced with quite an impressive (on paper) cast hoping to cash in. The problem is with the plot it isn't focused on Sanin Mengues so much as it is on Lansing, his little Scottish girl and his romances, and my gosh is it dull and sentimental. The stuff involving Sanin is at least boisterous and quite fun but this is mostly placed on the sidelines and it means that the film is mostly pretty boring. It wallows too much in unconvincing sentiment and relationships that don't ring true, producing a main plot thread that almost totally fails to engage in any way shape or form.
The noisy plot thread involving Sanin is reasonably fun mainly because of a hammy piece of p*ss-taking from Orson Welles, who just seems to be enjoying himself in a different film from everyone else. He is comparatively terrible of course but at least he is funny. Lockwood is totally wasted in the film with nothing to do of any merit and, although she does try, there is a reason why few viewers would recall this film in her back catalogue. Tucker is wooden and dull, a fact not helped by how hilariously OTT Welles is. He may have third billing but he is the lead character and the film suffers as a result. McLagen is quite good and works well with Welles but the rest of the support cast are fairly average Scottish stereotypes.
Overall this is a poor film that is built on a dull plot with big dollops of sentimentality. There are moments that are lively and funny but they are few and far between and certainly do not do enough to keep things interesting. If you're desperate for a dated piece of Celtic "charm" then by all means give this a go but I doubt many viewers will get anything from it.
Classed a comedy but not a rib-tickler.
Orson plays the Laird, a wealthy South American. Of course he comes over as .......Orson Welles.
There is a smattering of bagpipes, and the usual strained Scots accents, irritating or part of the charm - depending on your views. Mischief, poaching, local rivalries, an invalid girl and Margaret Lockwood all thrown into the mix. (Ms Lockwood looking particularly vivacious.)
Location Note: As Forrest Tucker arrives in the "Scottish" village in an early scene, the live location is actually in front of the Church House Inn, in Harberton, near Totnes, South Devon.
Did you know
- TriviaServing as an uncredited assisting cinematographer on this film was Gilbert Taylor, 23 years later the director of photography for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). Also, the featured cast includes both Alex McCrindle and Eddie Byrne who in the iconic blockbuster would respectively play General Dodonna and General Willard, two rebel leaders on the Yavin moon base during the battle against the first Death Star. Dodonna is the one who greets Princess Leia upon her arrival, and Willard is the one detailing the attack to the fighter pilots, ending his talk with the first time anyone in the series ever said "May the Force be with you."
- ConnectionsFeatured in Scotland on Screen (2009)
Details
- Runtime
- 1h 31m(91 min)