Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1980s
    Movies - 1980s Movies - L 3 Mins Read

    Local Hero (1983)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    A bunch of hard-nosed Houston oil developers invade a remote fishing village in Scotland with one self-serving purpose in mind – to rip off the local citizens, buy up their sleepy picture-postcard hamlet, and turn it into an ugly oil refinery that will pollute the environment and blight mankind.

    David Puttnam – who produced Chariots of Fire (1981) – and Bill Forsythe – who directed the sweet but Scottish coming-of-age film Gregory’s Girl (1981) – obviously see a situation here that is pregnant with comic possibilities.

    Local Hero is meant to be a wry comedy about a head-on collision between two cultures, in the style of those charming, eccentric little post-war films from Britain about country villages crashing into the twentieth century, generally starring Alec Guinness and Margaret Rutherford.

    But as a comedy, it’s so lazily wry that it’s only lazily amusing. As social commentary of the vulgar eighties, it’s pretty treacly stuff. And as a movie entertainment, it vanishes without a trace before you can ever locate it on a radar screen.

    Burt Lancaster is the board chairman of the Texas conglomerate, a gentleman obsessed with astronomy, money, power, and “abuse therapy” – which serves as a contrivance to introduce a Don Rickles character who bursts out of closets and drops in from window ledges to scream insults at the demented old tycoon in what is supposed to be “comic thrust “.

    Peter Riegert is the dope from the acquisitions department sent to Scotland to firm up the deal because his name is MacIntyre (little does Lancaster know that the fellow is really Hungarian).

    Once ensconced in a quaint inn in the village of Ferness, the capitalists discover the charming locals are not such easy pushovers as presumed. Ferness is no Brigadoon, and the peasants are more than eager to get rich quick.

    Among the less-than-colourful rustics, there’s an old hermit who, when asked what the coastline is worth, just roars with laughter. There’s the greedy innkeeper, who cooks MacIntyre’s pet rabbit for lunch. There’s a Russian sailor who plays the stock market. And there’s even a sexy marine biologist who wants to preserve the bay for a laboratory, and who may or may not be a mermaid.

    The alleged “comedy” derives from the villagers’ mistaken notion that they will soon be millionaires, and the American capitalists’ slow initiation into the soothing way of life they’re trying to buy, until all the Texans ultimately want to do is change places.

    Neither the people nor their motivations are ever totally believable, and it is never clear why either side would have the slightest interest in the other. The “local colour” shots are interminable; there’s even a dance-social that is the most excruciating party sequence on film since the Ukrainian wedding in The Deer Hunter (1978).

    The Texas honchos are so corny they wouldn’t get past the bouncer at the Grand Ole Opry. The Scottish eccentrics are so pickled in atmospheric brine that they seem almost as rare and precious as the Loch Ness monster.

    The acting is terrible, the actors are unappealing, the pace is slow enough to make a snail impatient.

    Scotland is still an enchanted place, as the guidebooks say, but there is no enchantment in Local Hero.

    Felix Happer
    Burt Lancaster
    Mac MacIntyre

    Peter Riegert
    Danny Oldsen

    Peter Capaldi
    Ben Knox

    Fulton McKay 
    Gordon Urquhart

    Denis Lawson
    Moritz

    Norman Chancer
    Geddes

    Rikki Fulton
    Watt

    Alex Norton
    Marina

    Jenny Seagrove

    Director
    Bill Forsythe

    Related Posts

    • All The Right Moves (1983)
      All The Right Moves (1983)
      Ambitious high-school football player, Stef Djordjevic (Tom Cruise) and his girlfriend (Lea Thompson) dream of winning the college scholarships that will enable…
    • Americana (1981)
      Americana (1981)
      Filming of Americana began in 1973 when David Carradine was the star of the popular Kung Fu series and continued…
    • Hamish Macbeth
      Hamish Macbeth
      1 9 9 5 - 1 9 9 7 (UK) 20 x 50 minute episodes Robert Carlyle starred as the easy-going…
    • Yentl (1984)
      Yentl (1984)
      Barbra Streisand spent fifteen years of her life trying to get Yentl on the screen. Every cynic in the film industry told…
    • Hearts of Fire (1987)
      Hearts of Fire (1987)
      Bob Dylan is the reclusive ageing rocker Billy Parker who is coaxed out of retirement on a Pennsylvania chicken farm…
    • On Golden Pond (1981)
      On Golden Pond (1981)
      A film dealing with themes of old age, the approach of death and the lack of communication in family relationships, On…
    • Puberty Blues (1981)
      Puberty Blues (1981)
      Australian Bruce Beresford (Breaker Morant) directed this poignant, humorous examination of adolescence set in the Sydney beachside suburb of Cronulla.…
    • Grenada (1983)
      Grenada (1983)
      The United States Government sent 6,000 troops to invade Grenada in October 1983 after leaders of a local ''Revolutionary Military…

    1983 Scotland
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleLiving Daylights, The (1987)
    Next Article Long Riders, The (1980)

    Comments are closed.

    A Labour of Love

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small – to help me with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Around the World in 79 Days
      1 9 6 9 (USA) 17 x 10 minute episodes This loose, modernised […]
    • Spellbinder
      1 9 9 5 (Australia/Poland) 26 x 24 minute episodes This […]
    • Every Mothers’ Son
      Every Mothers’ Son – best known for their Summer of […]
    • Roulettes, The
      The Roulettes formed in London in 1962 and were recruited to […]
    • Jazz Boat (1960)
      Electrician Bert Harris (Anthony Newley) visits Chiselhurst […]
    • Cauldron of Blood (1968)
      Boris Karloff appeared in his last major role in this Spanish […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65006801 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Terry Hall: Coventry scooter ride-out pays tribute to singer

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Hundreds of people ride through Coventry on what would have been the singer's 64th birthday.
    4 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/the-whos-roger-daltrey-thinks-theres-no-point-releasing-an-album-18434779/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Who's Roger Daltrey thinks there's 'no point' releasing another album

    metro.co.uk

    Bad luck.
    4 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64963359 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Sir Michael Caine's first Rolls Royce sells at Duxford for £120K

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Italian Job actor hired a chauffeur to drive the 1968 Silver Shadow, with its doors still intact.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64900348 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mystic Meg: Astrologer dies aged 80

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV star, whose real name was Margaret Lake, was a well-known TV figure in the 1990s.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Do you think she know it eas going to happen

    PlayTalk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay

    Talk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Gary Rossington had survived a 1977 air crash that killed several of his bandmates.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    What a talented man. Lucky enough to see original band in concert. BRILLIANT.

    Rest in peace Dickie Davies. An absolute giant of British sports broadcasting.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dickie Davies, World of Sport presenter, dies at 94

    www.theguardian.com

    The broadcaster became something of a cult figure after fronting the ITV show for 20 years
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Yes, one of the great presenters. R.I.P.

    For fans of the radio series Round The Horne (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty close to the edge, even by modern standards. Bona! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA

    For fans of the radio series "Round The Horne" (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty "close to the edge", even by modern standards. Bona!

    open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    For those interested, the complete “Jules and Sandy” is available on Audible…

    Bona to vada your jolly old eek. Lovely riah....

    RIP the beautiful Stella Stevens, who has died at the age of 84.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Stella Stevens: Nutty Professor and Poseidon Adventure star dies at 84

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The co-star of Elvis Presley also worked in TV on series such as Murder She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.
    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends. 

If they only knew what lay ahead . . .

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends.

    If they only knew what lay ahead . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    1 month ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 18
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    I always hated the Beatles, and as it happens I still do.

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Bubblegum music Canada Civil rights Cold War Computer games Crime Disc Jockeys Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Folk rock Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen James Bond JFK Kraütrock Labels Madchester Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave New Zealand Nixon Northern Soul NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Reggae Rolling Stones Scotland Ska Ska revival Skiffle Soul music Space Race Sport Surf music Video games Vietnam war
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.