Bill Forsyth is a Scottish writer and film director. His first films, with Scottish settings, are charmers. Local Hero (1983) remains somewhat a classic and is still available.
Gregory's Girl (1982) is also available on DVD. Its a delightful film, reviewed as "triumphs with sweetness, good humor, a gentle, compassionate spirit and winning performances." And its funny.
There is a sequel, Gregory's Two Girls (1999), but it seems only to be available on Region 2 PAL DVDs.
However, there are two earlier films difficult to impossible to find. Comfort and Joy (1984) was out on VHS but doesn't seem to made it to the U.S. DVD market. Bill Paterson plays a radio DJ in Glasgow. His name is Alan "Dickie" Byrd. After being dumped by his girl friend a few days before Christmas, he sees a very attractive woman on an ice cream truck and follows the truck. Its attacked by a band of masked robbers, one recognizes "DickieByrd" and he ends up being involved in an ice cream war. Yes, that's correct, an ice cream war between the "Mr. Bunnys" and the "Mr. McCools." A delightful Christmas movie, if it ever comes out on DVD grab it.
I only know about his first film That Sinking Feeling (1980) (which he wrote, produced and directed) because I managed to tape it from a TV showing many years ago. Four bored, unemployed teens in dreary, rainy Glasgow get a great idea. Make a killing by stealing stainless steel sinks from a warehouse and selling them. Oh, and disguise as girls to do the job. Sound funny? It is. Unfortunately, you'll probably not be able to see for yourself.
He wrote and/or directed three American films (1987, 1989, 1993) but there has been nothing since Gregory's Two Girls in 1999. Wonder why.
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