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GREGORY'S GIRL
Released by AV Channel. Out now to buy.

Definitely one of the sweetest little films to come out of the dour early 1980’s UK cinema, making the name of Scottish director Bill Forsyth (who the next year would go on to make the classic Local Hero) and also made a household name of John Gordon Sinclair who plays the title role of the awkward schoolboy Gregory.

At first glance Gregory’s Girl might seem a little basic with its simple tale of first love but the cracking sense of humour that the movie is imbued with lifts it above the norm.

Sinclair is teenager Gregory, hapless goalie in the school soccer team whose pursuit of new striker to the team Dorothy (Dee Hepburn, who never really fulfilled her potential, managing to “score” a role in Crossroads and little else) is the heart of the film but there is a great little twist in store involving Dorothy’s best friend (played by the lovely Clare Grogan, who at the time was probably Britain’s biggest female pop star and definitely a pin up for many). It’s the incidental moments though that really make the movie shine, from Gregory’s friends - the duo desperate to get a girlfriend and the school photographer making a mint out of photographs of Dorothy - to Gregory’s 12 year old sister offering him advice on matters of the heart. A genuinely lovely movie and very recommended.

Only extras are the US theatrical trailer and trailers of other Umbrella movies.