Customer Reviews

Gregory's Girl

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Finally, "Gregory's Girl" is out on DVD... I can throw away my worn out old VHS copy. There are several surprising things about this DVD for Americans who are accustomed to the cable or VHS version of the movie... First, many small scenes were edited out of the US version. Why? I can't tell... The scenes seem harmless enough. However, the biggest shock on this DVD is the original Scottish soundtrack. All these years, those dozens and dozens of viewings, those classic lines that are stuck in my head ("It's a well known fact.")... They simply sound BETTER in the original dialogue. What studio executive pinhead thought it would be a good idea to re-record the dialogue with more British-sounding voices? The moral of the story here is: Watch this DVD with the Scottish soundtrack and it will almost be like watching a new movie. And I thank the non-pinheads at MGM for including both audio versions so we could make the choice.

This movie is, quite simply, a beautifully crafted, intelligent, witty, sweet look at awkward adolescence. I never tire of it, and now that it's on DVD I know I'll never wear it out.

Very quickly, this is a wonderful, gentle comedy which plays well to people who understand British humour. But why, why, why did the studio cut parts out? The DVD format could easily hold the entire movie. My recommendation is to buy the VHS tape, it's cheaper anyway and it shows the movie uncut. To the studio staff who made the decision to cut parts out....thanks for nothing.

I remember this Movie from when I was sixteen years old, so I associate it with a coming of age, Which is essentially what this movie is about. Much in the same way as John Hughes set the standard in 80s America , Forsyth set the standard in the late 70s and early 80s in the UK , albiet on a smaller scale.
Gregory on a voyage of self discovery finds that his destiny isnt necessarily in his own hands and also that everything happens for a reason. There is a certain amount of sentimentality associated with this movie but this isnt a criticism, In fact it lends a certain charm to this story.
An understated role by a certain CP Grogan establishes a credible ending to this movie and one that a lot of school girls of her age will identify with. This is one of the reasons this movie has endured the ravages of time. Enough to inspire a sequel "Gregory's Two Girls" which has unfortunately neither the charm or credibility or simplicity that the original of some 20 years earlier has.
I strongly encourage you to play this movie with the original scottish soundtrack as to not do so would detract from the film in its original glory.
Also Claire Grogan is not only a member of new wave band "Altered Images" but also a star of Red Dwarf, a rather popular Britcom. Nowadays she can be seen presenting on MTV Europe as well as doing the odd 80s revival tour.

having attended a state high school on the west coast of scotland in the 80's i can categorically state that this film captures exactly the mood of the west-coast scottish schoolboy of the time. Forsythe uses Jacques Tati type humour to put his vision across. And what a vision it is-- hormones, confusion and utterly gorgeous midsummer Scottish sunshine and blonde haired girls. C'mon, there's a world out there, and it's our's 'cause we're young and immortal. Watching the country park scenes now as a 31 year old I realise that being young was stoopid but great. This film is the only truly scotch classic. Forget those Edinburgh trainspotting depressive drug users, the drug is life and Glasgow is the best city in the world, like new york but without the commuting time.

A fantastic movie. Very charming and romantic. Proves once and for all that you can make a great movie without sex, violence, or car chases. The story is timeless, and the emotions really hit home. I saw this way back in the 1980's and absolutely loved it then. Since then, I've been searching for it in the rental stores, but never finding it. Maybe I'll break down and buy the darn thing. Highly recommended for all age groups.

I am thrilled to see so many heartfelt reviews from Americans of a film that I always thought was far removed from the quintessentially British fare that's usually enjoyed in the States. I guess pure magic travels well. This is my favourite film of all time. As kids, me and my two sisters used to watch it every week, reciting the script, word-for-word. One of the worst moments in my childhood was the day that my mother taped over the video by mistake! She was never forgiven.

I'm a big grown-up girl now, but the minute I hear that jangly eighties guitar theme, I get goose bumps and come over all emotional. This really is the most charming, funny, warm-hearted, beautifully cast and fantastically filmed film to come out of our island. Ever. It makes me want to be sixteen. It makes me want to be Scottish. It makes me want to have an awful haircut and wear an ill-fitting school uniform. And it still makes me want to go out with John Gordon Sinclair ...

Gregory's Girl is a sweet, graceful little coming of age movie. It's as quirkily funny as anything you'll see, and it totally lacks the crassness of Hollywood products that try to use the same young crush material. (I saw G.G., originally, in the theater, and I remember the American equivalent at the time was a series of John Hughes movies. Next to this, "Sixteen Candles" is predictable and pretty mean.)

Bill Forsyth as a director had (has?)a really special way with character. The plots of his movies go off in unexpected directions, and you get the sense that he's really letting the characters decide how things work out. That works really well with the young teenagers in this movie. The plot's being driven along by the decisions, by the logic, of high school students; you really get into their heads, and it's SUCH a funny, awkward-smiling, self-deprecating place to be... Gregory's pining for his soccer darling, Dorothy, isn't going where you think it will, and it's just flawless the way the viewer figures that out along with the character. It's perfectly timed.

If you love this movie, if you remember lines about Caracas and numbers of Elephants and that sort of thing afterward, you should try Local Hero. They make a great double feature. (You'll speak whatever accent you have with a burr after seeing them together, too.)

It's been a long time since this classic gem filmed in Cumbernauld has been released. I recently found a VHS copy through ebay, unaware that the movie was finally being reissued on DVD. I encourage anyone with a sense of humour to see this movie.
The story revolves aroung Gregory and Dorothy. Dorothy has just joined the boys soccer team and has enraptured Gregory. With all his courage he asks Dorothy out on a date and she agrees; only to stand him up that night. However he meets Carol, then Margo, then Susan, who it turns out has had eyes for Gregory all along.
Incredible performance turned in by Gordon John Sinclair as the tall, awkward and lanky Gregory in his quest to woo the gorgeous Dorothy (Dee Hepburn) with the hair, the smell and the teeth.
If anyone ever figured out what the hell the penguin was doing in the halls of the high school I'd love to know.
This movie is chock full of laughs and will leave you with a warm heart.

What is not to like about this film? It is a charming and interesting little love story. Although slightly off-beat and full of odd characters, Gregory's Girl is nevertheless chock full of good humour and pleasingly entertaining....Not to mention the wonderful Scottish brogue accenting every last bit of witty dialogue. One can not help but empathize in similar school-boy fashion and skittishness with the main character Gregory and his plight for the love of the 'new-girl/soccer-diva'. "She's gorgeous!", says he....Add an uniquely 80's soundtrack (all the rage once again I admit)to top it off, who can ask for more? And if anyone remembers that 80's band 'Altered Images', then they should see this film! I first saw it in the 80's and loved it! To this day it remains one of my favourites! I highly recommend this film to anyone, they'll enjoy it!

I could sit and watch this movie over and over. It's sweet, funny, heartwarming ... nearly perfect. Hapless Gregory on his quest for love embodies the awkwardness of an adolescent crush in such a way that you can't help but adore him. This movie is quirky and fun, you'll definitely enjoy it if you're looking for a lighthearted romance - and yet it's not a chick-flick, all you tough guys will get a good chuckle from this one as well.