Am I Missing Something?

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Every actor is excellent in this film, and this includes the taunting bullies when Geordie is a boy; they are also good when when they gawk at Geordie the conquering hero comes home. The message is simple, the film elegant in conveying it. Don't tease the hungry kitten who may grow up to be the hungry lion in the Colosseum. Every man I know who saw this film as a boy in the 1950s remembered it vividly to his dying day. I even knew Germans who saw it, a bit later, who also got the message that their Nazi fathers did not. Geordie is, of course, a boys' film; but in 93 minutes it conveys more about growing up to be men than Little Women does to girls about growing up to be women (if only because boys have more energy to control). I hope Prince William of Wales has seen this film in England; he'll become a better King of Scotland for it. Perhaps it's about Britain, America, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand too; united we stand, divided we fall -- and everyone of us must do his bit. Is that really "sentimental"? or is it really what we all strive for? This is not just a good film; it's an essential film. It's the oatmeal of a good diet, the essence of simplicity's complexity, and complexity's simplicity. It's about growing up to become an admirable, worldly hero, instead of lagging behind to become the ignorant, ignoble town bullies. It's about how we we won WWII, stoodu p to the Communist empire, and will drag China onto our side. It encourages boys to make the best decision, however unpopular it may be. Good book, good play, excellent film. Sometimes a great film is composed of small, earthy, simple elements of noble purpose. This is one of those little films that's really big because it follows aspirations and accomplishes nobility.

What a delightful movie, with a positive story that promotes the power of hard work and following your dreams, but without trampling on everyone else. It is interesting how political issues of the time are intertwined rather naturally into the storyline. The plot stopped well short of being twee (which I expected) and I loved the line about Helga being less into heather than "come heather".Two things that struck me: the way Geordie showed us what the Scotsman was wearing under his kilt when he fell backward in the row-boat; and I may have been mistaken, but did the first aid given to the car accident victim include a cigarette???? There was a brief glimpse of him being attended to and I am sure I saw something hanging out of his mouth. Perhaps it was a thermometer.

The film; Geordie is a beautifully nostalgic film, and no doubt a one which does favours for the Scottish tourist industry. But this film has a cynical side to it. First we have the remnants of a class based community from the feudal period of history, where the people of it work for the lord - laird - of the manor - and live off his land, and no doubt pay him rent at the same time. This leaves the people, as exemplified in this film by Geordie's parents with just enough money to make ends meet, living in a spartan house, with few comforts, eating cheaply produced food such as 'tatties' and porridge as their staple diet, which probably contributed to Geordie's diminutive and weak stature as a child. Notice, there is no sign of Geordie's family eating the abundant venison from the laird's land, which as head game-keeper Geordie is nevertheless obliged to protect. No doubt the venison is protected for the toffs hunting-shooting parties, which as part of the British aristocratic traditions would be held by the laird. This ardent protection of the laird's land, and his precious venison, by Geordie, and his father before him as respective head game-keepers, for a measly wage which was to provide the family with relatively poor living conditions, no doubt contributed to the premature death of Geordie's father.Traditionally those who lived on the laird's land, and worked for him would be obligated to hold the same political views, and therefore use their democratic vote the same way as the laird did. An example of this can be seen when the laird asks what politics Geordie holds' prior to employing him as head game-keeper, which are of course 'liberal' the same as the laird's, as was his - Geordie's - father's before him. Here I think the laird was worried in case Geordie's politics are socialist, which was - and is - a continuing choice of politics, especially for ordinary working class men - and women - such as Geordie. When one morning Geordie is at his home eating his breakfast he makes a remark pertaining to his minuscule wages going on most of the cost of his morning ration of porridge, it is a sign that he could rebel against the traditions of the laird's politics, and become a socialist. Such rebelliousness would no doubt lead towards a split in the community, which is glued together by the diktat of the laird and his regime.Another cynical aspect of this film is when Geordie, a Scot, is asked by some Englishmen, to represent Great Britain in the hammer throwing contest at the Melbourne Olympics. And, as Englishmen they try to force Geordie into adopting their English custom of wearing 'flannels and blazer' for the Olympic parade. This signifies the imposition of English imperialism on Scots people, who in this film are depicted by Geordie, who is described by the English Olympic officials as; 'simple' and 'primitive'. Naturally such ignorant attitudes towards the people of Scotland would eventually culminate in the rise of Scottish nationalists who would rebel against English imperialism as Geordie did, in this case by dogmatically insisting on wearing his Dad's kilt for the Olympic event. This is an example of a counteraction to imperialism.While the acting in this film is good, and the comedy subtle, the scenery is absolutely stunning.Overall a very cosy,and nostalgic film.

Farm boy Rulon Gardner's fabulous win at the Sydney Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling is almost a real-life incarnation of the hero of "Wee Geordie." Goerdie, the hero of this wonderful low-key comedy, starts out as an undersized little boy in rural Scotland, who grows up to be very big indeed. He takes up hammer-throwing after completing a physical-culture courst that converts him from 99 lb. weakling to "Charles Atlas." And, of course, he ends up in the 1956 Olympics, wearing his kilt and throwing for the gold.I saw this film as a kid when it first came out, and was lucky enough to see it on television about a decade ago--and it had lost none of its charm. What with Rulon and Sydney, it's time to bring out this wonderful comedy on Video/DVD. Alistair Sim is a wonderful laird and Bill Travers plays the ultra-grown-up Geordie. It's really funny in the way of Brit comedies of the era.