The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil

1974 1h 30m EN

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 1

DramaMusicComedyHistoryTV MovieDocumentary

Synopsis

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In their songs, comedy and exuberant music, a travelling theatre company give a fiercely polemic account of Scottish history, from the aftermath of Culloden to the oil boom. Their production before a live audience is intercut with filmed reconstructions of the Highland Clearances and the Victorian obsession with hunting stags.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

John Bett
Various
Dolina MacLennan
Various
David Maclennan
Various
Elizabeth MacLennan
Various
Alex Norton
Various
Bill Paterson
Various
Allan Ross
Various
John McGrath
Various

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Mackenzie
Writers: John McGrath
Languages: English, Gaelic
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

52 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Gaelic.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Mackenzie, shot by Brian Tufano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Gordon Clarke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

John Bett and Dolina MacLennan and David Maclennan carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0395967 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Mackenzie directs. Brian Tufano behind the camera. Gordon Clarke cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English, Gaelic.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
252 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Gaelic.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by John Mackenzie, shot by Brian Tufano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Gordon Clarke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7John Bett and Dolina MacLennan and David Maclennan carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0395967 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.