THE GORBALS STORY

GB
1950
1hr 14mins
Dir: David MacKane
Starring: Russell Hunter and Betty Henderson

A young artist is almost driven to murder as a result of the pressures of living in a Glasgow tenement

Although it will be of almost no interest to anyone, this piece of social realism performed by a left-wing Glasgow theatre group called The Glasgow Unity Players is still a curiosity. It’s just a shame that we’ll probably never know why such a parochial drama by a little-known playwright called Robert MacLeish was deemed worthy of filming. Although the production never leaves the studio several trams are visible during the opening shots of Glasgow that are used to set the scene.

This excellent shot shows a Glasgow Corporation ‘Coronation’ tram working route 5, Clarkston – Hillhead (Byres Road).
Two trams can be seen here crossing Victoria Bridge. That on the left is another ‘Coronation’ car but the tram on the right is much older. Victoria Bridge was constructed in 1854 and is the oldest surviving bridge across the Clyde.