Lights, cameras and lots of action for the screen

THIS week saw the 20th anniversary of Trainspotting being released '“ the iconic film showing the gritty, grim and humorous side of Leith's underworld written by Irvine Welsh.
Brigitte Bardot at Dirleton where she was filming scenes for the film A Coeur Joie (Two Weeks in September) with Laurent Terzieff in September 1966. Picture: TSPLBrigitte Bardot at Dirleton where she was filming scenes for the film A Coeur Joie (Two Weeks in September) with Laurent Terzieff in September 1966. Picture: TSPL
Brigitte Bardot at Dirleton where she was filming scenes for the film A Coeur Joie (Two Weeks in September) with Laurent Terzieff in September 1966. Picture: TSPL

It catapulted some of the city’s streets and landmarks on to the world screen, but camera crews have been a common sight in the Lothians over the years.

Brigitte Bardot added a dash of glamour to Dirleton in East Lothian during filming of À Coeur Joie (Two Weeks in September) – a 1967 French movie starring the actress and directed by Serge Bourguignon.

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BBC television crews came to a beach along the coast near Aberlady in 1960 to film the Spy Catcher series starring Bernard Archard, which ran from 1959 to 1961. It was based on the real-life activities of Dutch counter intelligence officer Lieutenant-Colonel Oreste Pinto, who specialised in the interrogation of suspected spies during the Second World War.

BBC TV film unit shooting scenes for a new Spy Catcher series on the beach near Aberlady. Picture: TSPLBBC TV film unit shooting scenes for a new Spy Catcher series on the beach near Aberlady. Picture: TSPL
BBC TV film unit shooting scenes for a new Spy Catcher series on the beach near Aberlady. Picture: TSPL

The Forth Bridge was in the spotlight during filming of The Thirty-Nine Steps in 1959, with actor Kenneth More leading the way on the tracks.

Scottish stage and screen actor Iain Cuthbertson was keeping a watchful eye on the cameraman and director during the filming of a scene from TV series Sutherland’s Law, shot in April 1975 at Edinburgh Castle.

The show dealt with the duties of the procurator fiscal in a small Scottish town.

And in 1954, a scene for documentary The Festival City was filmed by Pathe crews on Princes Street in the September sunshine.