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Title: PERCHANCE TO SAIL

Reference number: 2365

Date: 1946

Director: d. J. Blake Dalrymple

Production company: Elder Dalrymple Productions

Sound: sound

Original format: 16mm

Colour: bw

Fiction: fiction

Running time: 35 mins

Description: Drama concerning the yacht voyage by J. Stirling Gillespie from the West Coast of Scotland to Germany and Poland in 1936. The film includes actuality footage of both countries shot by Elder-Dalrymple Films at that time.

NFTVA hold POLAND (1936) which is original footage shot and incorporated into the release version of the film in 1946. See paper archive files for info on Gillespie and Monthly Film Bulletin review (vol 14, no.157. Jan 1947) 1936+

Credits: ph. J. Blake Dalrymple
comm. w. Robert Dunnett
comm. s. Leo Hunter
m. de Wolfe
ass. d. J. Stirling Gillespie
rec. at Imperial Sound Studios Carrick Film Studios, Ayr
cast J Stirling Gillespie and the Crew

Shotlist: Credits. Drama concerning the voyage by yacht made by J. Stirling Gillespie from the West coast of Scotland to Germany and Poland in 1936. Includes actuality footage of both countries shot by Elder-Dalrymple Films at that time (35.00).


Synopsis from Monthly Film Bulletin vol 14 no 157 Jan 1947:

Returning from an unsuccessful visit to an art dealer, James Stirling, artist is knocked down by a swiftly moving car and removed to hospital. Fortunately for Stirling the owner of the car, who retrieves and returns the victim's scattered paintings, proves to be a famous travel writer named McDonald who is looking for such an artist to illustrate his new book. He offers Stirling the job and the two set out for the Baltic in Macdonald's yawl. Calling first at Cuxhaven they are disquieted by the sight of the militarised training of the youth of Germany, the period being 1938. They next proceed to Gdynia, and from thence to the Tatra mountains and finally to Warsaw, the artist finding en route an inexhaustible source of inspiration in the magnificent scenery, attired peasants and the beautiful modern city which has arisen on the ruins of Warsaw, laid waste in the war of 1914. Reluctantly the travellers tear themselves away and return to their Scottish port of origin little guessing that in a few short months the beauties they have witnessed are once again to suffer destruction at the hands of a ruthless enemy.