Edinburgh as Movie Background
We love Edinburgh and we love to see it on the big screen!
The list of movies and television series that have Edinburgh as the background is long. There aren’t many cities as versatile. Edinburgh has beautiful architecture dating from the medieval to the contemporary, incredible landscape with its great hills and lots more to offer.
We could give you a complete list of these movies but we’d rather give you a short list of our favourites, those that we believe will inspire you, movies that show life in Edinburgh. Starting from the newest out there, find our list below:
Case Histories (2011)
Directors: Marc Jobst, Bill Anderson and Dan Zeff
Writers: Kate Atkinson (novel), Ashley Pharoah (screenplay) Peter Harness (screenplay)
Stars: Jason Isaacs, Amanda Abbington and Kirsty Mitchell
BBC One Series with 6 episodes based on the novels by Kate Atkinson. Set in modern Edinburgh, Case Histories is a detective piece. Jason Isaacs stars as Jackson Brodie a former soldier and police officer that becomes a private investigator. The plot revolves around three seemingly unconnected family tragedies. Brodie takes a more emotional approach when he tries to understand the human condition behind those he is investigating. Edinburgh is considered a character in this adaptation, a very important part of the series.
Burke and Hare (2010)
Director: John Landis
Writers: Piers Ashworth (screenplay), Nick Moorcroft (screenplay)
Stars: Bill Bailey, Tom Wilkinson and Michael Smiley
Based on the true story of two men that started a small but profitable business of providing cadavers to a Medical School in Nineteenth Century Edinburgh, then a principal centre of medical learning. Old Town, Edinburgh University, Surgeon’s Hall, Palace of Holyroodhouse feature in this black comedy.
The Illusionist (2010)
Director: Sylvain Chomet
Writers: Jacques Tati (original screenplay), Sylvain Chomet (adaptation)
Stars: Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin and Duncan MacNeil
An animation that tells the story of a French illusionist who travels to Scotland looking for work. There he meets a young woman that changes his life forever. An extremelly detailed view of Edinburgh in the mid 20th century.
16 Years of Alcohol (2003)
Director: Richard Jobson
Writer: Richard Jobson
Stars: Kevin McKidd, Laura Fraser and Susan Lynch
It tells the story of a man that as a young boy idolises his father until he finds out about his father’s philandering. He turns to alcohol and violence but then finds love and regain his faith in life.
Many of the streets and locations in central Edinburgh are the background of this movie.
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Directed by: Hugh Hudson
Writer: Colin Welland (original screenplay)
Stars: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson and Nicholas Farrell
Famous movie, winner of four Oscars in 1983, including best picture and music score. It tells the story of two British track athletes who compete in the 1924 Olympics. Scenes with Arthur’s Seat and Holyrood Park as background, scene at the Assembly Hall in the Mound.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
Directed by: Ronald Neame
Writers: Muriel Spark (novel), Jay Presson Allen (play), and 1 more credit »
Stars: Maggie Smith, Gordon Jackson and Robert Stephens
It tells the story of a liberated young schoolteacher at an Edinburgh girls’ school in the period between the two wars. Her affairs with two male teachers become known and she finds herself fighting to keep her job.
Miss Brodie, the young schoolteacher lives on Admiral Terrace, in Edinburgh and most of the school drama takes place in the Donaldson building on Henderson Row. She takes the student girls to trips to Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the Vennel off the Grassmarket for fine views of the castle.
The Battle of the Sexes (1959)
Directed by: Charles Crichton
Writers: James Thurber (short story “The Catbird Seat”), Monja Danischewsky
Stars: Peter Sellers, Robert Morley and Constance Cummings
The story of a businesswoman who is sent by her US company to Edinburgh to investigate export opportunities. She meets a businessman on her way to Scotland and he tries to convince her to help bring his company into the 20th century. The challenge starts when the staff does not agree with her plans and ideas.
Scenes of Edinburgh including South St Andrews Street, 45 George Street, Royal Mile and Holyrood Park featured in this comedy.
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Anna
