Inbetweeners director now plans film of Gunn classic
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WIDELY considered to be one of the finest Scottish literary works of the 20th century, The Silver Darlings is set to be turned into a film which could be shot in Caithness.
The 1941 classic by Dunbeath-born Neil Gunn is to be turned into a movie that will be screened across the globe as the Neil Gunn Literary Estate confirmed it has sold the rights of the book to Young Films, owned by Christopher Young who directed The Inbetweeners Movie which took £45 million at the British box office.
The Silver Darlings – the story of a woman who tries to discourage her son from working in the fishing industry after her husband is killed at sea – is a world away from the tale of four randy teenagers in Malia looking for sun, drink and women.
But the director was keen to purchase the rights to the film and with the success of the movie of the Channel 4 sitcom, he hopes to attract Scottish talent to be involved in the production at a budget of £10m.
For the family of Gunn, they are delighted someone wanted to take on the challenge of adapting the 600-page book into a two-hour movie, but also think the film can help increase the popularity of the novel.
Dairmid Gunn, nephew of the author and literary executor of the Neil Gunn Literary Estate, said since it was first published the book has continually rolled off the presses.
Now he hopes Young can increase the popularity of his uncle’s work, which still remains largely unknown outside Scotland.
"I dealt directly with the film company regarding the sale of the rights to the film where we talked over what they wanted to do and they are terribly keen to make it happen," he said.
"For self satisfaction, Young wants to do this as it is arguably one of the best books of the 20th century.
"It crossed our minds whether it would be better to turn the book into a four-part TV series due to the length of the story but they were keen to have it turned into a film.
"Inevitably, one or two pieces would have to be left out but it is not impossible to turn it into a movie.
"I took Young to show him where the book was written and he was very taken by the landscape and there is a high chance the movie will be shot in Caithness.
"There was always an attachment in my uncle’s work to landscape and characters, so where better than to shoot the movie where the book was written."
The film rights were previously owned by playwright John McGrath who wrote The Cheviot and Black Oil and produced a highly acclaimed stage version of the story in 1994. In 1989 he was in the process of adapting the story into a film with Michelle Pfeiffer starring as the lead character Catrine but the project failed to materialise.
Young was not available for comment as the John O’Groat Journal went to press.
