The Big Man (1990) with screenwriter Don Macpherson

ROGUE COMMENTARY

Hello! Welcome to the latest edition of the exclusive audio commentary podcast hosted by me, David Hughes.

In this, the 21st episode, I’m very excited to be joined by screenwriter Don Macpherson, who skilfully adapted William McIlvanney’s brilliant novel The Big Man into the hugely underrated film of the same name, directed by David Leland and starring Liam Neeson, Ian Bannen, Billy Connolly, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Hugh Grant and Peter Mullan, with music by Ennio Morricone.

Produced by Stephen Woolley under the Palace Pictures banner, The Big Man sadly wasn’t a big hit, but it really captures the spirit not only of McIlvanney’s extraordinarily insightful novel, but also of the times, specifically the crushed spirits of the colliery workers and their communities in the aftermath of Thatcher’s crushing of the miner’s strike.

I’m very grateful to Don for walking us through the making of The Big Man, which is ripe for reassessment and well worth seeking out. In the meantime, here's a Letterboxd link. Thanks to Nick Pourgorides from Casarotto Ramsay & Associates for putting us in touch.

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Thanks for listening!

A Synchronicity production. Conceived, written and presented by David Hughes. Produced by Sam Ibrahim. Music by Olli Oja.

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