The Flying Scotsman
Genre: Biography
Release Date: 29 Jun 2007
DVD Release Date:05 May 2008
Based on a remarkable true story, with pitch-perfect performances from Johnny Lee Miller, Billy Boyd and Brian Cox, The Flying Scotsman is an out-and-out inspirational, against-all-odds, crowd pleasing David and Goliath story, which follows the turbulent life of cyclist Graeme Obree, who, as an unemployed amateur, broke the World One Hour record on a bike of his own revolutionary design, constructed out of scrap metal and old washing machine parts!
From a humble background in Ayrshire, Scotland, Graeme Obree (JONNY LEE MILLER) always had to fight for survival. As a grown man, nothing had changed. When his beloved bicycle shop went bust, Graeme had neither the money nor the sponsorship necessary to realise his dream; to compete at the highest level of world cycling. But it was always clear from his complete passion for the sport and his many local wins that he was destined for greatness.
With the unwavering support of his wife Anne (LAURA FRASER) – despite the fact that they had recently had their first baby – and the help of his close friend and newly-appointed manager Malky (BILLY BOYD), he persevered. With the use of the work shop (and occasional mentoring) of a friendly and peaceful minister, Baxter (BRIAN COX) - and of course his racing bike ‘Old Faithful’ - Graeme was finally on his way to the Hamar Velodrome in Norway and the chance to go for the prestigious World Hour Record.
But despite their determination and back-breaking work, Graeme missed out on the record by some distance… Distraught, but unfazed, he did the unimaginable. He defiantly returned to the track the following morning, and still feeling the unbearable pain from the previous day’s gruelling race, he smashed the world record, which had stood for almost ten years.
But Graeme had always suffered from mental health problems and he began to slip in and out of debilitating bouts of depression; it soon became apparent that his career was in danger of hitting the rocks. On top of everything, the World Cycling Federation had been studying his unorthodox bike design and racing position – and they could not bear his unusual style tarnishing their sport. Graeme would soon learn the lengths they would go to in order to stop him from competing.
But, defiant, he refused to give up; and with the help of Baxter’s sympathetic ear (understanding all too well Graeme’s affliction), he made a phenomenal comeback. He built another bike of radical design that squeezed through the WCF’s strict guidelines – and against all the odds he won the World Pursuit Championship – astonishingly beating his rival, the Olympic Gold Medal holder Chris Boardman.
Graeme’s pioneering ‘Superman Position’ remains one of the most defining images in the history of world cycling With fantastic high speed racing sequences, and gripping, heartfelt performances throughout, this is a truly inspiring story about one man’s extraordinary triumph over adversity. The Flying Scotsman is Chariots of Fire meets Rocky meets Shine – on wheels!
Stars
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Jonny Lee Miller
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Graeme Obree
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Brian Cox
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Douglas Baxter
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Jonny Lee Miller ... Graeme Obree
Sean Brown ... Young Graeme Obree
Joseph Carney ... Child Gang Leader
Crawford McInally-Keir ... First Child Bully
Jan Plazalski ... Second Child Bully
Niall Macgregor ... Graeme's Father
Julie Austin ... Graeme's Mother
Morag Calder ... First Office Receptionist
Billy Boyd ... Malky
Laura Fraser ... Anne Obree
Jean Marie Coffey ... Woman at Finish Line
Christopher Anderson ... Baby Ewan
Brian Cox ... Douglas Baxter
Ron Donachie ... Scobie
Morven Christie ... Katie
Douglas Mackinnon
John Brown
Simon Rose
Declan Hughes
Peter Broughan
Claire Chapman
Peter Gallagher
Sara Giles
Damita Nikapota
Gavin Finney
Martin Phipps
ContentFilm International