Restless Natives * (1985, Vincent Friell, Joe Mullaney, Ned Beatty) – Classic Movie Review 11,716

Director Michael Hoffman’s 1985 film Restless Natives is an embarrassing, would-be quirky comedy about two wayward Scots lads (Vincent Friell, Joe Mullaney) from the Wester Hailes district of Edinburgh who take to becoming modern highwaymen and holding up American tourists with guns filled with sneezing powder while wearing clown and wolfman outfits on motorbike.

Soon this odd couple become folk heroes and attain undreamed of fame, becoming modern Robin Hoods, and giving the money they have acquired away to the poor of their city.

Restless Natives has good intentions but it is silly and unbelievable, with clumsy performances, ill-timed direction and a naïve script by Ninian Dunnett that goes for Celtic whimsy but becomes increasingly awkward and unfunny.

Also in the cast: Teri Lally, Ned Beatty, Robert Urquhart, Bernard Hill, Mel Smith, Bryan Forbes, Nanette Newman, Anne Scott-James, Rachel Boyd, Ed Bishop, Iain McColl, and Laura Smith.

The soundtrack features music from the band Big Country.

The screenplay won a Lloyds Bank film script-writing competition before production.

The film performed well at the box office only in Scotland, costing £1.2 million and earning £300,000, even though it got a surprise American release by Orion Classics (1986) (US).

Restless Natives is directed by Michael Hoffman, runs 90 minutes, is made by EMI Films, the Oxford Film Company and Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment, is released by Columbia-EMI-Warner (1985) (UK) and Orion Classics (1986) (US), is written by Ninian Dunnett, is shot by Oliver Stapleton, is produced by Rick Stevenson, is scored by Stuart Adamson, and is designed by Adrienne Atkinson.

Much loved star character actor Ned Beatty (July 6, 1937 – June 13, 2021) appeared in more than 160 films.

 © Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,716

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