Play for Today: Clay, Smeddum and Greenden (1976) 1930s Scottish TV Drama (Brian Cox, Fulton Mackay)

A trilogy of interrelated stories set in a Scottish east coast farming community during the interwar years. Adapted from the works of Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, this television drama was brought to life by Bill Craig.
The three interconnected tales explore various themes while immersing audiences in rural Scotland between two world wars.
"Clay” centres around an individual consumed by his deep connection to the land but at the cost of neglecting both his talented daughter and dying wife.
In “Smeddum,” viewers witness the challenges faced by a dynamic woman who must navigate running her farm singlehandedly and bringing order to her large brood of children following their father’s demise.
Lastly, “Greenden” (which begins at 55:45) offers insight into one woman’s descent into madness as she convinces her husband to join her on an isolated farm surrounded by larch trees.
What sets this particular episode apart is its acute powers of observation combined with moments of wry humor that underscore the complexities inherent in Scottish society’s relationship with the land. The narrative masterfully portrays not only individual struggles but also captures broader themes related to family dynamics, societal pressures, and personal identity against the backdrop of a changing rural landscape.
www.memorablet...
Brian Cox appears at 57:35 ; then there's the familiar face (and ears!) of Paul Young, who played Shug in "Still Game"; Eileen McCallum from "Take the High Road".
First broadcast 24th February 1976.
The end credits separate the cast and characters into the three mini stories making up the episode: "Clay", "Smeddum" and "Greenden". What this means is that some characters/performers are credited more than once if their character appears in more than one "story". Fulton Mackay as "Alec Webster", Bill Fraser as "Murdoch" and Joan Fitzpatrick as "Mrs. Murdoch" appear in all three stories, and so are listed three separate times in the end credits. Meanwhile, the characters of Bill Gavin as "Doctor" and Eileen McCallum as "Meg Menzies" also appear twice (in "Clay" and "Smeddum") and so receive two credits.
For clarity, all of these performers are credited only once on the IMDb cast listing.
IMDB page for full cast and other contributors:
www.imdb.com/t...

[@valerieHamilton-wt3jf]

Oh jeez the subtitles were funny - sweet rose for swede rows… not helpful in understanding the dialect 😂

[@gerryhouska2859]

I found these short stories quite enchanting. nostalgic, very different from tropical Australia.

[@FoogouFilms]

I bet, yes!