Bill Forsyth’s international hit film Local Hero had a massive impact on Aberdeenshire in the 1980s. As the brand new musical stage production enjoys its world premiere at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, we uncover some interesting local facts about the iconic film.

1. Real-life local hero appeared in Local Hero….

Harbourmaster Baden Gibson (pictured below) starred as an extra in Local Heroalongside Burt Lancaster and Peter Capaldi. Mr Gibson was harbourmaster for 40 years until he passed away at the age of 67 in November 2016. He spent his entire life in Pennan and became the village’s longest-standing resident, when his mother moved away. After being cast as an extra in the film, Baden campaigned for Pennan to be used in more TV and film productions. He is fondly remembered by locals, one said: “When you think of Pennan, you think of Baden. He did his best to give back wherever he could and he became Pennan’s Local Hero.”

2. Hollywood A-lister Michael Douglas didn’t – but he was desperate for a part!

Apparently Michael Douglas was so keen to take the lead role as Mac that he met writer/director Bill Forsyth in Los Angeles, and followed him to New York “as if he was passing through”, according to Local Hero producer, Iain Smith. Iain said in a previous interview: “Bill is a wonderful, wonderful writer and Michael Douglas is no fool. He could see a winning script from a mile off and was very disappointed he didn’t get the part.” Interestingly, Henry Winkler, who played the Fonz in Happy Days, also threw his hat into the ring, but it was Peter Riegert who won the part.

Continue at source: SPONSORED: 7 things you didn’t know about ‘Local Hero’ – Evening Express