Margaret Tait Movies

Hand painted directly onto film stock by Margaret Tait, this film features animated dancing figures, accompanied by authentic calypso music.

Perugia and its Italian University for foreign students.

Excavation of the Broch at Bu of Cairston by John Hedges in 1978. The broch is located in Stromness, Orkney.

Second of the 'Aspects of Kirkwall' films about the changing face of Kirkwall over the years. Filmed in 1974, it features the primary school, various...

A picture of East Sutherland in 1966.

The minutiae of daily life on Edinburgh's Rose Street in the fifties is presented in this impressionistic documentary piece.

"Touches on elemental images; air, water, (and snow), earth and fire (and smoke) all come into it." - MT

Poles, presumably to be used to carry electricity wires, are seen being carried over a wintry landscape by helicopter in Sandwick, Orkney.

"Carlo and Rafaella are going to Rome for the first time. They have specially planned a journey they must make so that they can have a whole day...

A film interpretation of the poem 'The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo' by Gerard Manley Hopkins. Margaret Tait speaks the poem throughout the film.

Every time the task of drawing a circle is performed, it results in a unique shape, a slightly different 'version' than the previous and next...

A tour around Kirkwall, covering the years 1969 - 1976. Places featured include St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall harbour, Victoria St, Broad St,...

A series of interiors exploring the work of various businesses - presumably in Kirkwall.

A short piece of film recording general views of Edinburgh's Royal Mile in the 1950s.

Scenes in and around the old city of Perugia in Umbria, Italy. Kodachrome

A palindrome created on film. Features interaction between a couple with the recurring line 'Madam I'm Adam'.

Interiors of Margaret Tait's room when she stayed at 21 Via Ancona, Rome, Italy. Brief shots of her belongings (shoes, films, teacup) and then views...

Brightly coloured animated figures dance to the traditional tune 'John MacFadyen', as played by the Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society in this hand...

Starting from its source, this film tells the story of the Orquil Burn, Orkney.

The three portrait sketches of the title are called 'Claudia', 'Fernando Birri' and 'Saulat Rahman'. Presumably made when Margaret Tait was a student...