Trouble in the Glen

[Doc Hudson]

"hat is it about Scotland that compells all the men to run around without their trousers?" -- Orson Wells as Laird Sanin Cejador y Mengues

Anyone recognize the tartans worn by Orson Wells, and Victor McLaglen?

[macwilkin]

I could only find a couple of black & white stills & posters on-line, but it appears to be the red & white Menzies tartan -- Orson Wells's character is named Sandy Menzies.

Where did you find it, Doc? I've been looking for a copy of this movie for a while -- a blatant attempt by Herbert J. Yates to copy the success of "The Quiet Man". If I remember right, it was written by the same author, Maurie Walsh, who lived in Scotland for a time.

Cheers,

Todd

[GMan]

I have heard about it, never seen it. Most people give me grief because of its title, I wonder why

[Doc Hudson]

Todd,

I found the movie in a cut-rate VHS bin at the grocery store.

It had been a long time favorite movie, but I'd not seen it in years. When I saw it in the bin for about $5.00, I jumped on it.

There is another good line in the movie about the difference between Lordship and Lairdship. To paraphrase,

A Lord's people belong to him, that's what it means to be a Lord, you own people. But a Laird belongs to his people.

Good luck finding a copy.

BTW, the screenplay was written by the same team that wrote Quiet Man, with the same director, and of course Victor McLaglen.

[g koch]

FYI:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046465/

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...556680-9211059

[Geoduck]

I tried to find a halfway decent picture (other then the cover of the VHS) that would actually show the sett of his tartan, but I couldn't find one. It definately could be the Menzies, but I'm not positive, I have my tartan tie hanging here at my desk, so I could compare. Anyone have an idea where I could find a better picture, now I'm intrigued.

Strange that imdb.com lists their name as Mengues rather than Menzies though. I believe that Mengues is a sept of Menzies, although it is also the phonetical (sp?) spelling.

[g koch]

Stuck a couple of promotional stills from the French release of 'Trouble in the Glen' in my gallery, but sorry they're in black and white.

[Doc Hudson]

Bear in mind the Laird's family had been in Chile for at least three generations. I suppose the Menzies spelling evolved into Mengues.

Note that though the innkeeper called him "plain Sandy Mingus (could have been Menzies, but it sounded like Mingus) the Laird's name was listed as Sanin Cejador y Mengues.

It's a fun movie. I watched it again this morning. If I were smart enough, I'd try taking some photos from the movie, but since it would involve photos of a TV Screen and then loading them onto the computer, I don't think they'd turn out well.

[macwilkin]

From the Clan Menzies Society web site:

Well that depends. In the area were the Clan originated it is definitely pronounced “Mingus”. However the Clan Society recognises that those of the name Menzies have spread far beyond the limits of Strathtay where not everyone is familiar with local pronunciation and is perfectly happy to accept those who prefer to pronounce their name in a more phonetic style. Though, David Menzies of Menzies (the Clan Chief) when refered to as “Men-zies of Men-zies” is reputed to have responded that there is no such person.

--http://www.menzies.org/faq.htm

Celtic name pronounciation are generally changed by Spanish speakers -- for instance, there was an Irishman named Hugo O'Connor who served with the Spanish Army on the frontier in Pimeria Alta (modern-day Arizona) -- the Spanish could not pronounce the O'Connor, so it was changed to "Oconor".

It sure does look like the Menzies tartan! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[Geoduck]

Now that I can see the set, I'd bet that it is the Dress Menzies tartan, red and white with the 7 stripes. Haven't picked that one up yet, but it's on my list.

I guess I could have been more clear. The pronuciation of Menzies IS "Ming-us". I didn't know that until we ventured into Abefeldy and were rebuffed quickly. Now that we know, the sept names make more sense. My understanding is that the Celtic "g" looks enough like a "z" to have created a misspelling in the earlier years, creating the confusion.

Even my lat name (Means) is another misspelling, by U.S. immigration, of Menzies.

I'm happy to hear any arguments, because some of this is conjecture. I would be though that the tartan is the Dress Menzies.

George