“Yes, yes, yes”: Last chance to see Dorset thriller Dope Under Thorncombe with live music

Dope Under Thorncombe is a feature film about drug smuggling in West Dorset.

It was shot in the late 1930s, mostly at West Bay and along the coast, though some scenes were filmed inland, such as the gunfight at Eggardon Hill.

The producer was Bridport man Frank Trevett, who inspired his friends and family to act in many roles, on screen and off, to splice together his vision.

There is a glamorous heroine, a handsome hero, an evil gang boss from London, rough matelots, caddish behaviour, a chase, a kidnap…

For many years Dope Under Thorncombe survived as a treat for the descendants of those who made it, watched on special occasions in a mood of excited nostalgia.

Then a copy was passed to the Dorset rural media charity Trilith by Frank’s son, the late Rex Trevett (famous as Bridport’s Mr Music as a musician), and then Rex’s sister Vivien Smith provided the original black-and-white silent film. At which point Trilith director Trevor Bailey sensed a very special opportunity; to commission a score to go with Dope Under Thorncombe and present the newly enhanced film to the wider world.

“Silent films and music to reflect and enhance their mood always went together,” said Trevor. “Here was a chance to show how the imaginative efforts of a group of friends all those years ago could inspire modern creativity.”

Trevor commissioned the composer Rachael Leach to write a score, which was premiered live earlier this year at Bridport Arts Centre and rapturously received.

Among the comments – Brilliant. Fantastic. Wonderful. Yes, yes, yes.

Now there is one final chance to see Dope Under Thorncombe with live performance of its music at Burton Bradstock Village Hall, 7.30pm, 24 April. To book tickets call 01308-897214.

Vivien Smith will give a short talk about how the film came to be made and the memories that her family and other local people have of their roles.

There will also be a full supporting programme of other Dorset archive films from the Trilith collection.

There were 157 people in the audience at Bridport Arts Centre, 83 of whom filled in questionnaires and this is what they said:

Really good. A joy to watch and listen to.

Excellent.

A great historical document.

(On the importance of saving and exhibiting old films) Very important indeed!

Great fun!

Good to see the films giving us the opportunity to realise how people lived many years ago.

(On the music) In keeping if a little loud. I was delighted that Dope Under Thorncombe had been resurrected. I first saw it in about 1939.

Very enjoyable evening. Fascinating films and local history.

To have live music and the composer here was wonderful.

Thank you. A great evening. Wonderful work you do.

Marvellous music. Great fun.

Hooray!

Music brilliant. Complemented film so well. So important to keep these old films ‘alive’! Well done.

A really informative, lively evening!

Great!! We need more of this kind of ‘living archive’.

Carry on the good work.

A brilliant performance. Well done.

The film could have been made for the music!

Very entertaining. Thank you.

Excellent score. Great musicians.

Musical accompaniment was a bonus!

The music not only enhanced the film, but could have stood alone as a piece in itself.

Very enjoyable. Thank you.

More Reels to your Spools. A great asset to Dorset especially Amplion.

Great evening – good to see a large audience at the Arts Centre with an old-to-young mix. Music and performers excellent. Please continue funding Trilith.

An excellent evening. Most enjoyable.

Brilliant.

Interesting and historical. First half was a little too long.

Great fun and important stuff!

Wonderful. What a fantastic evening and well done to the funders for supporting a brilliant project!!

Fantastic music – really loved it.

Brilliant!

A very worthwhile thing to do!

It was fantastic.

(How well did the music enhance the film?) Yes, yes, yes.

I wish we could see more of the same.

Absolutely fascinating.