{ "id": "ephdhvffnc", "slug": "gregorys-two-girls", "title": "Gregory's Two Girls", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1995-to-1999", "label": "Comedies of 1995 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1995-to-1999" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1995-to-1999.black-and-satirical-comedies", "label": "Black and satirical comedies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1995-to-1999.black-and-satirical-comedies" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1995-to-1999.black-and-satirical-comedies.yr-1999", "label": "Released in 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1995-to-1999.black-and-satirical-comedies.yr-1999" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Western Europe · 1946 to 2000: Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "path": [ { "id": "geo.weu", "label": "Western Europe", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946", "label": "Western Europe · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Gregory's Two Girls (1999) is Bill Forsyth's British comedy sequel to Gregory's Girl, with John Gordon Sinclair as Gregory, now a 35-year-old English teacher investigating a factory scandal.", "snippet": "Gregory's Two Girls (1999) is Bill Forsyth's British comedy sequel to Gregory's Girl, with John Gordon Sinclair as Gregory, now a 35-year-old English teacher investigating a factory scandal.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1995-to-1999.black-and-satirical-comedies.yr-1999", "markdown": "# Gregory's Two Girls\n\n**Gregory's Two Girls** is a 1999 British comedy directed and written by Bill Forsyth, a belated sequel to his 1980 film *Gregory's Girl*. [John Gordon Sinclair](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-gordon-sinclair) returns as Gregory Underwood, now a 35-year-old English teacher at his old school in Cumbernauld, who is drawn by two pupils into investigating a local businessman suspected of exporting torture equipment. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 15 October 1999, received largely negative reviews, and remains Forsyth's most recent feature as director.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150786/) • [2](https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/where-begin-with-bill-forsyth)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Director and writer | Bill Forsyth[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150786/) |\n| Release | 15 October 1999 (United Kingdom)[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150786/) |\n| Runtime | 116 minutes[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150786/) |\n| Lead cast | John Gordon Sinclair (Gregory Underwood), Carly McKinnon (Frances), Maria Doyle Kennedy (Bel), Dougray Scott (Fraser Rowan)[3](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/gregorys-two-girls) |\n| Production companies | Channel Four Films, Scottish Arts Council Lottery Fund, Young Lake[4](https://www.netflixmovies.com/gregorys-two-girls-1999) |\n| IMDb rating | 5.1/10[3](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/gregorys-two-girls) |\n| Career note | Forsyth's last film to date; its critical reception ended his run of features[2](https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/where-begin-with-bill-forsyth) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nTwenty years after the teenage crush he had on a football-mad schoolgirl in *Gregory's Girl*, Gregory Underwood is back at his old school as an English teacher. His lessons carry a political charge: rather than Shakespeare, he prefers to discuss corrupt politicians and human rights abuses.[4](https://www.netflixmovies.com/gregorys-two-girls-1999) • [5](https://www.moviemeter.com/movies/comedy/gregory-s-two-girls)\n\nTwo of his pupils, Frances (Carly McKinnon) and Douglas (Hugh McCue), uncover what they believe are evil practices at a local factory and want their teacher's help exposing the wrongdoer, who happens to be Gregory's old schoolfriend Fraser Rowan ([Dougray Scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/dougray-scott)), an electronics millionaire suspected of manufacturing torture equipment for [Third World](https://www.edgepedia.org/third-world) governments under the guise of charity work.[3](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/gregorys-two-girls) • [6](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/gregorys-two-girls-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) Gregory is caught between his idealism and breaking the law, and between the two girls of the title: Frances, a sixteen-year-old pupil on whom he has a guilty infatuation, and Bel ([Maria Doyle Kennedy](https://www.edgepedia.org/maria-doyle-kennedy)), a fellow teacher of his own age who is romantically interested in him.[4](https://www.netflixmovies.com/gregorys-two-girls-1999) • [7](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gregorys-two-girls) In one comic set piece, Gregory must explain to the headmaster and the police why he was seen with Frances in a park late at night.[7](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gregorys-two-girls)\n\n## Production\n\nForsyth returned to Scotland and to his best-known protagonist after a frustrating period in Hollywood that ended with *Being Human* (1993).[2](https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/where-begin-with-bill-forsyth) The film was produced by Christopher Young for Young Lake, with John de Borman as cinematographer, Michael Gibbs as composer, and John Gow as editor.[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150786/fullcredits/) Funding came partly from [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) and the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund, institutions that had come into being in the mid-1980s partly as a result of the success of *Gregory's Girl*; a Glasgow University thesis describes the film as Forsyth coming full circle within the Scottish film industry he helped create.[9](https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2004/great-directors/forsyth/)\n\nFilming took place at St Margaret's Academy in Livingston, West Lothian, at Uttershill Castle near Penicuik, at the Scottish Executive on Victoria Quay, and in Edinburgh city center locations including Castle Terrace and George Street.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150786/) • [10](https://www.filmedinburgh.org/Filmed-Here/Gregorys-2-Girls)\n\n## Reception\n\nThe film was critically mauled on release. Peter Bradshaw's Guardian review called it an uneven romp with the plausibility of a Children's Film Foundation feature, marooned in the late 1970s and early 1980s period of Forsyth's pomp, and criticized its dated political idealism and timid sexual politics.[11](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/oct/15/5) The BFI later wrote that the film is not the unmitigated disaster it was reported to be, but that it never reaches the comedic heights of Forsyth's earlier homegrown efforts, and that its main failing is souring the memory of the original's romantic hero by showing Gregory still gauche and still obsessing over high school girls as a thirtysomething teacher.[2](https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/where-begin-with-bill-forsyth) Time Out took a warmer view, praising John Gordon Sinclair's performance and the film's subtlety while noting its lack of pace.[7](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gregorys-two-girls) On IMDb the film holds a rating of 5.1 out of 10.[3](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/gregorys-two-girls)\n\nThe film's poor reception had consequences for its director: the BFI states that the critical mauling seemed to put a stake through Forsyth's career, and he has not directed a feature since.[2](https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/where-begin-with-bill-forsyth) In a later interview Forsyth said he hoped to make another film and described a long-developed script.[12](https://theartsdesk.com/film/10-questions-filmmaker-bill-forsyth)\n\n## Availability\n\nThe film is not currently available on streaming services in the United States or the United Kingdom. JustWatch records that it streamed on Amazon Video from February 2017 to February 2024 and on Amazon Prime Video from February 2017 to May 2021.[13](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/gregorys-two-girls) • [3](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/gregorys-two-girls)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Gregory's Two Girls (1999), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150786/)\n2. [Where to begin with Bill Forsyth, BFI (Jamie Dunn, 14 August 2023)](https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/where-begin-with-bill-forsyth)\n3. [Gregory's Two Girls, JustWatch (UK)](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/gregorys-two-girls)\n4. [Gregory's Two Girls (1999) on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/gregorys-two-girls-1999)\n5. [Gregory's Two Girls (1999), MovieMeter](https://www.moviemeter.com/movies/comedy/gregory-s-two-girls)\n6. [Gregory's Two Girls (1998) film review, Eye for Film (Angus Wolfe Murray)](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/gregorys-two-girls-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)\n7. [Gregory's Two Girls film review, Time Out](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gregorys-two-girls)\n8. [Gregory's Two Girls, full cast and crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150786/fullcredits/)\n9. [Forsyth, Bill, Senses of Cinema Great Directors profile](https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2004/great-directors/forsyth/)\n10. [Gregory's Two Girls, Film Edinburgh](https://www.filmedinburgh.org/Filmed-Here/Gregorys-2-Girls)\n11. [Gregory's Two Girls review, The Guardian (Peter Bradshaw, 14 October 1999)](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/oct/15/5)\n12. [10 Questions for Filmmaker Bill Forsyth, The Arts Desk](https://theartsdesk.com/film/10-questions-filmmaker-bill-forsyth)\n13. [Gregory's Two Girls streaming, JustWatch (US)](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/gregorys-two-girls)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Comedy and romantic films (individual works) › Comedies of 1995 to 1999 › Black and satirical comedies › Released in 1999*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-two-girls", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-two-girls.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Gregory's Two Girls\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-two-girls. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Gregory's Two Girls](https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-two-girls)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-two-girls](https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-two-girls). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Gregory's Two Girls\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gregorys-two-girls. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Gregory's Two Girls is Bill Forsyth's British comedy sequel to Gregory's Girl, with John Gordon Sinclair as Gregory, now a 35-year-old English teacher investigating a factory scandal." }