Kes is one of the most important Yorkshire-based films ever made, and it was lauded for its authenticity. Viewers really got a feel for what it was like to reside in the greatest county in England, and the actors spoke with nigh-on perfect accents. One of the standout performers was Eric Bolderson, who played the farmer. Prior to the picture, the Castleford-born actor was unknown. But his scenes were memorable due to his use of the dialect and the way he made people believe he was actually a farmer. Ken Loach said that Bolderson’s role wasn’t a major one, but he made the part his own.
In the 1969 classic, Bolderson played a typical Yorkshire farmer. The lead protagonist Billy Casper (played by David Bradley) encountered Bolderson’s character when out training his kestrel. Loach said that Bolderson stood out during the casting for the film. According to the I, Daniel Blake director, “Eric had a lovely Yorkshire brogue which was all warmth and understanding.”
Loach said that Bolderson was ideal for the role, and he actually believed that the man was a Yorkshire farmer. It turned out that Bolderson was actually a bookie in Leeds. While Bolderson hasn’t done much other notable acting work since Kes, he did have a brief foray into directing. He created the mini film The Wheel of Fortune, which featured two punters going head to head in a game of roulette. Back then, the wheel spinning game could only be played in a physical location such as a casino. These days, people prefer to play virtual or live streamed games at places like Magical Vegas casino online. Times have certainly changed since Bolderson’s heyday.
While Kes is undoubtedly a classic, it is definitely not the most famous film to have come out of Yorkshire. For that accolade, a lot of people would agree that the Sheffield-based comedy, The Full Monty, has to take the prize. The 1997 Peter Cattaneo-directed picture focused on four former steelworks employees who decide to start a male striptease act. The film was made on a modest budget of $3.5 million, but went on to gross an astonishing $250 million worldwide. It was the highest-grossing film in the UK until it was surpassed by James Cameron’s Titanic later that year. The picture was also named as the 25th best British Film of the 20th Century by the British Film Institute.
Brassed Off should also get a notable mention when talking about great Yorkshire films. The 1996 picture wasn’t a commercial success like The Full Monty, but it did encompass Yorkshire values and culture. The soundtrack for the film was done by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and the picture itself was based on the South Yorkshire town’s own struggles during the pit closures.
Kes is the quintessential Yorkshire film, and Bolderson arguably played one of the best portrayals of a local ever caught on camera. It’s likely that Loach’s picture will remain as one of the all-time greats thanks to performances like Bolderson’s.
