Q: SOME time during the late 1950s, I recall seeing a film entitled Jacqueline. At the time, I understood that the film was based on the Mary Ann novels of Catherine Cookson. The film was actually set in the Shipyard area of Belfast. Was this true, as I have never heard this film mentioned when the dramatisation of Catherine Cookson's work is discussed? - Valerie Johnson, Bishop Auckland.

A: I have been checking through printed film directories and web resources dedicated to Catherine Cookson. Most film directories list the scriptwriters for the 1956 British-made black and white film, Jacqueline as Patrick Kirwan and Liam O'Flaherty, although some also mention script contributions from Catherine Cookson and Patrick Campbell. The director of the film was Roy Baker and the producer George Brown. Jacqueline is the story of a Belfast shipyard worker with a fear of heights, who loses his job and turns to alcohol. Jacqueline is his small daughter, who works hard to keep him off the drink and find him a job. The film starred John Gregson and supporting cast included Jacqueline Ryan, Kathleen Ryan, Liam Redmond, Noel Purcell, Cyril Cusack, Richard O'Sullivan, Marie Kean, Maureen Swanson and Sam Kydd. Only one of the Mary Ann Shaughnessy novels that you mention was written before 1956, the year in which Jacqueline was made. It was called A Grand Man and a glance at its cover in the local library confirms that this was the book that was made into the film Jacqueline. It is not the only North-East connection associated with this film. Its producer George Brown had begun his career as a production assistant for the production company of Scarborough-born actor Charles Laughton. Brown's famous daughter Tina Brown, was the former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker and is married to Harold Evans, the former editor of The Northern Echo.

Following last week's question regarding the poem about Semerwater, a number of readers have written in with further extracts from a similar poem about the lake. As there has been such interest I am able to give the full poem, kindly provided by Bessie Metcalfe, of Leyburn.

Deep asleep, deep asleep, deep asleep it lies.

The still lake of Semerwater under the skies.

And many a fathom, many a fathom, many a fathom below.

In king's tower and queen's bower, the fishes come and go.

Once there stood by Semerwater, a muckle town and tall.

King's tower and queen's bower and the wakeman on the wall.

Came a beggar hot and sore, "I faint for lack of bread"

King's tower and queen's bower cast him forth unfed.

He knocked at the door of eller's cot, the eller's cot in the dale

They gave him of their oatcake, they gave him of their ale.

He was cursed about that city proud, he has cursed it in his pride.

He has cursed it into Semerwater, down the brown hillside.

He has cursed it into Semerwater and forever there to bide.

Kings tower queen's bower and a muckle town and tall.

By glimes of scale and gleam of fire, both have seen them all.

King's tower and queen's bower and weed and need in gloom.

And a lost city in Semerwater, Deep asleep till doom.

Published: Monday, September 17, 2001

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