A NEW version of a 1948 corporation film ‘Greenock Plans Ahead’ will be premiered next week.

The iconic black and white footage gives a facinating insight into the way people lived in the town more than half a century ago.

The film has been re-edited by heritage group Magic Torch and features an exclusive soundtrack by indie rock band British Sea Power.

Paul Bristow, a volunteer with the group, said: “It captures the town at a very specific stage in history.

“It shows people living in the here, but it’s not a town we would recognise now.

“There’s a notion that regeneration is quite new but the town has very often been in a state of flux.

“This piece of film is within living memory for a lot of people.” It highlights the main industrial and housing challenges facing the town fathers and their visions for the future.

The audience will be able to revisit a time long gone of shipbuilding, heavy industry and thankfully slum housing.

The film ends on a positive with plans for regeneration and the building of new housing estates.

It shows iconic images of workers pouring out of Scott’s Shipyards, the Vennel, a man with a horse and cart and people walking in former gardens in Clyde Sqaure.

Louise Pastore, who edited the film, said: “The original film was longer than the soundtrack, so I re-edited it and took out the section with council planners.

“I changed the sequence into three separate areas, the shipyards, industries and housing and also incorpoarted old photographs using flicker.

“It’s something I wanted to do and I certainly enjoyed it. I heard of the band before they had a few albums out. They wrote two pieces of music for the film.” This also includes a Celebration Ode written in 1881 commentating on the opening of James Watt Dock.

The project was funded by the National Lottery Awards for All.

The film is being screened at the Dutch Gable House on Thursday and people will be asked to give feedback on postcards provided.

The event is free but requires tickets. To book a place email aulddunrod@gmail.com