Then Came Argyll

Life could imitate art with the release of Then Came You – a film written and starring US TV presenter and singer Kathie Lee Gifford about a widow who travels to Scotland, inspired by the movies shot here.

Co-starring Scots actors, Craig Ferguson and Ford Kiernan, and Liz Hurley, the film was shot on location in Argyll in 2018, with stunning views across Loch Fyne and the surrounding landscape providing the backdrop to the romantic comedy, which was funded by the National Lottery through Screen Scotland’s Production Growth Fund. 

The cast and crew stayed on location during the 6-week shoot at Drimsynie Holiday Park, with Kathie Lee staying at The Lodge on Loch Goil, which she was so taken with that she rewrote the ending to the film to include it during production.

Then Came You tells the story of a lonely widow (Gifford) who plans a trip around the world with her husband’s ashes, to visit the places they loved in the movies. However, on her first stop, in Scotland, at an Inn (Ardkinglas House, Cairndow) where she meets the owner (Ferguson), her plans suddenly change.

Set-jetting in which visitors travel to film locations after seeing them on the big or small screen has become a popular trend in Scotland, with around one in five travellers saying it was a motivating factor.

While the pandemic has restricted international travel, the effects of film tourism are not always immediately felt, with many people travelling to places associated with their favourite feature or programme long after their release. Visitor surveys show travellers continue to cite past productions, Highlander, Braveheart and Skyfall, among others.

Available to stream online now on VOD platforms, Then Came You comes in the wake of popular US productions filmed in Scotland such as Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga and Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

Argyll, itself, is not unfamiliar to big screen appearances over the years including the likes of Ring of Bright Water, Restless Natives, The Water Horse, Under the Skin and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Among the locations to feature in the film are:

·       Ardkinglas House & Estate, Cairndow

·       Rest & Be Thankful

·       Kilmorich Church, Cairndow 

·       Arrochar & Tarbet Train Station

·       George Hotel, Inveraray 

·       Treehouse, The Lodge on Loch Goil

·       Lochgilphead

“We pride ourselves in giving our guests a real Scottish warm welcome and on the last day of filming, which happened to be the 4th July, we organised a complimentary American Independence Day party as a gesture of goodwill for our new friends.

“Since Then Came You has been released our website has been inundated with views from the USA which shows the power a film can have on an area like Argyll.”

There is a dedicated website, www.filminargyll.co.uk which provides regularly updated information to anyone considering Argyll and Bute as a set location.