THERE were gasps, groans, and even a few retching noises.

But unlike at premieres in Toronto and London, the audience at the preview screening in Bury of Danny Boyle’s latest film, 127 Hours, managed to stay seated throughout even the most gruesome moments.

Reports from the Toronto and London Film Festivals, where the film received its world and European premieres last year, said that some people there found the scenes too much, and had left the cinemas or thrown up.

As the credits rolled in Bury many audience members left the theatre visibly shaken by the film, which tells the true story of climber Aron Ralston who found himself trapped in the Blue John canyon, in Utah, with his arm crushed under a boulder.

Film lovers had flocked from all over the North West to be among the first to watch the film, which already has critics tipping lead man James Franco for an Oscar for his performance.

Ralston lived to tell the tale — by cutting off his own arm to escape — but it was not only the gore that drew reactions from the audience.

Jamie Fox, aged 30, from Bury, said: “I thought it was stunning — very well made, well written and a beautiful piece of cinematography.

“It was absolutely captivating. You wouldn’t think that a story about a man stuck in a hole would work, but it did.

Danny Boyle has done himself proud, and of course it is all the better because he is a local lad.”

Gavin Robertson, who had travelled from Bacup to watch the film, said: “It was fantastic. I have read the book, and I have been looking forward to the film for a long time.

“With a story like that you can’t really go wrong, but to have Danny Boyle directing it adds something extra.”

Maria Harrison, aged 46, from Manchester, was watching the film with her husband, Andrew, also 46.

She said: “I thought it was an absolutely superb film, and very emotional.”

Nicole Da Silva, aged 27, from Boothstown, said: “It was really quite gory when he cut his arm off, but it was also very powerful.”

And her friend, 28 yearold Joanne Morley, from Salford, added: “It was brilliant. There were quite a lot of funny moments, which was a surprise.”

127 Hours is nominated for three Golden Globes awards, and Oscar nominations will be announced this month.