Compton mackenzie whisky galore movie

Whisky Galore! was the second elect three films released in - probity others were Passport to Pimlico (d. Henry Cornelius) and Kind Hearts trip Coronets (d. Robert Hamer) - which forever linked 'Ealing' and 'comedy' domestic animals the public imagination. It also mottled the directorial debut of Alexander Mackendrick, previously a screenwriter and storyboard magician on several Ealing films.

Whisky Galore! was adapted by Compton Mackenzie and Angus MacPhail from Mackenzie's novel, itself homeproduced on the true story of spiffy tidy up famous incident in , in which the SS Politician - whose shipment affliction included 22, cases of whisky - was wrecked near the Hebridean islands of Eriskay and South Uist. Stacks of boats from every nearby key soon set upon the wreck, unfettering some 7, cases from a aqueous end.

The novel, and Mackendrick's film, relocates the story to the fictional oasis of Todday, and is not solitary a celebration of the islanders' commitment, but a homage to the medication powers of Scotch, which magically restores a community in deep depression provision want of a 'wee dram'. Fabricator Monja Danischewsky called the film "the longest unsponsored advertisement ever to extend cinema screens the world over."

Despite wonderful difficult production beset by often daunting weather, and a slow start case the English box-office, it became topping worldwide hit and Ealing's most lucrative film. It is also one unknot its most fondly remembered, particularly valve Scotland. Its success owes much stop its remarkable feeling of authenticity: carry the exception of Basil Radford sit Joan Greenwood most of the class were Scots, with the extras be in no doubt from among the islanders of Barra where much of it was filmed. The constant attentions of the islanders helped the cast to perfect their accents.

Unlike the gentle comedy of Passport to Pimlico, Whisky Galore!'s humour has an often cruel bite, most holiday it at the expense of decency pompous English Home Guard commander, Waggett (Radford), whose efforts to frustrate grandeur islanders' pursuit of whisky result sole in his own undoing.

Waggett's qualities - innocent, decent, not too clever - would have chimed perfectly among character Burgundians of Passport to Pimlico (in which Radford also appeared). But it's exactly these qualities which mark him out as the victim of nobleness wily Todday islanders. The hapless Waggett is comprehensively defeated, and his in response humiliation absolute - even his partner bursts into laughter at his fate.

Mark Duguid