The Brothers (1947)

The MacFarishes and the Macraes are lifelong enemies living on a remote island in the Western Isles of Scotland. Mary Lawson is a Scottish orphan brought up in a convent who arrives on the ... See full summary »

Director:

David MacDonald

Writers:

L.A.G. Strong (novel), Muriel Box,

Stars:

Patricia Roc, Will Fyffe, Maxwell Reed

Cast

Credited cast:
Patricia Roc	...	Mary
Will Fyffe	...	Aeneas McGrath
Maxwell Reed	...	Fergus Macrae
Finlay Currie	...	Hector Macrae
John Laurie	...	Dugald
Andrew Crawford	...	Willie McFarish
Duncan Macrae	...	John Macrae
Morland Graham	...	Angus McFarish
Megs Jenkins	...	Angustina McFarish
James Woodburn	...	Priest
David McAlister	...	George McFarish
Patrick Boxill	...	The Informer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Keir	...	Postman

Storyline

The MacFarishes and the Macraes are lifelong enemies living on a remote island in the Western Isles of Scotland. Mary Lawson is a Scottish orphan brought up in a convent who arrives on the weekly steamer to come and work as a servant to the Macres. Mary is warned that she must have no dealings with the MacFarish family but living a lonely life she encourages the friendship of Will MacFarish with tragic consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

british noir | murder | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 1947 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Die Brüder

Filming Locations:

Gaumont-British Studios, Lime Grove, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sydney Box Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film of Duncan Macrae.

User Reviews

Extraordinary tale of lust and murder in the Hebrides

This extraordinary film really deserves to be better known; certainly it ought to be screened somewhere, as it seems to have dropped out of public and critical consciousness. Essentially it's about Patricia Roc driving the men of a Hebridean isle to lust and murder. Hardly natural casting for Roc, who was happiest playing sweetness and light (usually in contrast to Margaret Lockwood in the Gainsborough melodramas), but she gives it her best shot. But it's the tone of the whole piece, the air of malevolence beneath bright skies and spectacular landscapes that stays in the memory. Comedian Will Fyffe has a field day as the harsh father. The aim seems to have been capture the quality of the old Scottish ballads, in their particular blending of beauty and cruelty, and the film makes this overt with its references to the ballad of 'The Great Silke of Skule Skerry'. It also boasts one of the strangest modes of execution you will ever see - but you have to try and seek out the film to find out what. Someone should programme it in a double bill with 'I Know Where I'm Going'.