A whirlwind romance has an English lass betrothed to a rich, older man, headed to his Scottish island retreat for the wedding in what was believed would be an uneventful, 2-day itinerary. But Joan's journey hits a snag in stormy weather, her resolve to reach her destination turning desperation when doubts surface, forcing an ill-advised launch in a terrific gale where she and her guides are caught in the Hebrides deadly Corryvreckan whirlpool. The best laid plans of mice & matrimony must first answer to the gods.
Wendy Hiller, the Darwinian dame of war drama stars as another evolving colleen (Pygmalion) still full of spirit & sass ("Really!") though, this lady already gilded in grace, the fiancée who, once leaving Manchester has no idea where she's going or gotten into (title is from an Irish-Scot folk song on advice of Frances Powell). Roger Livesey co-stars as middleman, Torquil, he a lustier Bob Donat & navy officer on leave who, once Miss Webster arrives on Mull, is tasked with delivering her safely to Kiloran, a stone's throw away but in a big blow requires a cannon arm. Pam Brown is Catriona, the dark eyed beauty and light of the laird (estate owner), her unattended mystery (Mrs Potts > Mrs MacNeil) left for viewers to ponder as the film's wee flaw.
A Powell Pressburger make (write direct produce), The Archers with a knack for telling unique love stories (49th Parallel, Black Narcissus), this one projected in b&w on spectacular scenery (Carsaig Bay), curious customs (céilidh /kay-lee/ Moy Castle), well placed charm (title designs, eagle Torquil) & sense of danger about. And while I've no evidentiary basis, I'd not be surprised to learn P&P had, in development, come familiar with the story of model Kathleen Newton (née Kelly 1854-82) (Tissot). Though her's involved a third-party planner & illegitimate issue, the similarities are many: a young, beautiful English woman who is arranged to marry a much older, established figure but has her intention diverted, Kathy by a sea captain during the voyage to Dr Newton's place of practice in India. It's a curious comparison, anyway.
Also stars Scotsman, Finlay Currie (Great Expectations) ("So, you're back!"), famous falconer & father of actor Esmond (The Red Shoes), C. W. R. Knight, FZS, as Colonel Barnstaple, stage legend Nancy Price is Mrs Crozier, the deliciously descriptive dinner guest, Murdo Morrison as the brave but regretful Kenny (£20), a bespectacled 12 year old Petula Clark (Cheril), the victory voice of Norm Shelley (Bellinger), rumored to've substituted for Churchill in some of his most famous war speeches, the hearty score of Allan Gray (African Queen), camera (Hillier) & effects, special (Blackwell Harris) and visual (Day Staffell) that made the whirlpool frames suspenseful, and then Torquil's "nanny" who, at movie's end, recalls the curse of Catriona Maclaine of Erraig that attaches to any MacNeil of Kiloran crossing the threshold of Castle Moy, or not a curse after all but blessing instead, "chains" a metaphor for long love? Clever girl, Catty.
I'd a funny first view, impatient like Joanie, I hit the exit too soon, not realizing there were 7 minutes left. It makes a difference. The scripted ending is grand (88m) but my mistaken edit had left me with a comfortable melancholy. At the time it seemed a good place to stop (That kiss!). When you tune in, try my version, take a few days off, then finish it and see what you think. Either way, it's a bonny watch (4/4).
Wendy Hiller, the Darwinian dame of war drama stars as another evolving colleen (Pygmalion) still full of spirit & sass ("Really!") though, this lady already gilded in grace, the fiancée who, once leaving Manchester has no idea where she's going or gotten into (title is from an Irish-Scot folk song on advice of Frances Powell). Roger Livesey co-stars as middleman, Torquil, he a lustier Bob Donat & navy officer on leave who, once Miss Webster arrives on Mull, is tasked with delivering her safely to Kiloran, a stone's throw away but in a big blow requires a cannon arm. Pam Brown is Catriona, the dark eyed beauty and light of the laird (estate owner), her unattended mystery (Mrs Potts > Mrs MacNeil) left for viewers to ponder as the film's wee flaw.
A Powell Pressburger make (write direct produce), The Archers with a knack for telling unique love stories (49th Parallel, Black Narcissus), this one projected in b&w on spectacular scenery (Carsaig Bay), curious customs (céilidh /kay-lee/ Moy Castle), well placed charm (title designs, eagle Torquil) & sense of danger about. And while I've no evidentiary basis, I'd not be surprised to learn P&P had, in development, come familiar with the story of model Kathleen Newton (née Kelly 1854-82) (Tissot). Though her's involved a third-party planner & illegitimate issue, the similarities are many: a young, beautiful English woman who is arranged to marry a much older, established figure but has her intention diverted, Kathy by a sea captain during the voyage to Dr Newton's place of practice in India. It's a curious comparison, anyway.
Also stars Scotsman, Finlay Currie (Great Expectations) ("So, you're back!"), famous falconer & father of actor Esmond (The Red Shoes), C. W. R. Knight, FZS, as Colonel Barnstaple, stage legend Nancy Price is Mrs Crozier, the deliciously descriptive dinner guest, Murdo Morrison as the brave but regretful Kenny (£20), a bespectacled 12 year old Petula Clark (Cheril), the victory voice of Norm Shelley (Bellinger), rumored to've substituted for Churchill in some of his most famous war speeches, the hearty score of Allan Gray (African Queen), camera (Hillier) & effects, special (Blackwell Harris) and visual (Day Staffell) that made the whirlpool frames suspenseful, and then Torquil's "nanny" who, at movie's end, recalls the curse of Catriona Maclaine of Erraig that attaches to any MacNeil of Kiloran crossing the threshold of Castle Moy, or not a curse after all but blessing instead, "chains" a metaphor for long love? Clever girl, Catty.
I'd a funny first view, impatient like Joanie, I hit the exit too soon, not realizing there were 7 minutes left. It makes a difference. The scripted ending is grand (88m) but my mistaken edit had left me with a comfortable melancholy. At the time it seemed a good place to stop (That kiss!). When you tune in, try my version, take a few days off, then finish it and see what you think. Either way, it's a bonny watch (4/4).