I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)

A young Englishwoman goes to the Hebrides to marry her older, wealthier fiancé. When the weather keeps them separated on different islands, she begins to have second thoughts.

Directors:

Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

Writers:

Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

Stars:

Wendy Hiller, Roger Livesey, George Carney

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Carney	...	Mr. Webster
Wendy Hiller	...	Joan Webster
Walter Hudd	...	Hunter
Duncan MacKechnie	...	Capt. 'Lochinvar' (as Captain Duncan MacKechnie)
Ian Sadler	...	Iain
Roger Livesey	...	Torquil MacNeil
Finlay Currie	...	Ruairidh Mhór
Murdo Morrison	...	Kenny
Margot Fitzsimons	...	Bridie
C.W.R. Knight	...	Col. Barnstaple (as Captain C.W.R. Knight F.Z.S.)
Pamela Brown	...	Catriona
Donald Strachan	...	Shepherd
John Rae	...	Old Shepherd
Duncan McIntyre	...	His Son
Jean Cadell	...	Postmistress

Storyline

Joan Webster is an ambitious and stubborn middle-class English woman determined to move forward since her childhood. She meets her father in a fancy restaurant to tell him that she will marry the wealthy middle-aged industrial Robert Bellinger in Kiloran island, in the Hebrides Islands, Scotland. She travels from Manchester to the island of Mull, where she stays trapped due to the windy weather. Whilst on the island, she meets Torquil McNeil and as the days go by they fall in love with each other.

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Plot Keywords:

hebrides | naval officer | scotland | sea storm | scottish hebrides | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Look out for the 12 year old (and pre facial mole) Petula Clark playing Cheril.

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Goofs

After the Campbell couple is honored for their diamond marriage and moves to the doorway, Kenny leans against a wall next to a post. As the next brief medium and long shots alternate, his position changes inconsistently, with different people on both sides of him.

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Quotes

Torquil MacNeil: She wouldn't see a pound note from one pensions day to another.
Joan Webster: People around here are very poor I suppose.
Torquil MacNeil: Not poor, they just haven't got money.
Joan Webster: It's the same thing.
Torquil MacNeil: Oh no, it's something quite different.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits title is shown in all lower case letters "i know where i'm going !"

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Alternate Versions

When Bridie and Joan are arguing in Joan's bedroom when Joan is about to try to get to the island, Bridie has a little speech where she says "Some folks there are, who want to drown fine young men and break young girls' hearts so that they can be bedded one day sooner." Risqué stuff for 1945. It was dubbed in the initial American release for her to say "wedded" instead of "bedded".

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Connections

Featured in I Know Where I'm Going! Revisited (1994)

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Soundtracks

Macaphee Turn the Cattle
(uncredited)
Traditional
Performed by The Glasgow Orpheus Choir at the Céilidh

User Reviews

There's not much to say about this film, apart from the fact that it's gorgeous and irrestistable

Two things, though, you should watch for:

(1) Our first glimpse of Scotland comes as part of the heroine's queer dream on the train: we see a series of friendly rounded hills, all made out of tartan. It's a lovely image. It's also our first hint that our heroine has even the tiniest bit of romanticism about her. It later takes every force of man and nature in the real Scotland to bring it out.

(2) The locals she stays with are a nice bunch. They're not cloyingly sweet; but Powell and Pressburger don't present us with insularity and narrow-mindedness as if such traits are meant to be endearing, in the way that so many hymns of praise to small communities do. Anyway: watch for the cameo given to Petula Clark, that young girl with glasses. She only gets a few lines, but it's a great part.

This is only the second Powell/Pressburger film I've seen (and only the fourth film of Powell's). I'm impressed. Are they all this good?

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Scottish Gaelic

Release Date:

9 August 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Know Where I'm Going!

Filming Locations:

Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Archers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1