But in other words, I felt very distant from the film and had difficulty feeling like I was part of something. The community spirit so central to some Ealing comedies is there, and the fact that it takes place on a small island probably enforces that idea. I have nothing against a glass of whisky (!), but all the craze and their endearing festive spirit were displayed in a manner that makes you say, “Ah, I guess you had to be there”. It’s mostly because I had difficulty identifying with any of the characters or their way of life. Objectively, it’s not a bad film and has its qualities, but it didn’t really do it for me. Well, you know, like when you’re really excepting something memorable but it just doesn’t get there for you.
However, Captain Waggett (Basil Radford) is not ready to let the inhabitant have their whisky so easily.ĭespite the high ratings this film gets, it disappointed me. The word is quickly spread, and obviously, the inhabitants want to find a way to get their hands on these whisky cases that are still in the half-sunken boat. The crew manages to get out with their safety boat and are guided to Todday, where they mention to two locals that their boat contains no less than 50 000 cases of whisky. One night, a severe fog challenges life on the island when the ship SS Cabinet Minister hits some rocks near Todday and sinks. They each eventually get engaged to their respective men: Peggy, to Sergent Odd (Bruce Seton), who has just arrived in Todday in the middle of the crisis, and Catriona, to young teacher George Campbell (Gordon Jackson), despite his mother’s (Jean Cadell) opposition. The local shopkeeper, Joseph Macroon (Wylie Watson), has two daughters: Peggy (Joan Greenwood) and Catriona (Gabrielle Blunt).
But, despite being less uplifting than before the disappearance of whisky, life has to continue. Due to rationing caused by the war, the whisky supplies have run out, which leaves the inhabitants in despair as whisky takes a vital place in their life and culture. Whisky Galore! takes place on the small isolated island of Todday in Scotland and its intrigue revolves around, well, you’ve guessed it: whisky. Despite being considered a significant film of the Ealing series and despite some worth-mentioning elements, I must admit it didn’t reach me as it should have. Interestingly, this director, who was mainly connected to the Ealing comedies at some point, directed a very dark American film! Written by Compton Mackenzie and Angus MacPhail, it was based on the book of the same name by Mackenzie, a Scottish author (a relevant mention). By the way, I just discovered that Alexander Mackendrick also directed Sweet Smell of Success (1957). The journey across the Ealing comedies continues today with Whisky Galore!, a 1949 film that introduced two critical figures to these films: director Alexander Mackendrick and actress Joan Greenwood.
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