'I Know Where I'm Going!' (1945)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Directors:

Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writers:

Michael Powell (written by) &
Emeric Pressburger (written by)

Release Date:

9 August 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Joan Webster is an ambitious and stubborn middle-class English woman determined to move forward since her childhood...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Scotland | Hawk | Train | Eagle

Cast

Wendy Hiller	...	Joan Webster
Roger Livesey	...	Torquil MacNeil
Pamela Brown	...	Catriona
Finlay Currie	...	Ruairidh Mhór
George Carney	...	Mr. Webster
Nancy Price	...	Mrs. Crozier
Catherine Lacey	...	Mrs. Robinson
Jean Cadell	...	Postmistress
John Laurie	...	John Campbell
Valentine Dyall	...	Mr. Robinson
Norman Shelley	...	Sir Robert Bellinger (on radio telephone) (voice)
Margot Fitzsimons	...	Bridie
Murdo Morrison	...	Kenny
Captain C.W.R. Knight	...	Colonel Barnstaple (as Captain C.W.R. Knight, F.Z.S.)
Walter Hudd	...	Hunter

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Scottish Gaelic

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Not Rated | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U (video rating) (1991) (uncut) | UK:U (original rating) (cut) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

Company:

Archers, The

Trivia:

Michael Powell wanted to make A Matter of Life and Death (1946) at this time but had to wait for access to Technicolor cameras.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: The reflection of a boom mic is visible in a picture frame in Joan's hotel room.

Quotes:

Catriona Potts: You'll stay here tonight of course.
Joan Webster: Well I don't want to be any trouble.
Catriona Potts: Oh it's no trouble at all. Besides I haven't heard any intelligent female nonsense for months.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Arena: A Pretty British Affair" (1981)

Soundtrack:

I Know Where I'm Going

A Pure Joy

It's a shame that so few people have seen this gem of a movie during the last half century, as it is a little masterpiece, perfectly honed and crafted, without an unnecessary scene or line of dialogue. This is the kind of neglected film you dream about discovering, but so rarely do. Of all the celebrated productions given the world by the multi-talented team of Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, this is the one that should stand as their monument.

The story, in its very bare bones is this: a stubborn & headstrong young woman of Manchester travels to Scotland's Inner Hebrides to marry her very rich fiancé on the remote island he's rented. Foul weather strands her on the Isle of Mull where she meets a rather dashing, if somewhat penniless, laird. Then...you'll have to see the rest for yourself. Suffice it to say that the plot includes a ruined castle, an ancient curse, and the terrifying whirlpool of Corryvreckan...

Dame Wendy Hiller & Roger Livesey are perfect as the main characters. The excellent supporting cast includes Walter Hudd as a highly efficient private secretary, Finlay Currie as a craggy old fisherman, Capt. C. W. R. Knight, F.Z.S. as an eccentric English colonel with a passion for raptors, Pamela Brown as a no-nonsense Islander, gentle Jean Cadell as the Tobermory postmistress, Catherine Lacey & Valentine Dyall as a slightly boorish English couple tenanting a large castle, young Petula Clark as their serious little daughter, Nancy Price as an elderly aristocratic Scotswoman with wonderful memories & John Laurie as a boisterous soldier celebrating his parents' Diamond Anniversary.

The splendid Glasgow Orpheus Choir appears as performers at the Campbell Céilidh. The production is greatly enhanced by location filming on Mull, and Erwin Hiller's special photographic effects.