The Maggie (1954)

Director:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers:

Alexander Mackendrick (story)
William Rose (writer)

Release Date:

February 1954 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A Scotch Mist...A Girl Never Kissed...A Yank Who Missed...and Landed HIGH AND DRY

Plot:

An American businessman in Scotland is conned into shipping a valuable load of cargo to a Scottish island via a coal powered boat.

Plot Keywords:

Vessel | Ship Captain | Highland Fling | Glasgow | Poaching

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Paul Douglas	...	Calvin B. Marshall, the American
Alex Mackenzie	...	Mactaggart, the skipper
James Copeland	...	Mate
Abe Barker	...	Engineer
Tommy Kearins	...	Dougie, the wee boy
Hubert Gregg	...	Pusey
Geoffrey Keen	...	Campbell
Dorothy Alison	...	Miss Peters
Andrew Keir	...	Reporter
Meg Buchanan	...	Sarah
Mark Dignam	...	The Laird
Jameson Clark	...	Dirty Dan, the publican
Moultrie Kelsall	...	C.S.S. skipper
Fiona Clyne	...	Sheena
Sheila Shand Gibbs	...	Barmaid
Betty Henderson	...	Campbell's Secretary
Russell Waters	...	Hailing Officer
Duncan McIntyre	...	Hailing Officer
Roddy McMillan	...	Inverkerran Driver
Jack Macguire	...	Highland Innkeeper
John Rae	...	The Constable
Jack Stewart	...	Skipper
Eric Woodburn	...	Skipper
Douglas Robin	...	Inspector
R.B. Wharrie	...	Inspector
David Cameron	...	Hired Car Driver
Catherine Fletcher	...	Postmistress
William Crichton	...	Harbour Master
Andrew Downie	...	Aircraft Pilot
Herbert Cameron	...	Gillie (as Herbert C. Cameron)
Gilbert Stevenson	...	Davy MacDougall

Directed by
Alexander Mackendrick

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Alexander Mackendrick		story
William Rose		writer

Produced by
Michael Balcon	....	executive producer
Michael Truman	....	producer

Original Music by
John Addison

Cinematography by
Gordon Dines

Film Editing by
Peter Tanner

Art Direction by
Jim Morahan

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Alex Garfath	....	makeup artist (as Alec Garfath)

Production Management
Hal Mason	....	production manager
L.C. Rudkin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Franklin Gollings	....	assistant director (as Frank Gollings)
John Meadows	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Tom Pevsner	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bert Davey	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Norman Dorme	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Tony Rimmington	....	junior draughtsman (uncredited)
Jack Shampan	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stephen Dalby	....	sound supervisor
Leo Wilkins	....	sound recordist
Mary Habberfield	....	dubbing editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sydney Pearson	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator
Hugh Wilson	....	camera operator
Herbert Smith	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Ken Westbury	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Harry Aldous	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Dock Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Barbara Cole	....	continuity
Geoffrey Dickinson	....	special processes

Production Companies

• Michael Balcon Productions (for)
• Ealing Studios
• J. Arthur Rank Organisation

Distributors

• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1954) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1954) (USA) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1977) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Leisureview Ltd. (2002) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Philharmonia Orchestra, The  music played by
• Philharmonia Orchestra, The  orchestra
• Universal International Pictures (UI)  us releasing agent

Also Known As:

High and Dry (USA)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Passed (British Film Censors) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Crinan, Argyll, Scotland, UK

Company:

Michael Balcon Productions

Trivia:

Tommy Kearins, who plays Dougie, was selected for the role after being spotted in a Scouts "Gang Show", working backstage. After being interviewed by Ealing, he spent 3 months filming on Islay. He was paid 3 times what his father made in the Clyde shipyards.

Quotes:

Calvin B. Marshall, the American: [Looking at a picture of MacTaggart] Is that MacTaggart? Well. he;s a crafty-looking buzzard, all right! No wonder he was able to put one over on Pusey.
Campbell: If I may say so, Mr. Marshall, I don't think a man need be very quick to leave Mr. Pusey behind.

Excellent scottish comedy film of its genre , much underated.

"The Maggie" represents the best of the gentle scots comedies of the 50s. In my opinion it is a better film than "Whisky Galore" by the same Director. Many of the locations in the film are little changed such as the splendid crinan canal in Argyll, scotland and the island of Islay. Most of the cast are no more but Mr Pusey, the lawyer, played by Hubert Gregg hosts Thanks for the Memory, a show on British Radio 2 for afficianados of music from the 20s-40s. Hubert Gregg is an octogenerian! Of the other cast members Tommy Kearins "the wee boy" may still be alive but I have been unable to trace details. Another film in this favourite format is "Laxdale Hall" filmed at Applecross village, scotland.