Joan has known what she wants since early childhood. Now she's about to marry a millionaire, but a storm strands her on a Hebridean island and the forces of nature conspire to change her mind. Read more
| Starring | Wendy Hiller, Roger Livesey, Pamela Brown, John Laurie |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Genres | Drama |
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Joan has known what she wants since early childhood. Now she's about to marry a millionaire, but a storm strands her on a Hebridean island and the forces of nature conspire to change her mind.
| Starring | Wendy Hiller, Roger Livesey, Pamela Brown, John Laurie, Finlay Currie |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Studio | ITV DVD |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 31 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 07 Jul 2003 Production year: 1945 |
| Format | DVD |
Of all the classics produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, this may be the most unsung, but it's undoubtedly the most entrancing. As the headstrong young woman and the laird who distracts her from her stuffy fiancé, Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesey are superb, and there's knowing support from Pamela Brown, John Laurie and Finlay Currie. Alfred Junge's sets cleverly blend Hebridean scenery and Art Deco, while the photography of Erwin Hillier is as beautiful as it is atmospheric. But it's the expert mix of romance and comedy, arresting use of the landscape and respectful fascination with the local culture that makes this so compelling.
A strange assembling of attractive but disparate elements: romance, comedy, bleak scenery, a trained hawk and a dangerous whirlpool. At the time it seemed to represent the Elizabethan age of the British cinema, and remains entertaining for its parts thoug
The films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger are without equal in British Cinema. 'I know where I'm going' was their fourth collaboration and still stands as a charming and beautifully understated romantic comedy.
Joan Webster(Wendy Hiller) is the headstrong woman who is making her way to a Scottish island to marry a rich businessman. Joan's plans are disrupted by a storm which prevents her from crossing to the island and leaves her stranded in a small village. Also stuck there is a returning naval officer, Torquil MacNeil(Roger Livesey). It's soon made clear that Joan's main motivation for marriage is financial and she has no real love for her future husband. Could the down-to-earth Torquil win her heart before the storm clears?
While the answer to that particular question is never really in doubt, Powell and Pressburger have enormous fun along the way. The dizzying opening montage sets the tone and visually too, the film is a treat. The script carefully balances the lead's budding romance with moments of deft humour and nods to local customs.
Powell and Pressburger's later technicolour films may be more celebrated, but 'I know where I'm going' is comfortable in the company of those classics. A minor masterpiece perhaps, but a masterpiece nonetheless.
They tell me that this film is a classic but I think it is showing signs of age which should not happen with a true classic.
There was much I enjoyed like the setting in Scotland, the beautiful scenery, the music and singing by the Glasgow Orpheus Choir. But the acting was very of its time and over dramatic, particularly from that epitome of stiff upper lips, R. Livesey.
It is well worth viewing, but not top drawer.