Rent Whisky Galore! (1949)

Classic Ealing Comedy - Whisky Galore! review by GI

This is one of the classic Ealing Studio comedies and the first to be a hit in the USA. Based on a true story and adapted from a novel it's a story steeped in the quaintness of Britain and its people. Set on a Hebridean island during the Second World War where due to shortages all the whisky runs out and the menfolk become despondent. Then one foggy night, as luck would have it, a cargo ship founders and is abandoned by the crew. Its cargo of whisky is soon 'saved' by the islanders but they have to reckon with the Home Guard commander who is all for law and order and is determined to find it. But the islanders prove to be adept at keeping it concealed! This is the sort of film that John Ford would be at home making, as it is it's mildly amusing when watched today and has an interesting theme about the small man taking on the establishment, in this case the shadowy customs men brought in the find the whisky. Worth seeing today with plenty of character actors including James Robertson Justice in a small role as the island doctor and Gordon Jackson in an early role. It is renowned as part of Ealing's canon so is a film the movie fans should ensure they see at least once.

Ealing Drollery. - Whisky Galore! review by Steve

This was the first Ealing comedy to be a big success in the US, but it had quite a troubled production and was initially buried by the studio. It was Alexander Mackendrick's first film as director and he was dismissive of its chances, and felt it would only be of interest to students of anthropology...

And during the first half of the film it's easy to understand his gloominess. There is a lot of background about the Outer Hebrides. It was shot on the remote island of Barra, off the north west of Scotland, and the locals performed as extras. Though this is still interesting, especially as their way of life is now long gone.

But then the film comes alive. It is based on an incident during WWII when a cargo of whisky lost in a shipwreck off the western isles was seized by the thirsty locals. In the film, a cast of Scottish Ealing regulars hide the booze from the officious Home Guard, played by Basil Radford; surely a model for Dad's Army's Captain Mainwaring...

The later scenes are fine, whimsical entertainment as the community is revived by their good fortune. It's the classic Ealing scenario of the underdogs standing up to the bumptious official. And it must have resonated during rationing. Mackendrick came from advertising, and the entire film feels like a promotion for the Scottish national drink! Cheers!