Rent The Edge of the World (1937)
3.7 of 5 from 96 ratings
1h 14min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Shot over four arduous months in the wild, windswept Shetland Islands, Michael Powell's first independent production establishes the daring techniques and experimentation that would later become familiar hallmarks of his career. 'The Edge of the World' tells the moving story of a remote island and its inhabitants, whose traditions and way of life are threatened by a rapidly industrialising world. To settle an argument over whether the islanders should give up their livelihood and move to the mainland, two childhood friends follow an ancient tradition and climb the island's highest cliff face. The outcome shatters the island's peace and splits the two clans apart. Making the film proved so demanding and sensational that its 32-year-old director was moved to write a full-scale book about his obsession with the tragic grandeur of Scotland's Outer Isles and his struggle to film it, 200,000 Feet on Foula which actor Daniel Day Lewis reads from here on this video. - Actors:
- Niall MacGinnis, Belle Chrystall, John Laurie, Eric Berry, Kitty Kirwan, Finlay Currie, Grant Sutherland, Campbell Robson, George Summers
- Directors:
- Michael Powell
- Producers:
- Joe Rock
- Writers:
- Michael Powell
- Studio:
- BFI Video
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Romance
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Films About Television: Part 1, Films & TV by topic, The Big Match: Gregory's Girl v Bend It Like Beckham, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Powell and Pressburger
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 23/08/2010
- Run Time:
- 75 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Main feature presentation overseen and approved by Michael Powell's widow, award-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker-Powell
- Full-feature commentary by Thelma Schoonmaker-Powell and Professor Ian Christie with extracts from Powell's book about the making of the film, 200,000feet on Foula, read by Daniel Day-Lewis
- Alternative scenes (1944, 9 mins): specially shot for a shorter version of the film released in 1944
- Original Trailer (2 mins)
- Return to the Edge of the World (Michael Powell, 1979, 24 mins): Michael Powell returns to Foula with cast and crew
- Michael Powell's home movies narrated by Thelma Schoonmaker-Powell (c.1955, 7 mins): Powell in the Scottish highlands
- St Kilda - Britain's Loneliest Isle (Topical Productions, 1923/1928, 16 mins): a travelogue from St Kilda
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Reviews (4) of The Edge of the World
Understated, beautiful early Powell. - The Edge of the World review by Steve
The Edge of the World is about the evacuation of a Shetland Island, which has become too isolated to be inhabitable. The story was based on the evacuation of St Kilda, but Powell's film was made on Fouda.
The shoot for the film was arduous, being in such a remote place, and before air travel there was feasible. The cast and crew had to spend most of a year living on the island because it was so difficult to commute. This story is told in Powell's seventies documentary, Return to the Edge of the World.
It reminds me of the extremes Werner Herzog went to in his seventies and eighties films to capture something difficult and elusive. I wouldn't recommend it as the most entertaining of Powell's films. But it is very stark and beautiful, and probably unique. Certainly a must see for those interested in the brilliant Powell, and the history of the islands. Not so much for others
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Beautiful Piece of Social History - The Edge of the World review by Dr Waerdnotte
A beautifully directed and acted film. The simple story perfectly encapsulates the dilemma faced by small island communities between the first and second world wars. Facing poor harvests, the migration of its younger people, and the lack of efficient transport and communications with the mainland, those left on the island have to come to terms with the fact that their way of life is no longer viable. Michael Powell throws into the mix tragedy, melodrama and soundtrack that is both haunting and uplifting, and with it creates a thing of beauty.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Stunning - The Edge of the World review by sb
FILM & REVIEW Michael Powell’s first major motion picture and what a remarkable film it is. Set on the remote Hebridean island of Hirta (in reality the island of Foutra)it opens with a luxery yacht captained by Powell himself and skippered by Andrew (Maginnis) calling thinking it is inhibited but Andrew who used to live there tells him it’s been abandoned. This leads to a lenthy flashback of Andrew , his best friend Robbie (Berry) and his twin sister Ruth ( Crystal) who Andrew is in love with… A dispute between the two men leads to a challenge to scale some cliffs but Robbie tries a shortcut with fatal consequences. This enrages the twins Father (Laurie) who forbids Ruth to marry and this combined with a declining population and economic opportunities causes Andrew to leave for Shetland. Once he has gone Ruth discovers she is with child but as the mail boat only comes once a year she has to rely on the trawler fleet to pass on the news…. Meanwhile conditions worsen and the decision to evacuate the island is taken… It was an arduous shoot where the cast and crew had to fend for themselves with almost no contact with the outside world which adds to the isolation of the film. The use of the wind swept barren cliffs that the population cling to is remarkable as are some the climbing sequences carried out mainly by the cast. In his later career Powell would create entire landscapes at Pinewood but for this it’s man vs the elements at its most brutal….quite remarkable 4/5
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