I Know Where I'm Going! - Criterion Collection (1947)

Powell and Pressburger's Unique Tale of a Strong-Willed Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery

The legendary British filmmaking duo of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger created a series of sparkling films in the 1940's and 50's, and they worked in such synchronicity that their seamless collaboration has not been replicated until the Coen brothers came along. Their most famous works are probably 1947's Black Narcissus and 1948's The Red Shoes, both dominated by Jack Cardiff's luscious color cinematography. Far lesser known and filmed in a vivid palette of just black and white and shades in between, this lush 1945 romance carries the fresh visual inventiveness (thanks mainly to Erwin Hillier's expert camerawork) and rich dramatic texture of their later works. Written by Pressburger in less than a week, the rather slight story centers on headstrong Joan Webster, a middle-class Englishwoman with a clear-eyed ambition to marry Sir Robert Bellinger, a much older, wealthy industrialist, on the fictional Isle of Kiloran in the Scottish Inner Hebrides.

The film's title refers to her singular determination to get to the remote island, but a gale prevents her taking a boat to Kiloran. Forced to stay put on the Isle of Mull, Joan gets to know a small community whose inhabitants hold values that are quite foreign to her. There she meets Torquil MacNeil, a strapping naval officer trying to go home for some shore leave. It turns out that he is the laird of Kiloran who has leased his island to Bellinger. Gradually, Joan gets immersed into the local populace, especially feeling drawn to MacNeil, but her innate restlessness leads to a hazardous act. It seems a shame that Wendy Hiller (Pygmalion, Separate Tables) made so few films before turning forty as she possessed a youthful Hepburnesque vigor that could have accommodated a number of roles. Her multi-faceted turn as Joan is a strong reminder of her talent. Roger Livesey is a solid match for Hiller as MacNeil, and you can't tell that all his scenes were filmed in London since he was appearing in a West End play at the time. Pamela Brown makes a vivid impression as dog-loving Catriona Potts, a free spirit who owns the lodge in which Joan stays.

The 2001 Criterion Collection DVD is a classy packaging of this old chestnut. It begins with a thoughtful commentary track by film historian Ian Christie. The centerpiece is a 1994 retrospective documentary, "I Know Where I'm Going! Revisited", which follows New York writer Nancy Franklin's journey to visit the actual locations of the film a half-century later. Surviving locals are interviewed, as is 1960's pop songstress Petula Clark, who played a precocious, twelve-year-old girl in one scene. This disc also houses some of Michael Powell's home movies, which were taken during his treks through Scotland and here, Powell's widow Thelma Schoonmaker, Martin Scorsese's favorite film editor, narrates over the visuals. A final extra is an excerpt from Powell's early documentary, "The Edge of the World", about the inhabitants of a similar island faced with the prospect of being relocated away from their home roots. May 9, 2008

Just like the good old movies because it is!

My father originally saw this and loved it. He watched it again with each of his 3 daughters and actually several more times so we bought it and gave it to him. He has watched it several more times since then and will many mores times, I am sure. It is one of his favorite movies and I agree, it is really nicely done. So I recommend this movie. It is worth owning. April 5, 2008

Fabulously Entertaining

I'm an old guy and I've seen a lot of movies in my time, including most of the always-interesting Powell/Pressburger releases. But it wasn't until last night that I got a chance to view this one. It's a perplexing puzzle, wrapped in an enigma and shrouded in mystery, as to why this wonderful movie is not (1) better known, and (2) recognized as a certified work of genius. Where have I been all these years? I'm crazy about Scotland--I've bicycled through the highlands and isles--I have Scottish blood in my veins, yet I hadn't really heard much about this film.
I won't attempt to give a plot summary--others have done that admirably here--but I will heartily and enthusiastically recommend this magnificent work of cinematic art. First and foremost it's a romance, and so that might dissuade all you "macho men" from venturing in. But do your wives and girlfriends a favor and take the time to catch this one. There are so many rewarding things about it: visually, you have the absolutely stunning beauty of the wild and windy Western Isles, the craggy peaks and ruined castles, the savage seas, the barren and windswept shores, the mists that creep in off the water.
The b/w cinematography--please don't let that dissuade you from seeing it, just because it's not in color--is simply incredible; it must have taken some real guts and determination to go out and film in those conditions. The always artificial-looking technique of back projection is briefly used during an ill-advised attempt to cross a rough stretch of the sea to the isle of Killairn, but that is a forgiveable sin, since it would have been impossible in those days to even keep a small boat like that afloat during such rough weather, let alone do filming with a circa-1940's camera.
I mustn't forget the delightful and beautiful Wendy Hiller, with those wonderful cheekbones and that insouciant manner; she is as zesty and as mercurial as the Scottish weather itself.
The soundtrack is a treasure. There is a ceilidh (pronounced "kay-lee") scene where there is dancing and music from three Scots pipers, as well as beautiful singing. Don't miss the bewitching title song which we hear when the young girl is on the train to Scotland.
Martin Scorsese appears on the extras, saying basically the same thing as me: he saw the movie years after it had been out and couldn't believe he'd missed it. March 13, 2008

A Quirky Romantic Masterpiece

From the late 1930's through the early 1960's the British cinema was best known for its quirky comedies and historical dramas (ala David Lean's films) before British realism took over. Perhaps other than Lean the finest representatives of the genre were the films of the directing/writing/producing team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Their masterpiece was undoubtedly "I Know Where I'm Going." It is essentially a romantic travelogue starring a young, radiant Dame Wendy Hiller as the spunky (actually too spunky) heroine and Roger Livesey, a dashing naval officer, as her romantic foil. But the real stars are the breathtaking vistas of the Western Isles of Scotland, the eccentric locals (including a brief scene stealing appearance by a 12-year old Petula Clark), and the screenplay which combines all these elements (along with an ancient curse!) seamlessly. When people say they just don't make movies like that anymore they are referencing films such as this one; or as stated by Martin Scorsese "I reached the point of thinking there were no more masterpieces to discover, until I saw 'I Know Where I'm Going'!"

As usual the Criterion Collection DVD has a wonderful set of bells and whistles including an equally quirky retrospective documentary, some home movies by Powell, and a revisit to the film's locations.

Finally I defy anyone except the most unnostalgic cynic to watch this film and not ending up singing or humming the title song. January 11, 2008

Magical True Life Romance on the Scottish Coast

Here's a film I would have never ventured to watch had I not come across it by accident on Turner Classic Movies.

This woman, Joan Webster, played by Wendy Hiller, is off to Scotland to marry some guy she obviously doesn't know too well. We know this ourselves because she has dinner with her father the night before she's scheduled to leave for the Hebrides. Her father tries to tell her to slow down and think about it but she: "KNOWS WHERE SHE'S GOING." (She doesn't scream it, as implied by the caps. But she might as well have. The setup is movie perfection.)

Joan has these directions to the island on which this guy has planned to marry her. She has to take the train from London to East Bumshoe, then another train from Bumshoe to Overloafen, a bus from Overloafen to Pudgydubby, a cab from Pudgyduddy to Shaddycrack, the ferry from there to some other weirdly named town, then the water taxi to yet another Scottish backwater, and finally a private skiff to the island.

Unfortunately, when she gets there, it's thick of fog. Swirling, smoky, impenetrable fog. Fog like you won't believe, unless you live in Scotland or Great Britain or Maine, like I do. Or you own a Hollywood fog machine, or work in a Russian spa, or live next door to Sherlock Holmes. You get the point.

So she can't get to the island. She has to stay at someone's house with a bunch of other people who are similarly stuck. At this point, we're only about five minutes into the film, which is just more of this movie's magic, because it's here she's dealt the classic "Call to Adventure" of the hero's journey. She meets a man, and not the one she's supposed to marry.

The man is Torquil Macneil, played by Roger Livesey; he wears a kilt and speaks in a heavy Scottish brogue, and although he's not exactly the most handsome leading man you ever saw, he does wear a kilt and speak in a heavy Scottish brogue, which makes him, apparently, very hot. Don't get me wrong, he's always the perfect gentleman. It's 1945 for God's sake.

Later that day, feeling rather threatened by this charming kilt-wearing Scotsman, she tries once again to get the boat to the island. She's told it's way to foggy but as soon as the wind comes around northwest, the fog will lift and they'll be able to go. That night, Joan, while lying in her bed at the Inn, prays for wind from the northwest.

In the morning Joan wakes to find her prayers answered. The fog has cleared. Unfortunately, it's because of a full blown northwest gale, which ends up sticking around for more than a week. She never makes it to the island.

This special gem of a movie is the product of one of the most creative collaborations in movie history, that of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

They had a gift for storytelling that is almost gone. Very often when you see a film today you're struck by inconsistencies, failures of logic, plot holes, gimmicks, etc. Or you're faced with a movie that just doesn't come together. Not the case with Powell and Pressburger films. Their movies have perfect structure; they engage you, keep moving toward a goal and wrap up all neat and tidy.

If you ever see this one on the video rental shelf, grab it and take it home. I guarantee you won't be disappointed, especially if you're trying to score some points in the romance game.

-seabgb December 26, 2007

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