It's a shame that so few people have seen this gem of a movie during the last half century, as it is a little masterpiece, perfectly honed and crafted, without an unnecessary scene or line of dialogue. This is the kind of neglected film you dream about discovering, but so rarely do. Of all the celebrated productions given the world by the multi-talented team of Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger, this is the one that should stand as their monument.

The story, in its very bare bones is this: a stubborn & headstrong young woman of Manchester travels to Scotland's Inner Hebrides to marry her very rich fiancé on the remote island he's rented. Foul weather strands her on the Isle of Mull where she meets a rather dashing, if somewhat penniless, laird. Then...you'll have to see the rest for yourself. Suffice it to say that the plot includes a ruined castle, an ancient curse, and the terrifying whirlpool of Corryvreckan...

Dame Wendy Hiller & Roger Livesey are perfect as the main characters. The excellent supporting cast includes Walter Hudd as a highly efficient private secretary, Finlay Currie as a craggy old fisherman, Capt. C. W. R. Knight, F.Z.S. as an eccentric English colonel with a passion for raptors, Pamela Brown as a no-nonsense Islander, gentle Jean Cadell as the Tobermory postmistress, Catherine Lacey & Valentine Dyall as a slightly boorish English couple tenanting a large castle, young Petula Clark as their serious little daughter, Nancy Price as an elderly aristocratic Scotswoman with wonderful memories & John Laurie as a boisterous soldier celebrating his parents' Diamond Anniversary.

The splendid Glasgow Orpheus Choir appears as performers at the Campbell Céilidh. The production is greatly enhanced by location filming on Mull, and Erwin Hillier's special photographic effects.

Wendy Hiller plays a woman who knows exactly what she wants in life--money and a place in society. So, when she becomes engaged to a very wealthy man, her goal appears assured--despite her father's misgivings (probably because she doesn't sound as if she's in love). Oddly, instead of her fiancé coming to get her, he arranges to have trains and boats convey her to the middle of nowhere (figuratively speaking)--to the Hebrides Islands where he's vacationing. Considering that Hiller is in London, this is indeed quite a trek and after completing most of the journey, she is stuck waiting for the weather to clear so she can take a short boat ride to finish her journey and marry her fiancé. However, this brief wait becomes longer and longer and she finds herself attracted to an officer instead of her older fiancé. You can really see how and why this occurs, as the film did a dandy job of setting the mood for romance and adventure.

This is a very simple film that stars many actors and actresses that aren't terribly familiar to American audiences. And while the plot is relatively simple and, at times, easy to predict, the overall effort is just charming and a great example to film makers that writing IS important! In addition, the director, actors, cameramen and all the others working on this project do a wonderful job conveying a lovely and romantic mood. In many ways, this film reminds me of THE QUIET MAN because of how it conveys local charm, though this is, of course, set in the Hebrides Islands in Northwest Scotland. While not exactly a must-see film, it is excellent and is well worth your time--though any idiot watching it knows where the film is going very quickly after it begins!

PS--Although the way they filmed the scenes with Mr. Livesey is interesting (and you can read about it on IMDb),what I found really interesting is that this is the only film I can think of where a bird gets billing. 'Mr. Ramshaw' is a golden eagle and he appears last in the film's credits--and, oddly, the spaniels in the film do NOT get billing!! That must a first. Maybe the bird just had a better agent.

Although Roger Livesey is usually not your typical leading man he steps out of class here and delivers as a fine performance as the rugged Scot sea captain who makes Wendy Hiller his own. As for Wendy Hiller. I Know Where I'm Going is one of her best films, she delivers a fine performance as a young woman who up to her mid 20s knows exactly what she wants.

What she wants to get to a private island in the New Hebrides up in Scotland, privately owned by a titled millionaire who has her as a trophy bride in his declining years. But she gets stuck on one the mainland as the seas get rough and no Scot with a brain in his head is willing to risk any kind of sea craft in a storm. Especially since there's a nasty old whirlpool that's sucked many craft to Davy Jones locker.

So Hiller is spending some enforced time in Scotland and while it might not be the green Scotland of Brigadoon the sea coast and the people do have a charm of their own. This is the greatest strength of I Know Where I'm Going, the accurate and colorful depiction of the Scottish fisher folk and their ways.

The second are some really hair raising sequences involving Hiller and Livesey when they finally do make an attempt to get to that private island. By that time both of them are having second thoughts.

This is one pleasant and charming film, a must for fans of Wendy Hiller.

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