Out of Ealing Studios, Whisky Galore! is directed by Alexander Mackendrick and adapted to screenplay by Compton Mackenzie (novel also) and Angus MacPhail. It stars Basil Radford, Wylie Watson, Catherine Lacey, Bruce Seton, Joan Greenwood and Gabrielle Blunt. Music is by Ernest Irving and cinematography by Gerald Gibbs.

When a ship with a cargo of 50,000 bottles of whisky is shipwrecked near the Outer Hebrides island of Todday, the villagers, out of their whisky rations, set about pillaging as much of it as they can before the authorities take control.

Of the many thematic successes that Ealing Studios worked from, one of the highlights was the theme of a community rallying together to thwart an oppressive force. Reference Passport to Pimlico, The Titfield Thunderbolt and Whisky Galore! The latter of which was worked from a true story. In 1941 the cargo ship SS Politician was shipwrecked near the island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides, its main cargo of whisky and Jamaican shilling notes was mostly salvaged by the islanders. Ealing's take on the general story is condensed down to being an ode to anti authoritarianism and drink! With joyous results.

Filmed on location close to Eriskay at Barra, the production had to overcome creative differences and awful weather to become the wonderful finished product. In fact the production went well over budget, a big no no on Ealing terms. Creative difference came between co-producer Monja Danischewsky and rookie director Mackendrick, where the former was firmly on the side of the islanders' pillage tactics, and the latter siding with Home Guard Captain Waggett's (Radford) feeble attempt to keep order. Danischewsky won out, where in spite of a code enforced epilogue, film plays out rooting for the islanders, gaining much humour from Waggett being an Englishman who is completely at odds with what he sees as the Scottish islanders anarchic behaviour.

The Water Of Life.

The community of Todday is bound by its love of whisky, makers extract quality mirth by presenting the sorrow brought about by the whisky running dry, only to then have the islanders lives perked up by the stricken fate of the ship carrying "the water of life". How the people react to the news of the ships cargo, how they set about purloining said cargo and how they hide said cargo from the authorities, is what brings the joy to Whisky Galore! Rarely has a cinematic treatment to larceny been so sweet and deftly handled as it is here. There's even an aside to class distinction, a nod to religious conformity and two lightly (unobtrusive) portrayed romances within the story. And with a cast bang on form, notably Radford, Watson and the gorgeous Greenwood, it rounds out as one of Ealing's most smartest and joyous comedies.

It gladdened the hearts of many back on release as Britain continued to rebuild after the war, that it still entertains new observers even today is testament to Whisky Galore's lasting appeal. 9.5/10

Saw 'Whisky Galore!' a week ago while staying with my godparents, with it being one of the two films seen with them during my stay (the other being 'The Day of the Jackal'). Am a big fan of classic film, love comedy and Ealing Studios were responsible for many gems, 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' being my personal favourite.

Found myself absolutely loving 'Whisky Galore!'. Maybe not quite one of Ealing's very best, but it is yet another gem of theirs. A film where the slightness of the story was not an issue at all. Have not read the source material, but will take the word of those who have saying it does it justice (the author was also involved). What could have easily been corny, too over the top on the silliness, mushy and repetitive if in the wrong hands, given the slight story and that it's essentially a farce, instead turned out to be one of the most entertaining and most charming films seen recently.

'Whisky Galore!' is a lovely looking film, the photography and especially the scenery/production design are both atmospheric and sumptuous. Alexander McKendrick keeps everything concise, not allowing any extraneous fat to come through. The music wonderfully lifts the spirit and has the right amount of playful whimsy and lushness.

Have nothing to fault the script with, the humour, of the gentle and witty kind, is beautifully timed, is continually very amusing to hilarious and never missed a beat. Some really wonderful lines that made the three of us laughing. A standout being one of the best methods of standing up to an authority figure and having the last word ever on film, brief but hilarious. It successfully avoided descending into over-silliness and repetition, potential problems with farce, doesn't go over-the-top or get contrived. To me nothing came over as too cruel, more like non-stop gentle charm.

As said, the story may be slight structurally but it is always absorbing because the pace is always lively without feeling rushed and the action is constant and full of energy. 'Whisky Galore!' clearly knew what it wanted to be and do and didn't try to do too much or take on more than needed. The climax is great fun, silly but wonderfully so.

Cannot criticise the colourful personalities of all the characters and they are acted to perfection. Gordon Jackson and Joan Greenwood are more than likeable in their roles and are no slouches in the comedy department, while Catherine Lacey and Jean Cadell are hilarious delights in theirs and one cannot go wrong with the larger than life James Robertson Justice. The standout though was the career-best performance of Basil Radford while Finlay Currie's narration is suitably droll and only used when needed, never over-used or over-explaining.

Maybe the very end is on the slightly abrupt side, but not enough to be a significant enough drawback, just a tiny nit-pick and an easy one to overlook.

All in all though, a delightful film. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This film was shot in part in the New Hebrides Islands and those island folk have little enough to do to relax and unwind. So the Scots congregate at the local pub, looks like few even have a radio. So when World War II comes spirits among other things are put on a quota. Four bottles a month for the pub. War is hell, but this is ridiculous.

So when the HMS Cabinet Minister founders and eventually sinks and its cargo being a few tons in crates containing whiskey it's manna from heaven. A way to endure the war so to speak. If only that pompous idiot Basil Radford of the local home guard would stop thinking he's in the Coast Guard and try to spoil all the fun.

In a role that would have been ideal for Cecil Parker Radford does well in the part. He plays it absolutely straight, he's a man just doing his duty as he sees it. Trouble is he just can't convince anyone else.

Another favorite in the screen in total sympathy with Radford's temperance crusade is Jean Cadell, a stern Scot's Presbyterian woman if there ever was one. Not even to break the Sabbath will she allow her grown son Gordon Jackson out to salvage the cargo. Jackson who is on leave after serving in North Africa is going against this formidable woman.

So it's Whiskey Galore for the lucky people here and Ealing Studios came up with a real winner in their comedy stable. Whiskey Galore holds up remarkably well today.

The film is based on a true wartime incident, but I doubt it was as much fun as this film was.