WHISKEY GALORE (1949)
Whiskey
Galore takes place during WWII in the Hebrides, a cluster of
islands off of mainland Scotland. Often called the water of life,
whiskey is the drink of choice for many inhabitants of the multiple
island community. Simply put, it is the lifeblood of happiness. Like
many commodities during WWII, the war had a severe effect on the
production and transportation of goods. While the islanders were
aware of the war, the small village lifestyle provided an isolation
to the big worldly problems of the mainlands. That is until the
disastrous day the county runs dry and the bartender of the local pub
declares there is no whiskey.
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| Shane MacGowan: 1949 |
Days come and go. There are a few humorous scenes, but the melancholy darkness of sobriety dominates all, mirroring the misery of the terrible situation. It seems a few more laughs would have helped this portion of the film, but then again, having no whiskey is no laughing matter. That all changes on a foggy night when a ship accidentally runs aground and becomes stranded just off the island coast. Its cargo: 50,000 cases of whiskey! Based on the Compton Mackenzie novel published in 1947, the story is based on the miraculous real life event that occurred in 1941. Mackenzie, who provided the screenplay, had a small role in the film as Captain Buncher. The film stars Basil Radford, who appeared in a handful of Alfred Hitchcock's early films.
After
weeks of dealing with sobriety due to wartime rationing, the
villagers see the stranded ship as a godsend opportunity. From this
point the film suddenly becomes animated and joyful. The events that
follow are full of hilarious shenanigans. Just like a night full of
whiskey, Whiskey Galore is a good example of classic old time
alcohol on screen, and is reminiscent of its depiction in film during
that era. Early films were one sided when it came to alcohol. It was
used for laughs and comedic relief. People gathered, drank, sang and
danced. While there is a dark side to obsessive consumption, it's fun
to revisit older films such as this where alcohol was primarily used
for comedy. It’s much like the on screen depiction of love during
the same era, sweet and full of feeling. Just like whiskey. Overall
Whiskey Galore is an enjoyable watch. As mentioned, the
accents are very thick, and it may take a minute or two to adjust.
The film does drag a little at times, but the ending is a riot and
more than makes up for any shortcomings you may encounter.
Cheers!
Score
Cheers!
Score
Lee
L. Lind