Rent I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)

Romance triumphs over materialism - I Know Where I'm Going! review by RP

This film is #26 on the 'Time Out' list of 100 best British films, and it thoroughly deserves its high ranking.

The dialogue is sharp and witty, the black and white cinematography excellent. Even the special effects are good, given the age of the film. A superbly written and directed film, as one would expect from Powell and Pressburger.

The central character (played by Wendy Hiller) is thrown off her pre-planned course of marrying a millionaire when she is held up by a storm which delays her imminent wedding. Spending time with down to earth Scottish islanders, she falls for a man (played by Roger Livesey) whom she initially thinks is a sailor - but who turns out be the local laird. And of course, romance triumphs over materialism.

A film for a romantic evening in. 4/5 stars. Highly recommended.

Classic Romance. - I Know Where I'm Going! review by Steve

This is a devotional film located in the western isles of Scotland. Joan Webster (Wendy Hiller) is an ambitious middle class girl travelling up to the far north to marry rich industrialist Sir Robert Bellinger. Bad weather means she is snagged up in a village harbour, tantalisingly a short boat trip from the small island of Kiloran and her wedding.

She comes under the influence of Torquil MacNeil (Roger Livesey) and the folklore and the enchantment of this unfamiliar world. With all her stubborn, materialistic single-mindedness Miss Webster tries to resist.

This is an immensely lyrical love story, enriched by its sense of tradition and local character, and made beautiful by Edwin Hillier's gorgeous b&w photography. Livesey is irresistible and matched by a striking and vivacious Pamela Brown in a supporting role. But it is the unique voice of Powell and Pressburger that makes this film so loved.

While there is realism, and the poverty of the islanders must have carried a punch to a country coming out of war and the film is mindful of suffering too, it is so historically rich, so intuitively optimistic, so different from the work of the others. It resonates deeply in our hearts, in our myths and in our culture.

A very slim story - I Know Where I'm Going! review by Maureen

We saw this film when it was first shown and liked it very much and we always like Roger Livesey. However, it now seems dated and has a very slim plot, so we were disappointed. The other old film with Roger Livesey as the main character, "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp", which we rented from you recently, is much better.

George Roby.