I Know Where I'm Going

I Know Where I'm Going (1945) is a charming romantic comedy from Emeric Pressberg and Michael Powell that I would have probably overlooked if it hadn't been included in Writers at the Movies. I decided to watch it before reading Margot Livesey's essay on the film. Furthermore, I stumbled upon Mark Cousin's BBC documentary I Know Where I'm Going Revisited and after that I decided to buy the Criterion version which was loaded with extras including Cousin's documentary. It is a simple story about a gold digger, Joan (Wendy Hiller) traveling to a tiny Scottish island to get married to a rich man, but the unforgiving Scottish weather prevents her form attaining that goal. And while on the island she falls for another man, Torquil (Roger Livesey). It is impressive that the film was pieced together through back projection and used doubles for the lead since Livesey was in the midst of acting in a stage play in London during the entirety of the production. The film is full of eccentric characters speaking Gallic and endearing local sights like castles, a phone booth near a waterfall, and picturesque islands. For a film that was mainly shot in sound studio it gives off a strong sense of place and of a culture that is distinct from the English culture. It is a also a classic comedy in the Hollywood tradition of the 30s and 40s. I feel fortunate to have discovered it.