tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post7472459210529922839..comments2024-03-16T10:03:59.180-07:00Comments on The Movie Projector: I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)R. D. Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-55078971121760315762012-03-28T22:59:21.105-07:002012-03-28T22:59:21.105-07:00Ivan, thank you. Hope you get a chance to watch it...Ivan, thank you. Hope you get a chance to watch it soon. There's a real sense of innocence to this film but no naivete at all--hope that makes sense. As always, I'd be pleased to see this appear in Classic Chops.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-80112252966396454652012-03-28T21:44:18.819-07:002012-03-28T21:44:18.819-07:00Yet for all Powell's technical skill at creati...<i>Yet for all Powell's technical skill at creating cinematic illusion, what makes his films so memorable is that no matter how much trickery he used to produce those unforgettable images, he never lost sight of the importance of building the film on the human element—a compelling story and authentic character relationships and emotions.</i><br /><br />Bravo. Could <i>not</i> have been better expressed.<br /><br />This one's been on my radar for quite some time now -- I did record it the last time it made the rounds on TCM...now all I have to do is find a few extra hours in the day to watch it. First-rate review as always, Richard...I may have to "poach" this next week if I'm a "chop" or two short.Ivan G Shreve Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-65875886798603485472012-03-28T11:46:42.551-07:002012-03-28T11:46:42.551-07:00Jacqueline, thank you. It's always a challenge...Jacqueline, thank you. It's always a challenge to use background information without letting it take over the post. I have to remind myself to restrict it to what's relevant to my main focus, which is character, theme, and that nebulous thing called style.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-58101994368229507732012-03-28T11:41:17.962-07:002012-03-28T11:41:17.962-07:00Laura, I think you identified something in "I...Laura, I think you identified something in "IKWIG" that's typical of Powell and Pressburger films, and that's how all the elements have a wonderful unity. I think that's why their films tend to leave such a lasting impression, whether the scale is small as in this one or more grandiose like their better-known ones. You're right about the mystical elements of the films (I'm thinking of "A Matter of Life and Death" and "The Red Shoes" too) being grounded in reality and real human situations and emotions.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-3728567924135848022012-03-28T09:50:29.556-07:002012-03-28T09:50:29.556-07:00Superb post on a wonderful film. I love the backgr...Superb post on a wonderful film. I love the background you've provided on the filming and all those involved. Terrific work.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-58377050374952816302012-03-28T00:11:24.462-07:002012-03-28T00:11:24.462-07:00I thoroughly enjoyed your post on a film I just di...I thoroughly enjoyed your post on a film I just discovered for the first time a little over 3 years ago. Like you, I found myself watching it all over again in a very short time frame! I was grabbed by the combination of the characters, the setting, and the film's mystical quality -- all the castles, Gaelic, legends, and music give the film sort of an otherworldly quality, yet at the same time it's firmly rooted in reality, such as reminders of the war.<br /><br />I was especially intrigued to learn that Margot Fitzsimons, who plays Bridie, is Maureen O'Hara's sister. She was only in a couple of movies.<br /><br />Thank you for your post, now I want to watch the movie again!<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />LauraLaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09626109831176745957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-31632544932888189502012-03-27T12:57:40.681-07:002012-03-27T12:57:40.681-07:00Becky, you picked the two most accessible P&P ...Becky, you picked the two most accessible P&P films to start with. One of the most remarkable things about Powell is that he was equally a creative craftsman intrigued by the technical challenges of turning his vision into reality and an inspired artist. His artistry elevated his technical skill, and his craftsmanship humanized the intelligence of his art. I find that sense of balance in all of his films, and I think it helps explain their wide and enduring appeal. They can be big and intimate at the same time, not so easy to do successfully if you consider all the lifeless, overblown epics around.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-22335766071689156602012-03-27T12:27:45.157-07:002012-03-27T12:27:45.157-07:00R.D., I am astounded at how many P&P films I h...R.D., I am astounded at how many P&P films I have NOT seen. I think I got so stuck on The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus, I did not go any further, at least when I was younger. Now that I am really into researching movies and am part of such a great blogger community, I have learned so much! Your article is just wonderful, combining the story with background so seamlessly. I'm dying to see it now! I was particularly interested in the lengths a dedicated filmmaker will go to get what he wants: "It's a big, technically intricate sequence composed of location shots of the actual Corryvreckan (including some filmed by Powell himself with a handheld camera while strapped to the mast of a boat)..." Wow, that's determination! I can't wait to see that scene. Again, excellent review R.D.!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-50884149711420453252012-03-27T10:51:43.021-07:002012-03-27T10:51:43.021-07:00Jenni, when I chose to write on "IKWIG" ...Jenni, when I chose to write on "IKWIG" for the blogathon, I didn't realize how fond so many people are of the film. I know I was taken with it the first time I saw it, and it pleases me to learn that so many others appreciate its understated virtues too. I wasn't sure what to write about--there are always so many sides to a P&P film--but quickly decided that both Wendy Hiller and her character Joan deserved special attention.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-25435998835031189242012-03-27T08:16:19.452-07:002012-03-27T08:16:19.452-07:00I think this film is my favorite of all the Powell...I think this film is my favorite of all the Powell and Pressburger films. Your descriptions of the character is spot on-thank you for posting about it. Also for the info on how the whirlpool was filmed, and the double for Livesey-I had no idea about those two items so reading about them was interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-39264416847081836482012-03-27T00:02:04.891-07:002012-03-27T00:02:04.891-07:00Toto, thank you for such a complimentary comment. ...Toto, thank you for such a complimentary comment. What "IKWIG" lacks in spectacle compared to the better-known films of P&P, it makes up for in feeling. It IS a "precious gem" or maybe like one of those perfect miniature portraits certain English painters did so well, small in scale but vast in its power to move those who see it.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-58623520015993514342012-03-26T23:56:30.459-07:002012-03-26T23:56:30.459-07:00Eve, many thanks. It would be hard for me to name ...Eve, many thanks. It would be hard for me to name a favorite P&P film. Each one is so entirely different from the rest; they certainly never fell into the habit of repeating themselves. Having said that, this is certainly in my top three, and at least as many others are masterpieces. One thing, though, I don't think any of their films is as engaging as "IKWIG" on the emotional level. Powell knew all the tricks to fool the audience into believing what they saw, and what he didn't know he invented. Just an unbelievably talented man who, like Hitchcock, liked nothing more than the technical challenge of creating optical illusion.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-50275318089480726742012-03-26T23:45:07.927-07:002012-03-26T23:45:07.927-07:00Kim, I sure agree about what a great, unique, and ...Kim, I sure agree about what a great, unique, and real character Joan is. In most movies such a reactive role is a passive one, but here it's an active one and the center of the movie. She's not only an observer, but a person who's allowed to grow and mature because of what she's exposed to. One thing I caught while watching the film in preparation for writing the post, which I hadn't noticed before, is that Joan is aware of what the curse is because she's been in the castle. It's only to Torquil that it comes as a surprise, and to the viewer of course. And what a great ending that is--a curse that brings about the happiest ending possible for these two!R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-45952890016040106622012-03-26T23:36:39.793-07:002012-03-26T23:36:39.793-07:00Rick, thank you. I think this is the kind of movie...Rick, thank you. I think this is the kind of movie that if people respond to it, they don't just like it, they LOVE it the way you and I do, and apparently a lot of those who've left comments. Livesey definitely had a distinctive voice; nobody else sounded exactly like him. I just rewatched "The Entertainer" a week or two ago, and that voice allowed him to convincingly play Laurence Olivier's father, even though he was only one year older than Olivier.<br /><br />Now that you bring it up, I can see what a big part nature and the elements play in the film, which must be quite something for a Londoner like Joan. Even when she's inside, she's often gazing out the window, ostensibly to check the weather, but I have to think also to enjoy the natural beauty of the place. One thing I noticed reading Powell's autobiography was how detailed and vivid his descriptions of places were. He had a real painter's eye for using visual details to tell a story on film.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-1861969395979679712012-03-26T23:19:06.018-07:002012-03-26T23:19:06.018-07:00Gypsy, I first saw this on TCM too a few years bac...Gypsy, I first saw this on TCM too a few years back. I recorded it to send to a friend and sat down a few days later to make sure the recording was okay, intending to watch just the first 15 minutes or so until Joan leaves for Scotland--and ended up watching the whole movie all over again! Now that you mention it, the only b&w sound films I can think of offhand that capture the beauty of a landscape as well as this one are certain Westerns with especially atmospheric location shots.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-86511507913063037462012-03-26T17:38:34.931-07:002012-03-26T17:38:34.931-07:00It is rare that I have a chance to read something ...It is rare that I have a chance to read something that so perfectly reflects the work honored. R.D., you painted the loveliest picture of this "sweet" and lesser known and much lesser appreciated film. "I Know Where I'm Going" is a precious gem that initially delighted me on first viewing and subsequentially became endeared to my heart. On an interesting note, I have been to Scotland and, ironically, was unable to take a ferry from Fort William to Mallaig because of fog. I loved your heartfelt and honest writing. Extraordinary blog!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-61547738364779516902012-03-26T17:11:53.588-07:002012-03-26T17:11:53.588-07:00R.D. - Much as I admire the magnificence of "...R.D. - Much as I admire the magnificence of "The Red Shoes" and "Black Narcissus," this is the film of The Archers closest to my heart. Just as Joan is enchanted by Torquil, the isle and its people,"I Know Where I'm Going!" bewitches the viewer. The 'ceilidh' sequence alone is absolute magic - such pure and simple beauty. <br /><br />You describe perfectly the challenge Wendy Hiller faced in portraying Joan and I agree completely that her performance "is simply one of the most memorable by an actress in British cinema.” She artfully portrayed another fascinating transformation as Eliza Doolittle in “Pygmalion.” If only she had enjoyed acting onscreen as much as on the stage... <br /><br />I was surprised to learn that Roger Livesy was not involved in the location shooting. I'm thinking especially of scenes at the end of the film where Torquil and Joan meet near his family's ancestral castle. I'm sure the next time I watch I'll have an eye out for the double.<br /><br />I've been looking forward to your thoughts on "I Know Where I'm Going!", R.D., and it was certainly worth the wait.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-10121730981994577722012-03-26T16:55:04.944-07:002012-03-26T16:55:04.944-07:00I adore this movie. Just reading your post makes m...I adore this movie. Just reading your post makes me start singing the beautiful title song. <br /><br />I think Joan (played wonderfully by Wendy Hiller) is such a great female character. I think I love her so much because she seems real & not a fantasy. She is allowed to be imperfect, she is allowed to make mistakes but despite that she is allowed to find happiness in the end. The ending is also in my opinion one of the most loveliest romantic scenes in cinema. It makes my heart melt every time when we understand what the "curse" really means for these two. <br /><br />I also love the way & Powell & Pressburger made the Island come alive with the scenery shots and the many different inhabitants we meet in this film. It's almost a character in itself.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798552679871435314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-38715771305258336832012-03-26T16:22:56.973-07:002012-03-26T16:22:56.973-07:00R.D., you have done justice to a perfectly lovely ...R.D., you have done justice to a perfectly lovely film. My wife and I saw I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING for the first time a few years ago and it was love at first sight. From its opening sequence (which you describe so well), I was immediately taken with Wendy Hiller's performance and the exploits of the headstrong, young woman she was playing. (I was so impressed with Dame Wendy that I stopped to look up her credits...always a good sign.) She and Roger Livesey (love his voice) play off each other beautifully. I had no idea that Livesey had to "play younger" for his role. Part of my fascination with this film is its parallel to BLACK NARCISSUS in terms of the role of the environment. In NARCISSUS, it's the erotic surroundings that seemingly work against the nuns and foster secret desires. In I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, it's the weather that seemingly finds way to keep Joan and Torquil together until they recognize their true feelings. And I wholeheartedly agree that "Scotland is really the third main character in the film." (For the record, the last sentence in your review may be the best Finchian passage yet written.)Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-87612724858483476432012-03-26T16:12:08.422-07:002012-03-26T16:12:08.422-07:00R.D. ~ I recall seeing this film when Thelma Schoo...R.D. ~ I recall seeing this film when Thelma Schoonmaker selected it as TCM’s guest programmer. I recall being impressed by how powerfully a story could move when simply told, and as you said of the film “it is the gentlest and most charming. Michael Powell called it "the sweetest film we ever made." I simply couldn’t imagine, prior to seeing this film, how the beauty of a landscape could come through in black and white. I hadn’t yet seen other examples of how The Archers created a stunning world in a limited palette, and as you said they captured a separate character in the west coast of Scotland. I also recall what a treat it was to see a very young Petulia Clark as part of the cast.whistlingypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126688373252306609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-53742735998415719682012-03-26T15:06:04.457-07:002012-03-26T15:06:04.457-07:00John, I'm a great fan of Wendy Hiller too. She...John, I'm a great fan of Wendy Hiller too. She was just wonderful as Eliza Dolittle, but she always made a strong impression, even later when she played supporting character parts. She got the best supporting actress Oscar for "Separate Tables," and I think she really deserved it, easily outacting anyone else in the movie, David Niven notwithstanding. I think she should have been nominated for playing the mother in "Sons and Lovers" too, but I suspect people couldn't decide if it was a lead or supporting performance. Martin Scorsese, of course, is probably the person most responsible for the rediscovery of the great P&P films. Powell's wife Thelma Schoonmaker edited Scorsese's first full-length film in 1967 and has edited all his films since "Raging Bull."R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-28102208372458050362012-03-26T14:51:00.374-07:002012-03-26T14:51:00.374-07:00Yvette, I think one of the things Powell wanted to...Yvette, I think one of the things Powell wanted to do was show his vision of Scotland as a magical, mystical place. This is something I wasn't able to discuss at length in the post, but it's definitely a big part of the film, with the legends and the curse that are so important to the plot. You also get a good idea of the incredible natural beauty of the Western Isles too. It IS one of those movies where the setting is so vivid and so idealized that you immediately want to set off to see it for yourself!R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-56232711271965781342012-03-26T14:42:04.000-07:002012-03-26T14:42:04.000-07:00Filmboy, I've also heard of devotees of "...Filmboy, I've also heard of devotees of "A Canterbury Tale" going on tours of the locations of that film in Kent. I wonder how much of the traditional Scottish way of life we see in this film remains today. The film gives you a good idea of how culturally remote this part of Scotland was from southern Britain in the mid-40s, but I doubt if that's the case today. If that's so, I'm glad P&P documented the customs and attitudes of the time.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-14166217317399721052012-03-26T14:32:12.742-07:002012-03-26T14:32:12.742-07:00Kim, I recall your recent review of the film and y...Kim, I recall your recent review of the film and your reservations about it. It's interesting you should mention Pamela Brown. She and Powell were having an affair while he was writing and filming this. Apparently he wrote a fairly involved subplot about how Catriona and Torquil had been in love. (Powell must have had quite a thing for his actresses. He later had an affair with Kathleen Byron while making "Black Narcissus.") When he and Pressburger went to edit the film, they realized--or rather Pressburger did, he had to convince Powell that it was enough to suggest this, that the viewers would draw that conclusion anyway from the way Catriona and Torquil related to each other--that he had overdone that element because of his feelings for Brown, and the subplot was discarded. <br /><br />I get the feeling that generally their films were so thoroughly worked out in advance that they needed only technical attention at the editing stage, but that this one proved to be a big exception. It's hard to believe that the movie wasn't filmed exactly as conceived, so tight does its construction seem, but apparently they reworked it extensively in the editing room. And I agree with how interesting Brown is. She had wonderfully photogenic features, and you can sense the love in the way she's presented and photographed. And you can see how too much of such a strong screen personality would have diverted attention from the main story.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6125194422306151768.post-85316077347085087812012-03-26T14:17:11.699-07:002012-03-26T14:17:11.699-07:00Caftan Woman, thank you. I always find it daunting...Caftan Woman, thank you. I always find it daunting to write about a film I like as much as this one. How to praise it with the enthusiasm I feel and still be persuasive? And how to write about a film whose charm is so subtle and has little or nothing to do with ideas, the element in a film that's the least difficult to write about?R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.com