Submitted by
Richard Layne
I Know Where I'm Going
British, 1947,
by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
[The film wasn't released until August 1947 in the States]
Black and white, 91 minutes
A review by Lura Burnette
Here's another absolute delight from the wonderful team of Powell and
Pressburger, known as the Archers, creators of such great films as
Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes. I particularly love
this film because it features Wendy Hiller, who has gotten what I
consider to be inadequate recognition from US audiences. She is perhaps
most recognized for her roles in A Man For All Seasons,
The Importance of Being Earnest and Murder On The Orient
Express. These are all very good (I haven't ever seen her be bad
in anything), but they were done when she was much older.
I Know Where I'm Going features her as a fresh young woman,
not traditionally pretty, but fascinating nonetheless. At the time
this film was made, she had already been the first Eliza Doolitle
on film in Pygmalion (1938), and was sensational in Major
Barbara (1941).
The story of I Know Where I'm Going is simple and charming.
Hiller plays a young woman named Joan Webster who thinks she has got
her life in perfect order, including having landed an older and very
wealthy fiance. She is on her matter-of-fact way to join him
in the Scottish Hebrides, where he has an estate, and where they
are to be married. Fate, in the form of a fierce storm, forces her
to break her journey. She meets a young naval officer on leave,
played marvelously by Roger Livesey. Soon they are falling in
love; yet Joan is at the point of fulfilling her driving desire
for security and wealth. Her strength and determination are as
beautifully illustrated as are her eventual vulnerability and wonderment.
No, that isn't the end of the story.
What is virtually the third lead in the film is the marvelous
Scottish setting. I Know Where I'm Going has superb production
values, including a feeling running through it that is best described
as fey. The island and ocean scenes are unforgettable in their
beauty and wildness; a background worthy of the characters. These
locations are part of the threads of magic and fairy tale enchantment
which run through I Know Where I'm Going, and render it so much
more than a small love story. I first saw this movie on television long
ago, on a rainy afternoon in winter, and it was - and is - such a
joyous surprise.
Roger Livesey, for those who don't know his work, may seem familiar as
soon as he appears on the screen. While it's certainly possible that a
viewer may remember a particular role of his, the chances are also good
that you are recognizing his fantastic voice. Once heard, it's never
forgotten. It is absolutely golden, and very seductive. Some scenes
from the film can almost be enjoyed with your eyes
closed....almost, but not quite. He is a very good actor with
strong appeal, and is also being seen at his youthful best, along
with Wendy Hiller.
The lyrical beauty of this romance and its setting will capture even
the most jaded viewer's attention. When you add to this the magnetic
lead performances, engaging supporting players, and a rare sense of
wonder, you have a unique film, indeed. The "message" is simple:
open yourself to life and love, and see what happens.
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