I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)
By
Henry Coombs
There's not much to say about this film, apart from the fact that it's gorgeous
and irrestistable
15th December 1999
Two things, though, you should watch for:
(1) Our first glimpse of Scotland comes as part of the heroine's queer dream
on the train: we see a series of friendly rounded hills, all made out of
tartan. It's a lovely image. It's also our first hint that our heroine has
even the tiniest bit of romanticism about her. It later takes every force
of man and nature in the real Scotland to bring it out.
(2) The locals she stays with are a nice bunch. They're not cloyingly sweet;
but Powell and Pressburger don't present us with insularity and narrow-mindedness
as if such traits are meant to be endearing, in the way that so many hymns
of praise to small communities do. Anyway: watch for the cameo given to
Petula Clark, that young girl with glasses. She only gets a few lines, but
it's a great part.
[A very knowing young lady isn't she ... "Are you rich?"]
This is only the second Powell/Pressburger film I've seen (and only the
fourth film of Powell's). I'm impressed. Are they all this good?
Not quite all ... but most are !!
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