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Summary

Based on a true story. The name of the real ship, that sunk Feb 5 1941 - during WWII - was S/S Politician. Having left Liverpool two days earlier, heading for Jamaica, it sank outside Eriskay, The Outer Hebrides, Scotland, in bad weather, containing 250,000 bottles of whisky. The locals gathered as many bottles as they could, before the proper authorities arrived, and even today, bottles are found in the sand or in the sea every other year.

Cast

Basil Radford

Captain Paul Waggett

Bruce Seton

Sergeant Odd

Gordon Jackson

George Campbell

Wylie Watson

Joseph Macroon

Morland Graham

The Biffer

John Gregson

Sammy MacCodrun

Joan Greenwood

Peggy Macroon

Gabrielle Blunt

Catriona Macroon

Catherine Lacey

Mrs. Waggett

Jean Cadell

Mrs. Campbell

James Robertson Justice

Dr. Maclaren

James Woodburn

Roderick MacRurie

Jame Anderson

Old Hector

Jameson Clark

Constable Macrae

Duncan Macrae

Angus MacCormac

Mary MacNeil

Mrs. MacCormac

Norman MacOwan

Captain MacPhee

Alastair Hunter

Captain MacKechnie

Henry Mollison

Mr. Farquharson

Frank Webster

First Mate

Compton MacKenzie

Captain Buncher

James Anderson

Old Hector

Crew

Director

Alexander Mackendrick

Novel, Screenplay

Compton MacKenzie

Screenplay

Angus MacPhail

Reviews

Geronimo1967

March 27, 2022

8

Based on a real incident some 8 years earlier, this film tells the story of a whisky-starved Scottish island that gets the windfall to end all windfalls - a ship carrying an enormous cargo of Scotch runs aground. The islanders are determined to salvage whatever they can, despite the best efforts of the local Home Guard Captain (an Englishman - Basil Radford) and the Excise men. This is a gentle little comedy that pulls together an experienced comic cast in a joyous and entertaining way. This was filmed on the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides and the scenery lends much to the charm of this film.