Alexander Mackendrick had a very special knack for visualizing humanity on screen, that is, for making humanity appear in its most human aspects. Here his talents in combination with Compton Mackenzie's glorious account celebrate triumphs, as a story like this couldn't possibly fail under any circumstances, but Mackendrick's special view of humanity enhances the unforgettably sympathetic impression. Even Basil Radford as the formalistic bureaucrat insisting on his pedantry at any cost ultimately appears as likeable in spite of all in all his pathetic crushing defeat. The local people carry the weight of the film, though, with leaders like Gordon Jackson and Joan Greenwood (in one of her most delicate performances as the suave telephone operator), and as it is a basically true story, the sensitive filming endows the entire film with an almost documentary character. All characters seem authentic, they are all true, and this is one of those classic comedies you could actually watch any number of times in any decade, giving pleasure every time.
Review of Whisky Galore!
