The Edge of the World (1937)

Director:

Michael Powell

Writer:

Michael Powell (story)

Release Date:

9 September 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Plot:

A way of life is dying on a Shetland island fishing port, but some of the inhabitants resist evacuating to the mainland.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Evacuation | Fishing | Port | Cliff

Cast

John Laurie	...	Peter Manson
Belle Chrystall	...	Ruth Manson - His Daughter
Eric Berry	...	Robbie Manson - Her Brother
Kitty Kirwan	...	Jean Manson - Their Grandmother
Finlay Currie	...	James Gray
Niall MacGinnis	...	Andrew Gray - His Son (as Niall Macginnis)
Grant Sutherland	...	John - the Catechist
Campbell Robson	...	Mr. Dunbar - the Laird
George Summers	...	Trawler Skipper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Margaret Greig	...	Ruth's Baby (uncredited)
Michael Powell	...	Mr. Graham - the Yachtsman (uncredited)
Frankie Reidy	...	Yachtswoman (uncredited)
Arthur Seabourne	...	Dancer at Hirta Reel (uncredited)
Sydney Streeter	...	Man at Dance (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Powell

Writing credits
Michael Powell		(story)

Produced by
Joe Rock	....	producer

Original Music by
Lambert Williamson		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Monty Berman
Skeets Kelly
Ernest Palmer

Film Editing by
Derek N. Twist		(as Derek Twist)
Robert Walters		(uncredited)

Production Management
Gerard Blattner	....	production manager (uncredited)

Art Department
W. Osborne	....	props (uncredited)
Sydney Streeter	....	chief of construction (uncredited)

Sound Department
W.H.O. Sweeney	....	sound (as W.H.O. Sweeny)
L.K. Tregellas	....	sound

Music Department
The Glasgow Orpheus Choir	....	performer: "Chorus"
Cyril Ray	....	musical director
Hugh S. Robertson	....	conductor: The Glasgow Orpheus Choir (as Sir Hugh Robertson)
Lambert Williamson	....	orchestrator (as W.L. Williamson)

Other crew
George Black Jr.	....	production personnel
Gerard Blattner	....	production personnel
W.H. Farr	....	production personnel
Arthur Seabourne	....	production personnel (as A. Seabourne)
Vernon Sewell	....	production personnel (as Vernon C. Sewell)
Sydney Streeter	....	production personnel (as Sydney S. Streeter)
W. Osborne	....	production personnel (uncredited)
Bill Paton	....	unit caterer (uncredited)
Vernon Sewell	....	skipper of supply ship (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Joe Rock Productions

Distributors

• British Independent Exhibitors' Distributors (1937) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pax Films Inc. (1938) (USA) (theatrical)
• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1948) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• BuyIndies.com Inc. (USA)
• Milestone Film & Video (????) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Glasgow Orpheus Choir  choral effect

Runtime:

81 min | UK:62 min (1940 re-issue) | UK:74 min (1990 NFA-restoration) | USA:74 min | USA:72 min (Milestone print)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Visatone Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Sweden:Btl | UK:U (video rating) (1991) | UK:U | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (re-rating) (1991)

Filming Locations:

Foula, Shetland, Scotland, UK

Company:

Joe Rock Productions

Trivia:

New 35mm print made and shown September 1999 as part of NY Film Festival.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the sequence in which Ruth runs down and uphill then to the shore, she is first barefoot, then wearing shoes, then barefoot again.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Return to the Edge of the World (1978)

Soundtrack:

Psalm 23

Stunning visuals

This early effort by director Michael Powell is simply a stunning visual treat. Shot on location on one of the British isles,the visuals are both dramatic and beautiful.What amazed me was how different this movie was from others I've seen from the same period.It seemed so modern in the way of storytelling. The basic story of the film is quite predictable but the actors commitment heightens the drama's impact. John Laurie is the standout in the cast.But what lingers is the powerful depiction of the harsh life on these isles,constantly battling nature's forces.This movie is a cherished record of a way of life that now has almost completely disappeared. To fans of Michael Powell this is a must-see, and I recommend this amazing film to everybody.