The Maggie (1954)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers:

Alexander Mackendrick (story)
William Rose (writer)

Release Date:

February 1954 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A Scotch Mist...A Girl Never Kissed...A Yank Who Missed...and Landed HIGH AND DRY

Plot:

An American businessman in Scotland is conned into shipping a valuable load of cargo to a Scottish island via a coal powered boat.

Plot Keywords:

Cargo | Vessel | Scotland | Centenarian | Glasgow Scotland

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Paul Douglas	...	Calvin B. Marshall, the American
Alex Mackenzie	...	Mactaggart, the skipper
James Copeland	...	Mate
Abe Barker	...	Engineer
Tommy Kearins	...	Dougie, the wee boy
Hubert Gregg	...	Pusey
Geoffrey Keen	...	Campbell
Dorothy Alison	...	Miss Peters
Andrew Keir	...	Reporter
Meg Buchanan	...	Sarah
Mark Dignam	...	The Laird
Jameson Clark	...	Dirty Dan, the publican
Moultrie Kelsall	...	C.S.S. skipper
Fiona Clyne	...	Sheena
Sheila Shand Gibbs	...	Barmaid

Also Known As:

High and Dry (USA)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Passed (British Film Censors) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Crinan, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

Company:

Michael Balcon Productions

Trivia:

The Maggie was played by two boats in the film, the Boer and the Inca.

Quotes:

Calvin B. Marshall, the American: [Looking at a picture of MacTaggart] Is that MacTaggart? Well. he;s a crafty-looking buzzard, all right! No wonder he was able to put one over on Pusey.
Campbell: If I may say so, Mr. Marshall, I don't think a man need be very quick to leave Mr. Pusey behind.

Charming gentle comedy from Ealing studios

Despite not starring studio stalwart, Alec Guinness; The Maggie is a charming comedy film that fully adheres to the classic Ealing style. Through a simple plot, characters that are easy to get along with and some good laughs, The Maggie succeeds as a lovely little comedy film. It's unfortunate that this film isn't better known, as while not as good as other studio efforts such as Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Ladykillers; it's successful for the same reason as many other bigger successes for the studio. The plot is brilliantly farcical, and follows an American trying to charter a ship to carry a precious cargo to Glasgow. However, he gets conned into hiring a 'puffer' (coal ship) captained by Captain Mactaggart; and finds himself in a world of trouble as he tries to track his cargo. The Scottish locations help to ensure the relaxed feel of the picture, while the actions of the captain and his crew always provide some laughs. Standout sequences include the destruction of a harbour, a poaching 'adventure' and the scene in which the Harbour Master learns of Captain Mactaggart's bluff! The dialogue is well written and often very funny, and the film benefits from the assured direction of experienced director Alexander Mackendrick. Recommended to fans of classic comedy!