- Note: Blu-ray discs are in a high definition format and need to be played on a Blu-ray player. To find out more about Blu-ray, visit our Hi-Def Learn & Shop store.
- Important Information on Firmware Updates: Having trouble with your Blu-ray disc player? Will certain discs just not play? You may need to update the firmware inside your player. Click here to learn more.
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
DVD Description
Whisky Galore! ranks among the most popular and best-loved of Ealing Studio’s comedies, included on the British Film Institute’s list of the 100 Best British films of the 20th Century .
When a ship carrying 50,000 cases of whisky runs aground, the inhabitants of a Scottish island cannot resist the temptation to replenish their depleted supplies. Only an English Home Guard captain, brilliantly played by Basil Greenwood, stands in their way.
The first film from Ealing stalwart Alexander Mackendrick, who went on to direct The Ladykillers and The Man In The White Suit, Whisky Galore! is an 100% proof comedy classic, now digitally restored and remastered to its former glory.
Special Features:
- The Feature: digitally restored & remastered
- Introduction by George Perry, author of 'Forever Ealing'
- Audio commentary by British cinema expert John Ellis
- "Distilling Whisky Galore!" 52 minute doc including interviews with Alexander Mackendrick and his crew
- "Whisky Galore: A Personal History" - 20 minute recounting of the original events from islander Angus Campbell
- Interview with Hilary Mackendrick, wife of Alexander Mackendrick
- Trailers
When a ship carrying 50,000 cases of whisky runs aground, the inhabitants of a Scottish island cannot resist the temptation to replenish their depleted supplies. Only an English Home Guard captain, brilliantly played by Basil Greenwood, stands in their way.
The first film from Ealing stalwart Alexander Mackendrick, who went on to direct The Ladykillers and The Man In The White Suit, Whisky Galore! is an 100% proof comedy classic, now digitally restored and remastered to its former glory.
Special Features:
- The Feature: digitally restored & remastered
- Introduction by George Perry, author of 'Forever Ealing'
- Audio commentary by British cinema expert John Ellis
- "Distilling Whisky Galore!" 52 minute doc including interviews with Alexander Mackendrick and his crew
- "Whisky Galore: A Personal History" - 20 minute recounting of the original events from islander Angus Campbell
- Interview with Hilary Mackendrick, wife of Alexander Mackendrick
- Trailers
Product Description
United Kingdom released, Blu-Ray/Region B DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Dolby Linear PCM ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Behind the scenes, Black & White, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Documentary, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Remastered, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: In 1943 disaster struck the little island of Todday. A disaster worse than Nazi-bombs. The island was denied whisky. A state of devastation sat in. Fishermen contemplated drowning themselves, because what was life without whisky. But then a cargo ship carrying 50,000 cases of whisky struck a reef. And no sooner than the Sabbath was over, one minute past midnight Monday morning, the cargo was looted. Whisky galore! SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Whisky Galore! (1949) ( Whisky Galore ) ( Tight Little Island ) (Blu-Ray)
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Optimum has come up trumps again with another fine restoration of an Ealing classic on Blu-ray.
It's 1943 and wartime has taken its toll on the Scottish island of Todday. For the locals, a life without a wee dram is one bereft of meaning. Therefore a nearby stricken ship with a full cargo of whisky is manna from heaven. Against the efforts of the local Home Guard captain, who is assigned to ensure its safety, the wily residents believe that the liquor is theirs for the taking.
The monochrome picture on this Blu-ray has been meticulously restored. Thankfully, the scratch line problem that bedevilled The Lavender Hill Mob hasn't affected it. For the most part the image is blemish-free, although greyscale flicker and stabilisation issues are occasionally apparent. It is however a small price to pay for a presentation this good on a film so old.
As with the other Optimum Ealing releases, the soundtrack has been remastered in PCM 2.0 mono (and it's tested to its limits by James Robertson Justice, whose booming tones would make Brian Blessed feel a pang of envy).
There are substantial bonus features, including an audio commentary, a 50-minute documentary and a half-hour interview with Hilary Mackendrick, wife of director Alexander - this being his first feature.
Whisky Galore! was part of a hat-trick for Ealing in 1949, the others being Passport to Pimlico and Kind Hearts and Coronets. While I wouldn't say it's laugh-out-loud funny, it's a quirky little gem that's skilfully written and frequently raises a smile.
It's heartening to see the Ealing Comedies finally being given the care they deserve and I look forward to more of them in high-definition.
It's 1943 and wartime has taken its toll on the Scottish island of Todday. For the locals, a life without a wee dram is one bereft of meaning. Therefore a nearby stricken ship with a full cargo of whisky is manna from heaven. Against the efforts of the local Home Guard captain, who is assigned to ensure its safety, the wily residents believe that the liquor is theirs for the taking.
The monochrome picture on this Blu-ray has been meticulously restored. Thankfully, the scratch line problem that bedevilled The Lavender Hill Mob hasn't affected it. For the most part the image is blemish-free, although greyscale flicker and stabilisation issues are occasionally apparent. It is however a small price to pay for a presentation this good on a film so old.
As with the other Optimum Ealing releases, the soundtrack has been remastered in PCM 2.0 mono (and it's tested to its limits by James Robertson Justice, whose booming tones would make Brian Blessed feel a pang of envy).
There are substantial bonus features, including an audio commentary, a 50-minute documentary and a half-hour interview with Hilary Mackendrick, wife of director Alexander - this being his first feature.
Whisky Galore! was part of a hat-trick for Ealing in 1949, the others being Passport to Pimlico and Kind Hearts and Coronets. While I wouldn't say it's laugh-out-loud funny, it's a quirky little gem that's skilfully written and frequently raises a smile.
It's heartening to see the Ealing Comedies finally being given the care they deserve and I look forward to more of them in high-definition.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of my favourite British comedies and it has received a very good transfer considering its age. The sound track is a bit crackly so the subtitles really are a great help. The extensive extras should have been a fantastic bonus but they are not subtitled and unless one has a good ear for the local accents they are very hard to follow. The memories of Angus Campbell are virtually unintelligable and really should have been subtitled as they might just as well have been in the Gaelic! Another problem is HUGE variations in volume between different speakers in the extras which require constant cuts and boosts in the volume level. This is a serious fault and should have been dealt with during the disc mastering. Have your mute button handy when the main menu reappears as the volume soars by some 20 decibles! A pity as it could have been so much better if these faults had been put right. The film itself however is excellent.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film has an interest that is overlooked by many film-makers today. It is not explicit but it allows the viewer the freedom of imagination. It is moral within the lifestyle at that time, the islanders put their lives at risk and accept it as normal. The film needs adjustment to the contrast but is still worthwhile. It is a film that can be watched many times and appreciated each time.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A bit of whimsy
On an isolated Scottish island during WWII, where whisky is drunk like water, a panic begins when their government ration of whisky is used up. Read more
Published 2 days ago by The CinemaScope Cat
Love this film
Great to see these classics from Ealing Studios being transferred to Blu-ray. Both Video and Audio cleaned up, highly recommended :-)
Published 3 days ago by B. Franks
Glayva
This fine film is quite interesting for the way it takes the main points from Compton MacKenzie's Book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by robdun
A ripping yarn
It's been a long time since I last saw this film. Despite being in B&W it still is well told tale of a small Scotish island village who had been bereft of their water of life... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Steven Fynn
Whisky Galore
Hillarious! I have seen this film several times over the years and it is still funny. This DVD has really enhanced the enjoyment.
Published 6 months ago by Ginger Candy
Pure Nostalgia!
Whisky Galore! What a fabuluous rainy Saturday afternoon film! It's gentle, old-fashioned entertainment at its very best - they just don't make 'em like this any more :)
Published 6 months ago by Misty
Vintage Ealing.
A gentle, funny film from a time when special effects and violence were not required to entertain us. Watch for early signs of 'Dad's' Army!
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Christopher J. Sibley
scotch mist
This film is based on a true story about the SS Politician. However, Ealing Studios have undertaken their usual wayward tale telling to create a wild story of Western Isles... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Davie Easton
A So So Print For A Dreadfully Dated And Patronizing Film
Ealing Comedy has been a favourite of mine for decades - they produced so many anarchic masterpieces. But I would argue that "Whisky Galore" isn't one of them. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London
Emma, Hertfordshire
I bought this for my Dad's Birthday and we watched it as a family that evening. It begins like a Government information film about the Western Isles. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dr. E. J. Sherrington
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
