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Feb 5, 2016 · 05 February 2016 by Richard Woodard. It’s precisely 75 years since the historical event which inspired the book and film of Whisky Galore! But the true story of the sinking of the SS Politician is even more remarkable than the fictional tale, reports Richard Woodard. Precious cargo: the SS Politician foundered off Eriskay 75 years ago.
Feb 4, 2011 · Real Whisky Galore story is still being written. Seventy years on it remains one of the most romantic island tales. The people of Eriskay, in the Outer Hebrides, awoke on 5 February 1941 to find a ...
Feb 4, 2011 · Seventy years after a staggering cargo of whisky was found on a shipwreck off Eriskay, the BBC's James Cook talks to the islanders about their most famous tale. Real Whisky Galore story is still ...
- Disaster For SS Politician
- S.O.S and Salvage
- Compton Mackenzie
- Whisky Galore
- Community Spirit
- Worldwide Fame and A Local Legacy
- Explore More Whisky Galore!
The SS Politician launched in 1921 under her original name SS London Merchant. Sold in 1935, she was renamed and became affectionally referred to as Pollyby her crew. Then during the World War Two, she participated in the Atlantic convoys supplying goods between Britain and the USA. On the morning of 5 February 1941 she set sail from Liverpool boun...
The hull was breached, and S.O.S. messages were sent from the ship. Once the crew were safely on shore, the Hebridean locals set about trying to “recover”the whisky. About 24,000 bottles were salvaged. In the ensuing days, police and customs officers from the mainland searched the entire island with the result that several islanders were jailed for...
Although born in Hartlepool, England in 1883, Compton MacKenziefound much inspiration in his adopted Scotland. His love of Scotland extended beyond his writing. Best known as an author, he also worked as a soldier, secret service chief, actor, broadcaster and editor. He also made his mark on Scottish politics. He became deeply involved with nationa...
MacKenzie was particularly well placed to expand upon the events of the SS Politician, as from 1934 he had lived at Suidheachan, Northbayon the island of Barra. He used this as the background to the picture of island life presented not only in Whisky Galore, but also in his second such comic novel, Rockets Galore. The heart-warming film version of ...
Like other Ealing Studio comedies of the post war era, Whisky Galore!lures the audience into rooting for the underdogs. Throughout the film there’s a great sense of community, as the islanders rally together to outwit the authorities. The film manages to incorporate local traditions, folk music and Gaelic language into the final cut. In doing so it...
When released, the film was embraced by cinema goers and critics alike. In France it is known as Whisky à Gogo, however when released in the USA in December 1949 it had to drop the whisky reference. There were restrictions on the use of the names of alcohol in titles so the film was rebranded Tight Little Island. In 1988, the first pub on the islan...
There’s more iconic Getty Images stills from Whisky Galore! in the Scran archives, plus much more material relating to the SS Politician, Compton MacKenzie and the stars of the film. Other trips into the Scran archives on the blog inlclude a celebration of 100 years of Leith and a look at the Queen’s Silver Jubileevisit to Edinburgh.
Jul 10, 2016 · Whisky Galore!’s 68-year-old Glaswegian director, Gillies MacKinnon, is best known for his 1996 movie Small Faces, about Glasgow gangs, as well as Castles in the Sky. One advantage of the new ...
Jun 29, 2016 · What do Chariots of Fire, Gregory’s Girl, Local Hero, Trainspotting and The Angels’ Share have in common?They are all iconic Scottish movies. But perhaps the most iconic of all is Whisky Galore!, Alexander Mackendrick’s 1949 interpretation of Compton Mackenzie’s best-selling novel of the same name, first published two years earlier and still in print.
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“Parts of the ship are still there just as, rumour has it, bottles of whisky are still hidden around the island,” revealed Les. A quick sail back to Barra and it was time for dinner at Café Kisimul, which overlooks Kisimul Castle, which features in Whisky Galore – as does the bank next door, which ‘played’ the post office.
