How a Classic Film Made Gaelic Shine on the Big Screen

Eighty years ago, the island of Mull in Scotland became the setting for a unique event: the preview of a film called 'I Know Where I'm Going. ' This romantic comedy was created by two legendary filmmakers, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and it used real locations on Mull, even including local residents in the cast. The film is especially notable because it was the first major movie to feature the Gaelic language, which is spoken in parts of Scotland. The first screenings took place in Aros Hall, a small community building in Tobermory that is still used today. The hall is a simple two-story structure with a green door and square windows, located next to an old church. In November 1945, Mull was treated to three preview screenings, just before the film's official premiere in London. The money raised from these shows was donated to local charities, and the gesture was greatly appreciated by the community. Powell and Pressburger were already well-known for other films, but 'I Know Where I'm Going' stood out because it celebrated the culture and scenery of Mull. The story follows an Englishwoman, played by Wendy Hiller, who travels to the fictional Scottish island of Kiloran to marry a wealthy businessman. However, a storm leaves her stranded on Mull, where she falls in love with a Royal Navy officer, played by Roger Livesey. Livesey was also performing in a play in London at the time, so he did not travel to Scotland for all the scenes. Instead, a double was used for the outdoor shots, and these were cleverly mixed with close-ups of Livesey filmed in a studio. Powell later said this was one of the smartest things he had done in his career. After its premiere, the film was released to the public in December 1945 and quickly became a hit with both audiences and critics. Martin Scorsese, the famous director of movies like 'Goodfellas,' has called Powell and Pressburger 'kings of British cinema' and credits their work with influencing his own films. Powell later became friends with Scorsese and moved to the United States, where he married Thelma Schoonmaker, who has edited all of Scorsese's movies since 1980. Schoonmaker and Scorsese continue to honor Powell's legacy today. The film also featured many locals from Mull, including Gordon Maclean's grandmother, Polly Sharp. Polly drove Wendy Hiller to the filming locations each day, and when Hiller was ill, Polly was asked to stand in for her because they were about the same size. Polly appears in a scene walking arm in arm with the main characters. Gordon Maclean says his grandmother loved being part of the film, especially since it brought excitement during the difficult times at the end of World War Two. Powell and Pressburger wanted to give viewers an authentic sense of Mull's community and culture, so they decided to use Gaelic in the film. They hired a Gaelic consultant to ensure accuracy, and the language is heard in conversations and songs during a traditional party called a ceilidh. One of the main actors, Murdo Morrison, was a native Gaelic speaker from Lewis. The film did not use subtitles, so viewers had to understand the meaning of the Gaelic words from the context. This was the first time Gaelic dialogue appeared in a feature film, and the filmmakers were praised for respecting the language and culture. The Western Isles Hotel in Tobermory is one of the locations featured in the film. Today, fans of 'I Know Where I'm Going' still visit Mull to see the places where it was made. The hotel manager, Bryan Botha, says people come to experience the film, and the hotel sometimes holds screenings and displays posters. Mull filmmaker Alasdair Satchel says the movie is an important part of the island's story, and people are proud of it. 'I Know Where I'm Going' continues to shape how Mull is seen and remembered, both by locals and visitors.