Not every film we churned out during the forties was a good one
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland were a favourite setting for British films during the thirties and forties; "Whisky Galore" was a popular Ealing comedy, and Michael Powell alone made three films set in the area, "The Edge of the World", "The Spy in Black" and "I Know Where I'm Going!", the latter two in partnership with Emeric Pressburger. "The Silver Darlings", based on a novel by Neil Gunn, is set in Caithness, the most north-easterly corner of the British mainland.
The film is set in the early 19th century, the period of the highland clearances. Gunn was known for his left-wing beliefs, and the story clearly shows his sympathy for the little man and lack of sympathy for the powers-that-be. Tormad, a dispossessed crofter, turns to herring fishing, but is press-ganged into the Royal Navy and his family are left without news of him for many years. (We later learn that he was killed at sea). His wife Catrine, left on her own with their young son Finn, sets about building up her own fishing business. When Finn grows up he is eager to become a fisherman, but Catrine, mindful of what happened to her husband, is not keen to let him. Another source of conflict between mother and son is her growing attachment to her skipper, Roddy.
"The Silver Darlings" - the title refers to the herrings on which the characters' wealth depend- is not a well-known film today. I note that mine is only the third review it has received, and I can see why. It is not horrendously bad, but it is a rather dull period drama with forgettable dialogue and no outstanding acting contributions. We Britons like to persuade ourselves that the forties ere something of a golden age for our cinema. Perhaps in some ways they were, but that does not mean that every film we churned out during the period was a good one. This was, after all, the age of the quota quickie. 5/10
A goof. At one point the fishermen, lost at sea, chance upon a remote island. There are no landing places and the only way to reach the top of the island is by a dangerous climb up a steep cliff. Yet when the fishermen get there, they find a flock of sheep. So how did the sheep get there?
The film is set in the early 19th century, the period of the highland clearances. Gunn was known for his left-wing beliefs, and the story clearly shows his sympathy for the little man and lack of sympathy for the powers-that-be. Tormad, a dispossessed crofter, turns to herring fishing, but is press-ganged into the Royal Navy and his family are left without news of him for many years. (We later learn that he was killed at sea). His wife Catrine, left on her own with their young son Finn, sets about building up her own fishing business. When Finn grows up he is eager to become a fisherman, but Catrine, mindful of what happened to her husband, is not keen to let him. Another source of conflict between mother and son is her growing attachment to her skipper, Roddy.
"The Silver Darlings" - the title refers to the herrings on which the characters' wealth depend- is not a well-known film today. I note that mine is only the third review it has received, and I can see why. It is not horrendously bad, but it is a rather dull period drama with forgettable dialogue and no outstanding acting contributions. We Britons like to persuade ourselves that the forties ere something of a golden age for our cinema. Perhaps in some ways they were, but that does not mean that every film we churned out during the period was a good one. This was, after all, the age of the quota quickie. 5/10
A goof. At one point the fishermen, lost at sea, chance upon a remote island. There are no landing places and the only way to reach the top of the island is by a dangerous climb up a steep cliff. Yet when the fishermen get there, they find a flock of sheep. So how did the sheep get there?
- JamesHitchcock
- 6 sep 2022