Return to the Edge of the World

Michael Powell returns to the island of Fulla, in the Shetlands, the setting for his magnificent "The Edge of the World". Mr. Powell is accompanied by a few of the members of the original crew that lived in that remote part of the world in 1936, when the shooting took place. This is a documentary about how things looked forty-two years later.

Mr. Powell, who appeared as the tourist in the yacht, in the original film, has fond memories for those challenging days spent there. John Laurie, who played Peter Manson in the original film is also on hand to share his own memories of what appears was a magical time for all the people connected with the film.

Unfortunately, only six of the original inhabitants from 1936 were still around to tell us how they were all changed by the experience. Also appearing in the documentary is Grant Sutherland, who played the pastor in the film.

This is a melancholy trip to a world that had vanished, but that was etched in the memory of all of those who participated in Michael Powell's adventure.

Michael Brooke's plot summary for Michael Powell's "Return to The Edge of the World" indicates that it is essentially a re-release of the 1937 black and white film with color bookends, which explains the 85 min. running time listed here -- the original runs 72 min. and the "bookends" run 23 min.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM), a cable network in the United States, ran these last night as companion pieces -- first the earlier film in a restoration credited to Powell in the year of his death; then the "bookends" alone, but given the full "Return" title.

I was eager to see at least the original film, first because I'm a fan of the director, and second because I'm fascinated by black and white outdoor photography of landscapes of the world made before I was born (think Sergei Eisenstein, John Ford, etc.).

Although some of the plot points were telegraphed well in advance, "The Edge of the World" (1937), with fine performances all around, doesn't disappoint, and I refer readers to the IMDb entry for that film for more detailed reviews. What's of interest here is the "bookends" portion of the 1978 follow-up.

"Return to the Edge of the World" (i.e., the 1978 "bookends") shows the island of Foula in color, selected cast and crew from the original but 40 years later, and locals discussing the effects that the original film had on the island itself, such as neglect by government officials who withheld services on the expectation that the island of filming was predestined to experience the same fate as the island of the story. (A review under "The Edge of the World" indicates they now have full time electricity, at least.)

Although only two of the original cast appear in this update (John Laurie, hamming it like a 19th century stage actor who had just seen his first movie camera, and Grant Sutherland, with very bad teeth), nevertheless in the script, in the crew, in the supporting players, and even in the review of those who were missing, the emphasis seemed to be totally on the men involved in the film, with practically no focus on the women. For example, although her name is mentioned, we have not one whit of mention of "whatever happened to" Belle Chrystall, the female lead. (Although she stopped making movies just 3 or 4 years after "The Edge of the World," she lived for decades past the "Return...", even into the current millennium.)

Although I give the original a "9", I give the return a "5", averaging out to a "7" for the 85 min. version.

1978 short documentary film made by filmmaker Michael Powell ( 'Directing' his last film) ,in which Powell and actor John Laurie (and several others) travel back to the island of Foula ( in the Shetlands) to reminisce about 'The Edge of the World ,the film they shot there 42 years ago. Narrated by Powell and Laurie , it opens with Powell driving into Pinewood ,where he informs us that the inspiration for the original film was the 1930 evacuation of the island of St. Kilda in the Outer Hebrides. Once on Foula ( island of dive bombing birds) ,Laurie goes all theatrical ham,with his lively,emotional initial meeting with the islanders being a highlight. Laurie's 57 years as an actor have made him an accomplished scene stealer ,as his performance shows. Photographed by Brian Mitchison ,Laurie quotes Thomas Carlyle ,Powell addresses the camera ( "Don't tell anyone. I'm a poet." ) ,we see black and white clips from the original film ,a baby lamb nibbles on a woman's chin ,and we have a poignant document on the past and present ,and time and memory. Histrionics and history.

Some 41 years after he made "Edge of the World" on the remote island of Foulla, Michael Powell took John "we're doomed" Laurie - now in his eighties - to revisit the island and meet up with the relatives of those who worked on and in this feature about two families facing the harshness of remote island living dependant on sheep, peat and fish. Laurie is a charming and engaging host as he recalls (well, tries to) the faces and together with Grant Sutherland - the only surviving cast member, and de facto logistics boss Sydney Streeter remembers those actors long gone and the difficulties and joys of the production. It's good to see Powell on the screen, and that this island defied the fate of many from the remote corners of the Shetland Islands that owed their antecedence to the Vikings but who couldn't make a living in a 20th century of engineering and "progress". Won't make much sense if you haven't seen the original film, but if you have - it's an enjoyably nostalgic 20-odd minutes with some very tasteful Aran sweaters.