The Bridal Path, a novel by Nigel Tranter, explores the unfortunate consequences of marrying cousins in a remote Scottish community, focusing on Ewan MacEwan's journey.The Bridal Path, a novel by Nigel Tranter, explores the unfortunate consequences of marrying cousins in a remote Scottish community, focusing on Ewan MacEwan's journey.The Bridal Path, a novel by Nigel Tranter, explores the unfortunate consequences of marrying cousins in a remote Scottish community, focusing on Ewan MacEwan's journey.
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Few films are consistently nominated as the "funniest film ever made". "The Bridal Path" should rank high on such a list in the English-speaking world for many reasons. Its story is deceptively simple to set forth, however. Ewan MacEwan needs a wife. He lives on the remote Scottish island of Eorsa, his wife has died and his children need someone too. So he sets out for the mainland, to find a mate. What happens to him then should not happen to a nice, sincere and out-of-place wife-hunter--but it does, in spades. Bill Travers is in top form as Ewan, aided by a very large case of players who flit in and out of his misadventures; their numbers include George Cole, Gordon Jackson, Fiona Clyde and lovely Bernadette O'Farrell of the "Robin Hood" TV series' fame. This remarkable and memorable bit of whimsy and Scottish humor was served up by British comedy veteran FranK Launder. He and Geoffrey Williams adapted an hilarious novel to the screen, one which offers brushes with police and irate citizens, the old country-boy-misunderstands-the city caper, the troubles Ewan gets into trying to bring up the subject of a wife--and his exact list of requirements for the position--and much much more. The production is lovely in full-color, breezy, swift-paced or leisurely just where it needs to be one or the other. How Ewan finally finds the wife he has been looking for in his own backyard when he has to return home provides a perfect climax and happy ending to one of the best-loved comedies ever to be sent to the US as a bundle from Britain. An utter delight, and much less known than it deserves to be.
A very funny film depicting the exploits of a Hebridean Scotsman and his search for a wife on the Scottish mainland. Though the dialog and comments by the characters often made me feel that you had to be either a Scottish Highlander or from Cape Breton Island in Canada to get some of the jokes (which are hilarious), I found the depiction of the locals to be both truthful and exaggerated, depending on the character. A previous commenter made reference to the "Irish" sound of the characters' speech. It is my experience that the Hebredians DO speak English in a rather Irish sounding way and not with the "burr" of the mainlanders. This to me makes the film easier to understand. I recommend the film highly.
A whimsical and thoroughly enjoyable film that only the British could have made and then, only in the 1950s. The gentle giant hero; the stereotypical and yet reassuring secondary characters; and the most beautiful scenery combine to make this charming film well worth the look.
No blood; no special effects; no nudity (we do get a glimpse of a woman changing at the beach which was probably pretty racy in 1950s Britain); and no improbable explosions. Just a peculiar reliance on something called 'story'. There aren't any real baddies in the film just a crowd of Englishmen and some incompetent but well meaning policemen.
Well written and very funny. Most of the gags still work very well. Even my teenage son sat through this film and laughed.
Heart-warming, comforting and, in the end, highly moral film that depicts Island life with it's minor prejudices (Catholics and Campbells) with a beautiful understanding and deeply affectionate approach. Nigel Tranter, the author of the original book, wrote many great stories about Scotland and I can recommend both this film and his books wholeheartedly.
No blood; no special effects; no nudity (we do get a glimpse of a woman changing at the beach which was probably pretty racy in 1950s Britain); and no improbable explosions. Just a peculiar reliance on something called 'story'. There aren't any real baddies in the film just a crowd of Englishmen and some incompetent but well meaning policemen.
Well written and very funny. Most of the gags still work very well. Even my teenage son sat through this film and laughed.
Heart-warming, comforting and, in the end, highly moral film that depicts Island life with it's minor prejudices (Catholics and Campbells) with a beautiful understanding and deeply affectionate approach. Nigel Tranter, the author of the original book, wrote many great stories about Scotland and I can recommend both this film and his books wholeheartedly.
A real gem of a movie.
Funny, filled with many 'weel kent' faces, beautiful scenery and music.
No smut, violence, or anything nasty.
Leaves a good feel factor after watching.
A classic in my opinion.
Funny, filled with many 'weel kent' faces, beautiful scenery and music.
No smut, violence, or anything nasty.
Leaves a good feel factor after watching.
A classic in my opinion.
The story of a simpleton being sent from an island to the mainland to look for a bride who is not a Catholic nor a Campbell and has a good pair of legs for climbing the hills does not sound very promising. But the story works fairly well.
In the chase by the police across a midgeless Highlands, one is minded of the police chasing Hannay in Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. But as this is a comedy, the chase lacks any tension.
However, the performances are pretty good. George Cole came across well as a Scotsman.
Some of the humour is quite amusing; and even if the comedy situation is a bit silly, the dialogue is not.
The scenery is beautifully shot, and coupling it with the choir from Campbelltown is a masterstroke.
The film is enjoyable and well worth watching.
In the chase by the police across a midgeless Highlands, one is minded of the police chasing Hannay in Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. But as this is a comedy, the chase lacks any tension.
However, the performances are pretty good. George Cole came across well as a Scotsman.
Some of the humour is quite amusing; and even if the comedy situation is a bit silly, the dialogue is not.
The scenery is beautifully shot, and coupling it with the choir from Campbelltown is a masterstroke.
The film is enjoyable and well worth watching.
Did you know
- TriviaFilm debut of Annette Crosbie.
- GoofsWhen Ewan gets cash from The Bank of Scotland branch in Oban he is given the green Bank of England £1 notes of the time, at this time the Scottish banks were allowed to only issue their own notes. A note exchange sorted the various banks notes out on a weekly basis.
- Quotes
Police Sergeant Bruce: This looks like the biggest job we've had in years, Alec. Better get the bicycles out.
- SoundtracksBrochan Lom
Atrranged by Cedric Thorpe Davie
Performed by Synfonia of London
Song by The Campbeltown Gaelic Choir
Conducted by Muir Mathieson
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Ein Schotte auf Brautschau
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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