EDGE OF THE WORLD

UK, 1937, 81 minutes, Black and white.
John Laurie, Belle Crystal, Finlay Currie, Niall Mac Ginness.
Directed by Michael Powell.

Edge of the World is about the Scottish islands of the North Atlantic. It tells the true story, based on the evacuation of the island of St. Kilda, of the Shetland Islands, the peat running out, the mechanization of industry, especially fishing, and the loss of livelihood for the islanders.

It was filmed in 1936 on the island of Foula. The film marked the emergence of Michael Powell as a director of significance. He was soon to team with Emeric Pressburger and make a number of significant British films of the 40s, under the name of The Archers. Films include The Forty ninth Parallel, the Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, I Know Where I'm Going, Black Narcissus, Stairway to Heaven, The Red Shoes. Later films include Peeping Tom and They're a Weird Mob and Age of Consent, made in Australia.

In 1978, Powell and his star John Laurie as well as members of the cast and crew returned to Foula to make a short documentary about the island 40years on. There are reminiscences, discussions about the effect of the film making on the island for good and for ill, the memories of film making at the period - the film was preserved by Powell's widow, Thelma Schoenmaker, the Oscar winning editor of Martin Scorsese's films.) John Laurie and Finlay Currie are the heads of the two families on the island. The film treats, in an almost documentary way, the life on the island but brings in some dramatic and melodramatic moments, especially the climbing of a cliff by two young men, ending in tragedy.

Niall Mac Ginness appears as one of the men. Many of the inhabitants of Foula acted in Edge of the World. It was named as one of the best foreign films in 1937 by organisations in the U.S. It led to Michael Powell being employed by Alexander Korda and setting off on his career.

1. Impact of the film? True story? The Shetland Islands? Scotland and Britain in the 30s? Industrial changes? Livelihood of the islanders?

2. The black and white photography, the striking land and sea scapes of Foula? The range of terrains, cliffs, the village? The site of the mountains of Scotland? The contrast with the mainlands? The mood and seasons? Musical Score?

3. The background to 19th -20th century life on the island, economics, livelihood, the fishing, the peat, industries, sheep? Conservations issues? The island unable to support human inhabitants? The need for the government to evacuate?

4. The prologue with Michael Powell and his wife, arriving on the island.