Overview
A comedic tale of resourcefulness and camaraderie in the face of adversity, as a community comes together for a common cause.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- gentle
- joyful
- lazy sunday
- classic film night
What critics said
Critics broadly celebrate its gentle, joyous Ealing comedy, experienced comic cast, and evocative Outer Hebrides scenery.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The islanders coordinate efforts to salvage whisky while evading the Home Guard and Excise authorities.
The wartime shortage of whisky gives the shipwreck cargo enormous emotional and comic significance.
The story unfolds among islanders in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, filmed on Barra, with local life contrasted against official regulation.
The wartime setting remains background context for a joyous comic struggle over a cargo of Scotch whisky.
Films like Whisky Galore!, and why
The Lavender Hill Mob
gentle british comedy, eccentric community ensemble, and affectionate social satire
The Man in the White Suit
ealing studios humor, working-class ingenuity, and a warm comic ensemble
Local Hero
rural british setting, understated wit, and community-centered comic conflict
Movie Details
- Director
- Alexander Mackendrick
- Release Date
- 1949-06-16
- Runtime
- 82 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (156)
Cast
- Basil Radford
- Bruce Seton
- Gordon Jackson
- Wylie Watson
- Morland Graham
- John Gregson
- Joan Greenwood
- Gabrielle Blunt
- Catherine Lacey
- Jean Cadell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- BFI Player Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Whisky Galore! about?
- A whisky-starved Scottish island turns a wartime shipwreck into a spirited comic campaign against official authority.
- What is Whisky Galore! like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Whisky Galore! as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Whisky Galore! violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Whisky Galore!.
- What did critics think of Whisky Galore!?
- Critics broadly celebrate its gentle, joyous Ealing comedy, experienced comic cast, and evocative Outer Hebrides scenery.
- Which films are like Whisky Galore!?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lavender Hill Mob, The Man in the White Suit, and Local Hero.
- How long is Whisky Galore!?
- Whisky Galore! runs 82 minutes.
- Where can I watch Whisky Galore!?
- In United States, Whisky Galore! streams on BFI Player Amazon Channel.
