FILM · 1945 · UK
I Know Where I'm Going!
- Directed by
- Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Studio
- The Archers, J. Arthur Rank Organisation
26 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Plucky Englishwoman Joan Webster travels to the remote islands of the Scottish Hebrides in order to marry a wealthy industrialist. Trapped by inclement weather on the Isle of Mull and unable to continue to her destination, Joan finds herself charmed by the straightforward, no-nonsense islanders around her, and becomes increasingly attracted to naval officer Torquil MacNeil, who holds a secret that may change her…
Summary: TMDB
All facts (26)
- #001
In 1947, Emeric Pressburger met with the head of Paramount's script department, who told him that the studio used this film as an example of a perfect screenplay and showed it to writers seeking inspiration or in need of lessons in screenwriting.
- #002
C. W. R. Knight was a falconer in real life and trained the golden eagle "Torquil" for this film.
- #003
Roger Livesey was told he was too old and too fat to play Torquil. He managed to lose twenty kilos in a short time and lightened his hair to play the young lieutenant.
- #004
Corryvreckan is the second (or, depending on the source, third) largest whirlpool in the world. It forms in the Gulf (or Strait) of Corryvreckan, a narrow channel between the islands of Jura and Scarba off the west coast of Scotland. During a flood tide, the region's natural topography combined with the strong current creates whirlpools, standing waves and other effects on the sea surface.
- #005
Emeric Pressburger wrote the screenplay in only 4 days.
- #006
At the time, Michael Powell wanted to make A Matter of Life and Death (1946) but had to wait for access to Technicolor cameras. These cameras were rented only to filmmakers, and most remained in the United States during the Second World War.
- #007
Margot Fitzsimons, who plays Bridie in the film, is Maureen O'Hara's younger sister.
- #008
James Mason was initially cast as Torquil but turned it down when he was told he would have to "live rough" on the islands. Ironically, Roger Livesey never went to the islands at all because he was appearing in a West End show at the time. A double was used for the long shots, and all the close-ups were filmed in the studio. Mason always maintained that this was due to Michael Powell's reluctance to pay for his wife's location expenses.
- #009
Cinematographer Erwin Hillier never used a light meter while shooting this film.
- #010
According to Emeric Pressburger's biography by Kevin Macdonald, the whirlpool scene was shot in a huge tank using a jelly-and-water technique learned from Cecil B. DeMille's classic parting-of-the-waters method in The Ten Commandments (1923). The rear projections were shot by cinematographer Erwin Hillier, who said: "The operator and I went out in a boat and nearly drowned ourselves in the whirlpool while collecting those things!".
- #011
While the other names are correct, there is no island called Kiloran. However, it is a bay on the island of Colonsay that is never mentioned outside the source writings. The map with Kiloran written on it is actually a map of Colonsay.
- #012
The art department spent £40,000, mainly on the tank and the jacuzzi.
- #013
Before settling on the Isle of Mull, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger spent several weeks exploring the Scottish islands to find the right location.
- #014
The initial budget of £200,000 was exceeded by £30,000. Fortunately, the film was one of the year's biggest hits in its home country of England. It more than covered its costs from domestic revenues alone.
- #015
Documentary filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker cites this film as his all-time favorite.
- #016
Deborah Kerr and James Mason were the first choices for the lead roles, but because Kerr could not get out of her MGM contract, her role went to Wendy Hiller. There was a certain symmetry to this, since Hiller had had to withdraw from The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) after becoming pregnant, and her role(s) went to Deborah Kerr.
- #017
John Laurie and Duncan McIntyre, who play the sons of Herbert Lomas and John Rae, were only ten and 11 years younger than their on-screen fathers.
- #018
All of Petula Clark's scenes were shot in a studio, so she had no idea the film was set in Scotland.
- #019
Polly Sharp was given the job of driving Wendy Hiller to the set every morning. Because this was not permitted during wartime, she did it in the dark with no lights. Sharp recalled that Hiller was "terribly nice" and would sit in the passenger seat rather than the back seat to talk with her. Sharp also doubled for Hiller in one scene. Michael Powell said he was happy when he sheltered from the rain because he had protected his hat, which had cost 90 pounds. A surprised Sharp said that although she had never had that much money, she would gladly have put it on her head.
- #020
During the production, Emeric Pressburger was still officially classified as an enemy alien because of his background. He retained his freedom because his work was seen as positive propaganda, but during shooting he was allowed to stay in Scotland for only one week, and because he had been granted a special permit to be there, he had to report to the local police station every day.
- #021
The film holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 17 critic reviews.
- #022
Catroina's huge, slender, long-haired dogs are Scottish Deerhounds, a breed dating back to the 16th century.
- #023
In 1939, 20 pounds in Scotland had the same purchasing power as 1,700 pounds today (or 2,300 US dollars).
- #024
Petula Clark recalled that she had to stand for long periods and was so afraid of Michael Powell that she was scared to ask to go to the toilet, so she wet herself. She spent the lunch break drying her jodhpurs on a radiator.
- #025
When Joan enters the hotel dining room, she asks Torquil whether it would be a problem for them to sit at separate tables (for the sake of propriety). Wendy Hiller would go on to win the 1959 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Separate Tables (1958), in which she displayed the same skill.
- #026
The island of Kiloran is actually the island of Colonsay. Kiloran is a beautiful beach on Colonsay.
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