IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
A way of life is dying on a remote Scottish island, but some of the inhabitants resist evacuating to the mainland.A way of life is dying on a remote Scottish island, but some of the inhabitants resist evacuating to the mainland.A way of life is dying on a remote Scottish island, but some of the inhabitants resist evacuating to the mainland.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination
Niall MacGinnis
- The Gray Family: Andrew, His Son
- (as Niall Macginnis)
Andy Gear
- Villager in Evacuation
- (uncredited)
Mima Gear
- Villager in Evacuation
- (uncredited)
Wullie Gear
- Fiddler at Hirta Reel
- (uncredited)
Aggie Jean Gray
- Member of the Congregation
- (uncredited)
Agnes 'Nannie' Gray
- Member of the Congregation
- (uncredited)
Edith Gray
- Member of the Congregation
- (uncredited)
James Andrew Gray
- Member of the Congregation
- (uncredited)
Jean 'Jeannie' Gray
- Member of the Congregation
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the scene of the race up the cliffs, the actors did their own climbing. According to director Michael Powell's book on the making of the film, Eric Berry in particular did some risky work indeed, especially in the shots of him clambering up the waterfall.
- GoofsThe wild Golden Eagle at the beginning has the falconer's jesses (leather straps) visible.
- Quotes
The Gray Family: Andrew, His Son: Do you think I don't care about Robbie? Do you think I'd forget that he was your twin brother and my best friend?
- Crazy credits[before opening credits] The slow shadow of Death is falling on the outer isles of Scotland. [scrolls up] This is the story of one of them -- and all of them. When the Roman Fleet first sailed round Britain they saw from the Orkneys a distant island, like a blue haze across a hundred miles of sea. They called it - "ULTIMA THULE" [main title] THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
- ConnectionsFeatured in Return to the Edge of the World (1978)
- SoundtracksChorus
(uncredited)
Composer unknown
Performed by The Glasgow Orpheus Choir
Conducted by Hugh S. Roberton
Featured review
Odd little film directed by Michael Powell long before his huge success once teamed with Emeric Pressburger.
Subtitled "the death of an island," the film chronicles the dreary lives of island folk as seen in flashback by the former residents years after. Victims of the changing world, commercialized fishing, and isolation, the islanders finally pack it in and move to the mainland after the death of one young man and a near miss with a baby.
Set in an era before electricity and telephones the film shows just how isolated the people are on the various islands north of Scotland. Independent and stubborn, they cling to their rock even though they know the end is coming.
The story is slim: the young people are in crisis of whether to stay and keep the island going or go to the mainland and get good-paying jobs. The story shows us their lives on the island of Hirta (which means death) and the draw of the cities.
Almost shot in documentary form, Powell constantly shows us the majestic beauty of the sparse rock of island versus the drab lives of the people. Their lives are built around church, social interaction, and trying to keep going.
The acting is minimal with a few familiar faces. John Laurie is the hard father who sees his son (Eric Berry) die in a stupid accident while climbing the face of sea rock. Belle Chrystall is Ruth and Niall MacGinnes is Robbie. Finlay Currie co-stars.
The island scenery is just gorgeous and Powell has a good eye for the incredible backdrops of sea and rock and waving grasses.
Subtitled "the death of an island," the film chronicles the dreary lives of island folk as seen in flashback by the former residents years after. Victims of the changing world, commercialized fishing, and isolation, the islanders finally pack it in and move to the mainland after the death of one young man and a near miss with a baby.
Set in an era before electricity and telephones the film shows just how isolated the people are on the various islands north of Scotland. Independent and stubborn, they cling to their rock even though they know the end is coming.
The story is slim: the young people are in crisis of whether to stay and keep the island going or go to the mainland and get good-paying jobs. The story shows us their lives on the island of Hirta (which means death) and the draw of the cities.
Almost shot in documentary form, Powell constantly shows us the majestic beauty of the sparse rock of island versus the drab lives of the people. Their lives are built around church, social interaction, and trying to keep going.
The acting is minimal with a few familiar faces. John Laurie is the hard father who sees his son (Eric Berry) die in a stupid accident while climbing the face of sea rock. Belle Chrystall is Ruth and Niall MacGinnes is Robbie. Finlay Currie co-stars.
The island scenery is just gorgeous and Powell has a good eye for the incredible backdrops of sea and rock and waving grasses.
- How long is The Edge of the World?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- £20,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 14 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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