Forty years after shooting his breakthrough film The Edge of the World on the remote island of Foula in the Shetlands, director Michael Powell decided to make a pilgrimage back to the island. Bringing along two of the original film's cast members, John Laurie (who played Peter Manson, the father of the twins Robbie and Ruth) and Grant Sutherland (who played the Catechist), Powell visits many of the film's locations, little changed after 40 years. One major alteration: Powell and his colleagues are able to fly to the island, which had no landing strip in the 1930s, when transport was by ferry or fishing boat. He also locates several islanders who played extras in the original film. Return to the Edge of the World was made for British television. The running time listed reflects its being divided into two parts, as a prologue and epilogue wrapped around the 1940 version of the original film, which ran 62 minutes. A restored version of The Edge of the World is available on VHS; the tape includes Return to the Edge of World (shown separately), plus Powell's 1941 wartime short, An Airman's Letter to His Mother. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
Review
In 1978, with his film career behind him, the 73-year-old director Michael Powell was able to take a voyage back to where it all started for him, the island of Foula in the Shetlands. It was the location of The Edge of the World, the film that brought him to the attention of producer Alexander Korda and launched the first successful phase of Powell's career. Powell's journey of reminiscence allows him to reflect on the fearlessness of his cast and crew, how they braved climbs up and down the island's sheer cliffs, and how they recorded a rescue in heavy seas. Powell comes off just as he does in his magnificent two-volume memoir (A Life In Movies and Million Dollar Movie) -- witty, affable, and generous -- in short, the perfect host. Because Return to the Edge of the World is included on a VHS tape of the original film, it is possible to see them as companions, back-to-back, the way they should be viewed. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
Cast
John Laurie - Himself; Grant Sutherland - Himself; Michael Powell - Himself; Sydney Streeter - Himself
Credit
Michael Powell - Director, Peter Mayhew - Editor, Brian Easdale - Composer (Music Score), Michael Powell - Producer, Sydney Streeter - Producer
