Edge of the World, The

A critical and popular hit at the New York Film Festival, Michael Powell's The Edge of the World received a thrilling theatrical release that established it as one of the great discoveries of the year!

Two families living on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, the Mansons and the Grays, are united by friendship and the romance between young Ruth and Andrew. Ruth's brother Robbie plans to leave the island in spite of Andrew's objections, believing that there is no future living there. To settle their argument, the two men follow an ancient local tradition and race to the top of the island's 1,220-foot cliffs to see whose opinion should prevail. The outcome shatters the island's peace and splits the two clans apart.

Shot entirely on the wild, windswept island of Foula in the Shetlands, The Edge of the World is beautiful, thrilling, and profoundly moving. For cinema great Powell (who went on to make such enduring masterpieces as The Red Shoes and I Know Where I'm Going!), this was his first important film and one that remained dear to his heart. Film fans will especially enjoy seeing director Powell himself in the role of the yacht owner.

Bonus Features

Powell's lovely Return to the Edge of the World and his heart-breaking World War II short, An Airman's Letter to His Mother!

DVD Bonus Feature: Commentary by Oscar® -winner Thelma Schoonmaker, film historian Ian Christie, and Oscar®-winner Daniel Day-Lewis reading from Michael Powell's book on the making of the film.

Reviews

"An irresistible gem: not just one of the earliest and best films by the great British director, but a bona fide cinematic legend." - William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The Edge of the World was chosen the year's Best Foreign Film by the New York Film Critics Circle in 1937 (and might well have been again today)." - Jim Hoberman, Village Voice

"An exquisite 1937 drama by one of the greatest filmmakers England has produced! It's about 11 months too early for predictions about the best movies of 2000, but a likely contender has already arrived!" - David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor