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From today's featured article
Compton Mackenzie
Whisky Galore!
is a British
comedy film
produced by
Ealing Studios
and released on 16 June 1949, starring
Basil Radford
,
Bruce Seton
,
Joan Greenwood
and
Gordon Jackson
. The directorial debut of
Alexander Mackendrick
, it was based on the 1947 novel
Whisky Galore
by
Compton Mackenzie
(pictured)
, and written by Mackenzie and
Angus MacPhail
. Inspired by the 1941 wreck of the
SS
Politician
, the story concerns a shipwreck off a fictional Scottish island. The islanders, who have run out of whisky because of
wartime rationing
, salvage cases of it from the ship, against the opposition of the local
Customs and Excise
men. Like other
Ealing comedies
,
Whisky Galore!
explores the actions of a small group facing and overcoming a more powerful opponent. The film was well received on release; renamed
Tight Little Island
, it became the first film from the studios to achieve box office success in the US. It was followed by
Rockets Galore!
, a sequel.
A remake
was released in 2016. (
Full article...
)
Did you know ...
George Kunkel
In the news
Saulos Chilima
On this day
Today's featured picture
|
The
almond
(
Prunus amygdalus
) is a species of tree in the family
Rosaceae
, the roses. It prospers in a moderate
Mediterranean climate
with cool winter weather, and is native to
Iran
and surrounding countries, although it is rarely now found wild in its original setting. The fruit of the almond is a
drupe
, consisting of an outer hull and a
hard shell
with the seed; botanically, it is not considered a
true nut
. It is used extensively as a culinary
nut
, however, and is cultivated worldwide. Around 80% of the world's almond supply is
produced in the US state of California
. This photograph shows an almond drupe in shell, shell cracked open, unshelled and blanched seed.
Photograph credit:
Ivar Leidus
|
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