Whisky Galore!

This image shows one of the mobile set designs that was built at Ealing Studios and brought to the Isle of Barra for filming Whisky Galore!

There are a lot of images in Roy’s collection that show what life was like on location. Working in film and television is sometimes seen as a glamorous job, but the reality is often long hours on remote locations, under difficult and extreme conditions.

Whisky Galore! was filmed almost entirely on location on the Isle of Barra in west Scotland which was very unusual for Ealing Studios. The main reason for this was because there were two other films in production at the same time; Kind Hearts & Coronets and Passport to Pimlico, and there was no available studio space at Ealing.  

A production unit of around 80 staff were sent to Barra to film Whisky Galore!. Most of this team had little experience as the more established production teams were working on two other films at Ealing Studios.  

Terrible weather on the island caused the production to over run its 10 week schedule and Roy was on the Isle of Barra for around 18 weeks photographing set designs, locations, actors and actresses. Despite a difficult production, Whisky Galore! went on to become one of Ealing Studios' most profitable films and a worldwide hit.  

Listen to Roy's recollection of the filming below, and then watch a clip from the film.

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