The Maggie

Paul Douglas - Calvin B. Marshall
Alex Mackenzie - Captain Mactaggart
Tommy Kearins - Dougie
James Copeland - Mate
Abe Baker - Engineer
Hubert Gregg - Pusey
Dorothy Alison - Miss Peterson
Andrew Keir - Reporter

Alexander Mackendrick's The Maggie, released early in 1954, was scripted by William Rose who in the previous year had enjoyed the success of Genevieve, the most Ealing-like of non-Ealing films, and made by Rank at Pinewood allegedly because Balcon was unable to find studio space for Henry Cornelius, who was not on the Ealing payroll. From old cars Rose had turned to old boats, with a comedy about a small steamer, the Maggie, used on the Clyde to transport cargo in modest quantities.

Its skipper (Alex Mackenzie) tricks a wealthy American (Paul Douglas) whose is seeking to cut transportation costs, into entrusting the transport of furniture for a new house in the islands to his decrepit vessel; the American then realises his mistake, and does his best to retrieve his property, but eventually has to concede defeat. It is the comeuppance of a graceless tycoon who, until he is humanised by the quaint old boat, believes that everything can be bought to order, provided that the price is right. But in Ealing comedies life is not meant to be lived that way; the wily skipper, albeit a deceitful, cunning old rogue, is seen to be loveable, and the Maggie lives to sail another day, thanks to the reluctant philanthropy of its victim. But in spite of the healthy atmosphere of Scottish fresh air, The Maggie is the least of Mackendrick's comedies, and a long way short of Whisky Galore!
Etract© George Perry: Forever Ealing.