Whisky Galore 2016 is based on a true story but modified to bring spice in the film. Whisky Galore is a remake of the 1949 movie of the same name based on the 1947 novel.
The 2016 film Whisky Galore offers an epic saga of looting when a ship carrying 50,000 cases of Whiskey runs aground near a Scottish isolated island during the time of World War II. Islanders get into salvaging the precious cargo quickly as the island had run dry due to the World War II rationing of whiskey, a miracle many of the islanders called the situation.
The 2016 remake of the 1949 film Whisky Galore! was directed by Gillies MacKinnon and the screenplay was done by Peter McDougall based on Compton Mackenzie’s 1947 novel Whisky Galore. The film was first premiered at the 2016 Edinburgh Film Festival and subsequently released in Scotland on May 5, 2017, and in the rest of the world on May 19, 2017.
Is Whisky Galore 2016 Based on A True Story?
The story of Whisky Galore 2016 is based on a true incidents that occurred on the Hebridean island of Eriskay when the SS Politician ran aground.
The film is a remake of the 1949 movie of the same name which was based on Compton Mackenzie’s 1947 novel Whisky Galore. The novel was based on the same incident. Among the number of her cargos were 28,000 cases of malt whiskey destined for America.
SS Politician’s cargo also met with a similar fate as the fictional SS Cabinet Minister’s cargo, it was looted by the locals in name of salvaging the cargo against the will of local authorities. While Whisky Galore’s plotline might be inspired by a true story, the filmmakers have made plenty of changes.
The changes in the original story and the film version start right from the name of the place where the incident occurred. The real-life incident occurred near the Hebridean island of Eriskay while the film version of the incident occurred near the fictional Isle of Todday. The name of the ship carrying the precious nectar has also been changed from SS Politician to SS Cabinet Minister.
The film follows much of the same storyline as in the real life with some added comedy. The reality depiction in the movie includes, the local islanders looting the ship’s cargo, the local authorities not approving of the salvaging and prosecuting those involved in the process and many more. However, some of the originalities like the ship carrying Jamaican banknotes and other cargo as well have been omitted in the film.
Whisky Galore 2016 Movie Filming Locations
Whiskey Galore 2016 was filmed mostly in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
The 2016 remakers also visited the Island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, where the original 1949 film of the same name was filmed. Barra is quite a big island with most of the parts inhabited. In addition to Portsoy, the filmmakers also utilized the huge coastal line of another small village Pennan in Aberdeenshire.
Other filming locations for the 2016 film Whiskey Galore! includes Ayrshire, Glasgow, and the East Neuk of Fife according to Republic World. The principal photography of the film started in Late 2015 with most of the cast and crew filming the movie in locations from around Scotland.
Whisky Galore Cast
2016 film Whisky Galore! cast includes Naomi Battrick, Sean Biggerstaff, and Gregor Fisher among others.
Naomi Battrick Plays Peggy Macroon
Peggy Macroon is one of the lead characters in the film. In the trailer, we can hear Peggy asking for a miracle while praying to God before her bedtime and a miracle did happen when SS Cabinet Minister ran aground nearby carrying 50,000 cases of Whiskey.
Macroon is portrayed by actress Naomi Battrick. She is an English actress born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, on April 11, 1991. She uses Instagram with her username @naomifayebattrick, she has amassed over 7.6k followers on the platform.
Naomi made her acting debut with the television series The Bill in 2008. Since her debut, she has appeared as an actress in 38 films and television series so far according to her IMDb profile. She is best known for her appearance in Jamestown, A Very English Scandal, The Serpent Queen, and Taken: The Search for Sophie Parker among others.
Sean Biggerstaff Plays Sergeant Odd
Sergeant Odd is Peggy Macroon’s love interest in the film. Odd is a smart and decorated army personnel but falls for Peggy’s father’s blackmail to aid them in salvaging the cases of whisky from the sunken SS Cabinet Minister. He is seen held “captive” by Peggy’s father in one of the scenes in the trailer.
Odd is portrayed by the Scottish actor Sean Biggerstaff. The actor was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland with a firefighter father and a social worker mother. Sean is 39 years old, he was born on March 15, 1983. He joined the Maryhill Youth Theatre at the age of just 7 years old to pursue acting.
Sean made his acting debut with the television mini-series The Crow Road in 1996. Since his debut, the actor has amassed 27 acting credits on his IMDb profile, he is best known for his appearance in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and Mary Queen of Scots among others.
Gregor Fisher Plays Joseph Macroon
Joseph Macroon is the comic character of the film, he is the father of Peggy Macroon. He is heard saying they do not have a village idiot but instead take turns in the trailer. Joseph is also the one to corrupt Sergeant Odd by blackmailing him.
Macroon actor Gregor Fisher is a Scottish comedian and actor. He was born on December 22, 1953, in Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, Scottland, and he was raised by his adoptive parents John Leckie and Cis Leckie. He is now married to actress Vicki Burton and the couple share two children, Cissie Fisher and
Jamie Fisher, together.
Gregor made his acting debut with the television series Rob Roy in 1977. Since his debut, Fisher has gathered 56 acting credits o his IMDb profile. He is best known for his appearance in Kevin Turvey: The Man Behind the Green Door, The Girl in the Picture, A Christmas Night with the Stars, and Rab C. Nesbitt among others.
Other Cast Of 2016 Whisky Galore!
- James Cosmo Plays MacAlister
- Matt Costello Plays Captain McKechnie
- Alan Cuthbert Plays First Officer
- Andrew Dallmeyer Plays Hector
- Ken Drury Plays Mr. Bain
- Kevin Guthrie Plays George Campbell
- Holly Howden Gilchrist Plays Morag
- Eddie Izzard Plays Captain Waggett
- Ciaron Kelly Plays Constable McPhee
- Ellie Kendrick Plays Catriona Macroon
- Kevin Mains Plays Farquharson
- John Sessions Plays Doctor McLaren
- Antony Strachan Plays Biffer
- Mike Tibbetts Plays Captain Buncher
- Fenella Woolgar Plays Dolly Waggett
Where To Watch Whisky Galore Film?
The Whisky Galore 2016 film is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Videos.
It is also available for streaming for free on Tubi TV, the film is also available for purchase or rents on Apple TV+, Sky Store, Playstore, YouTube Premium, and others according to Just Watch.