Whisky, whimsy and charm galore in this starry remake of the 1949 ealing classic in gillies mackinnons remake of the 1949 ealing classic, a wwii transport ship, the ss cabinet minister, heading for america, carrying 50,000 cases of scotch, runs aground on the isle of toddy, a remote hebridean island'. '.strtoupper('t')he scottish islanders are determined to take advantage of this unexpected windfall and attempt to liberate the liquid cargo before the boat sinks , particularly as their own pub is now dry'. '.strtoupper('b')ut they face a dilemma'. '.strtoupper('i')ts the sabbath, a day strictly observed in their small community , at least stern priest james cosmo ensures it is'. '.strtoupper('t')heyve also got to avoid the uptight ships skipper captain waggett eddie izzard who is keeping a beady eye open in case anyone fancies more than a wee dram'. '.strtoupper('g')regor fisher rab c nesbitt plays the widowed postmaster, macroon, who knows everyone and everything thats going on, on the island'. '.strtoupper('a')s genial as he is cunning, he dotes on his pretty, mischievous daughters, catriona ellie kendrick and peggy naomi battrick'. '.strtoupper('t')hey operate the islands telephones  and listen in to every conversation'. '.strtoupper('n')aturally, they update their father with news from the grapevine'. '.strtoupper('t')he film is adapted from the classic novel by compton mackenzie, based on the true story of a shipwreck off the coast of eriskay during world war two'. '.strtoupper('w')hat the press said eddie izzard is excellent as the pompous english home guard officer, as is fenella woolgar as his wife , radio times what makes the film so pleasurable is the humour and lyricism with which it tells its rousing story of whisky loving small timers coming together , independent