The Edge of the World
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:14:01
We'll check the lists and load
the boats after the Sabbath's over.

:14:05
Aye. It's high tide
an hour after midnight.

:14:07
Aye, that's, er, very convenient.
:14:12
(Christie) Michael Powell found
:14:13
casting the three young principals
for the film quite difficult.

:14:18
It was crucially important that
they did have the sort of presence

:14:22
that he needed
for this very simple story.

:14:26
They had to breathe humanity
:14:28
and give it
a kind of emotional credibility.

:14:31
He chose, for the character
of Ruth Manson, Belle Chrystall,

:14:35
and for Robbie Manson,
her brother, Eric Berry.

:14:38
And for the figure of Andrew Gray,
Niall MacGinnis.

:14:44
In the book he published
after the film, he explained

:14:49
the kind of reasoning
that went into these choices

:14:52
and how, in a sense,
one choice influenced the others.

:14:56
(Day-Lewis) When I saw Belle,
:14:58
I could have kicked myself
for having wasted so much time.

:15:01
I knew what a grand actress she was
and in looks she was ideal.

:15:05
A fine young face, with deep eyes
and a broad forehead,

:15:09
the hair sweeping naturally off it.
:15:11
A sensitive mouth,
:15:13
a head set cleanly on good shoulders
and a strong, supple figure.

:15:17
Everyone knows how splendid
she was in Hindle Wakes

:15:21
and I had also made a test
of her for a part at Warner's.

:15:24
She only failed to get it
:15:25
because of the very qualities
of strength and confidence

:15:29
which made her ideal for Ruth.
:15:31
My mind was made up at once.
:15:34
Eric Berry was unusual.
:15:36
He was tall and dark
:15:39
and his eyes were intolerant.
:15:40
He was not quite tough enough
for an islander

:15:43
but he was an actor,
that was evident.

:15:46
It was important that Robbie
should have charm and intelligence

:15:49
and Berry had both.
:15:51
I could not quite
make up my mind about him,

:15:53
perhaps because
I had not yet found Andrew.

:15:58
Niall MacGinnis came from Dublin.

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