NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective disc.

ADDITION: Criterion 4K UHD (January 2026): Criterion have transferred Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's "I Know Where I'm Going" to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. It presents the film in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio with a new 4K digital restoration sourced from the original nitrate camera negative, positives, and soundtracks preserved by the BFI National Archive, featuring 4K wet-gate scanning and picture restoration by Cineric Inc. in New York, all supervised by Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker Powell. This transfer delivers a crisp, rich black-and-white image in 2160P, showcasing significant upgrades in textural detail - particularly in the rocky cliffsides, sweeping Scottish landscapes, and atmospheric fog - that breathe new life into the visuals, far surpassing the softness of prior DVD editions. We compared Criterion, Carlton (PAL) DVDs and the French Elephant Films - bare-bones, single-layered - Blu-ray back in 2017 HERE. All are inferior to either 1080P or 2160P transfers here. The grayscale in 4K UHD exhibits a wide range with strong contrasts, deep blacks, and rich highlights, while natural film grain is preserved without digital artifacts, though occasional minor fuzziness appears in certain location shots, likely inherent to the source material. Erwin Hillier's (The Valley of Gwangi, The Shoes of the Fisherman, Eye of the Devil, The Quiller Memorandum, Sands of the Kalahari, Operation Crossbow, Chase a Crooked Shadow, The Dam Busters, A Canterbury Tale,) cinematography shines through in expressive compositions evoking film noir and German Expressionism, such as silhouetted figures on windswept causeways and the thrilling Corryvreckan whirlpool sequence, which blends practical effects and rear-projection seamlessly for an otherworldly yet grounded aesthetic. Overall, this restoration makes the 80-year-old film look remarkably fresh and immersive, highlighting its magical realism and gothic romance in ways that feel timeless. Bottom line; authentically film-like and magnificently rendered.

Like 4K UHD transfers of The Long Wait, I, the Jury, and many others below, Criterion's 2160P transfer of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's "I Know Where I'm Going" does not have HDR applied (no HDR10, HDR10+, nor Dolby Vision.) We have seen many other 4K UHD transfers without HDR; Mondo Macabro's Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf, Cult Film's Django 4K UHD, Umbrella's 4K UHD transfer of Peter Weir's The Last Wave, Radiance's Palindromes, and Criterion's 4K UHD transfers of Luis Buñuel's "Él", Deep Crimson, Killer of Sheep, Chungking Express, Winchester '73, The Mother and the Whore, I Am Cuba, The Others, Rules of the Game, Branded to Kill, In the Mood For Love, Night of the Living Dead, Fires on the Plain, and further examples, Masters of Cinema's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Kino's 4K UHDs of Bob le Flambeur, Last Year at Marienbad, Nostalghia, The Apartment, For a Few Dollars More, A Fistful of Dollars, In the Heat of the Night, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, as well as Koch Media's Neon Demon + one of the 4K UHD transfers of Dario Argento's Suspiria.

NOTE: We have added 72 more large resolution 4K UHD captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray and 4K UHD, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English, and some Gaelic, languages. Traditional Scottish and Irish songs form the auditory backbone, particularly in the lively cèilidh sequences choreographed by actor John Laurie, where puirt à beul (mouth music) like "Macaphee" is performed by members of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir, including Boyd Steven, Maxwell Kennedy, and Jean Houston, evoking communal joy and cultural authenticity during a diamond wedding anniversary celebration. Bagpipe music permeates key moments, including the stranded pipers hired for Joan's wedding who join the cèilidh, adding layers of irony and festivity. A poignant Gaelic song, "Ho ro, mo nighean donn bhòidheach" (translated as "Ho ro My Nut Brown Maiden"), is central to the romance; Livesey's character explains its lyrics to Joan, emphasizing "You're the maid for me," and it recurs triumphantly in the finale with three pipers marching toward Moy Castle, their bagpipes swelling to symbolize destined union. Composer Allan Gray's (The African Queen, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, A Matter of Life and Death, A Canterbury Tale) score artfully incorporates traditional folk melodies, providing a romantic underscore that enhances the film's whimsical tone without overpowering its narrative subtlety. Ambient effects - like howling winds and crashing waves - are rendered with exceptional clarity and fidelity, free from distortion, offering a subtle but noticeable improvement in dynamic range over previous releases. The uncompressed mono track handles the soundscape effectively and with consistency. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray and Region FREE 4K UHD.

The Criterion 4K UHD package offers insightful supplements, many ported from Criterion's earlier DVD but augmented with new material focused on the restoration. Highlights include an engaging audio commentary by film historian Ian Christie (Arrows of Desire: Films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger,) covering production context, casting, and influences. It is on both Blu-ray and 4K UHD. The Blu-ray has the rest of the video supplements; a brief introduction by Martin Scorsese paired with a 5-minute restoration demonstration featuring before-and-after comparisons and commentary by Thelma Schoonmaker Powell; 8-minutes of behind-the-scenes stills narrated by Schoonmaker Powell; the 30:23 documentary "I Know Where I’m Going! Revisited" by Mark Cousins, blending interviews with cast, crew, and fans; a 10-minute photo-essay by Nancy Franklin exploring the Hebrides filming locations; and 7-minutes of Michael Powell's home movies from Scottish expeditions, also narrated by Schoonmaker Powell. The package is rounded out with an essay by critic Imogen Sara Smith (In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City) in the booklet and a new cover by Thinh Dinh, though some reviewers note the absence of fresh major additions beyond the restoration focus, making it a solid but not exhaustive collection for Powell & Pressburger enthusiasts.

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's "I Know Where I'm Going" stands as a quintessential example of their collaborative genius during the wartime and immediate postwar era in British cinema. This black-and-white romantic comedy-drama, often overshadowed by their more flamboyant color epics like "The Red Shoes" (1948) or "Black Narcissus" (1947), showcases a subtler blend of whimsy, folklore, and emotional depth. Set against the rugged Scottish Hebrides, the film explores a young woman's journey of self-discovery amid stormy seas and ancient curses, reflecting the duo's fascination with the interplay between human ambition and uncontrollable forces of nature and fate. Powell and Pressburger conceived the story rapidly - Pressburger reportedly pitched it as a tale of a girl unable to reach an island, only to realize she no longer wishes to upon arrival - drawing from personal inspirations and a desire to evoke the mystical allure of Scotland's Western Isles. The narrative centers on Joan Webster (Wendy Hiller - Separate Tables, Pygmalion, Major Barbara, A Man For All Seasons, Outcast of the Islands, Voyage of the Damned, The Elephant Man,) a pragmatic and ambitious middle-class Englishwoman who has meticulously planned her life around marrying the wealthy industrialist Sir Robert Bellinger. En route to his leased estate on the fictional Isle of Kiloran (inspired by the real Isle of Colonsay), Joan is waylaid by relentless fog and gales on the Isle of Mull. There, she encounters Torquil MacNeil (Roger Livesey - The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, The League of Gentlemen, A Matter of Life and Death, The Drum, The Master of Ballantrae,) the laird of Kiloran and a naval officer on leave, who embodies the unpretentious charm of Scottish heritage. Supporting characters, such as Pamela Brown's (Dan Curtis' 1973 Dracula, Figures in a Landscape, Secret Ceremony, Becket, Cleopatra, Lust for Life, The Tales of Hoffmann, One of Our Aircraft Is Missing,) enigmatic Catrine and Finlay Currie's (Ben-Hur, Corridors of Blood, Saint Joan, Footsteps in the Fog, Quo Vadis, Whisky Galore!, So Evil My Love, Great Expectations, The Edge of the World,) wise Ruairidh Mhór, enrich the ensemble, portraying a vibrant Scottish community that serves as a foil to Joan's urban detachment. At its core, the film delves into the tension between predestination and personal agency, encapsulated in the ironic title - Joan believes she controls her path, but fate, embodied by weather and folklore, intervenes. This theme resonates with Powell and Pressburger's oeuvre, where external forces often compel internal reckonings, as seen in "A Matter of Life and Death". Materialism versus spiritual fulfillment is another key motif: Joan's pursuit of Bellinger's wealth (symbolized by her modern gadgets and plans) clashes with the timeless values of Mull's inhabitants. Scottish identity plays a pivotal role, with the film revering the landscape and traditions - bagpipes, ceilidhs, and the Gaelic curse - while subtly promoting national unity during wartime. Today, it's celebrated for its feminist undertones - Joan's agency in choosing love over convenience - and its poetic depiction of Scotland, ensuring its place as a enduring classic that rewards repeated viewings for its layers of meaning and visual poetry. Criterion's 4K UHD edition of "I Know Where I'm Going!" stands as an essential upgrade for fans of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's wartime gem, combining a breathtaking restoration that revitalizes its visual poetry and Scottish mysticism with clear audio and a thoughtful array of extras that deepen appreciation for its production and legacy. In the brief time I knew the late Robin Wood (Hollywood from Vietnam to Reagan...and Beyond) - he told me that this was his favorite Powell and Pressburger film. This 4K UHD was #1 in our 2025 Year End Poll and gets our highest recommendation. 

Gary Tooze