Rockets Galore

Rank's belated riposte to the 1948 Ealing hit Whisky Galore!, adapted from another Compton Mackenzie story by Monja Danischewsky who, from the position of associate producer, had fought Alexander Mackendrick over the first film's script. This time the Hebridean Todday islanders are up in arms over plans to site a missile base in their midst, and resort to such quaint defensive tactics as painting seagulls pink to mobilise the naturalist lobby. A rare attempt at whimsy by social drama stalwarts Relph and Dearden, it's amusing enough but somewhat faltering in tone.