The Isle of Mull, with its dramatic coastlines, ancient castles, and rugged, untamed landscapes, has long captured the imagination of filmmakers. This Inner Hebridean gem offers a versatile backdrop, transforming itself into everything from a mysterious wartime haven to the setting for intense human dramas. If you’re planning a trip to Mull or simply curious about its cinematic past, dive into this comprehensive list of movies that have graced its shores, complete with plot summaries and their specific island filming locations.
I Know Where I’m Going! (1945)
I Know Where I’m Going! (1945)
Plot Summary:
This classic British romance-drama, directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, tells the story of Joan Webster, a determined young woman from Manchester who is en route to the remote Scottish island of Kiloran to marry a wealthy industrialist. However, fierce weather strands her on the Isle of Mull, where she is forced to wait amongst a community with vastly different values. During her unexpected delay, she meets and falls for Torquil MacNeil, a handsome naval officer and the true Laird of Kiloran, leading her to question her life’s ambitions and where her heart truly lies.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
I Know Where I’m Going! made extensive use of Mull’s stunning scenery. Key filming locations include Duart Castle (standing in as the “Castle of Sorne”), Moy Castle at Lochbuie, and scenes around Carsaig Bay (including the pier, boathouses, and a notable telephone box). The general wild landscapes of the island provided the atmospheric setting.
When Eight Bells Toll (1971)
When Eight Bells Toll (1971)
Plot Summary:
Based on Alistair MacLean’s novel, this action-thriller stars Anthony Hopkins as Philip Calvert, a British Treasury agent sent to investigate the mysterious hijacking of several ships loaded with gold bullion in the Irish Sea. His investigation leads him to the remote Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Torbay (a fictionalised Tobermory), where he uncovers a dangerous plot involving a powerful shipping magnate and a hidden castle.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
The film prominently features Duart Castle as the villain’s lair. Other recognisable Mull locations include the distinctive Tobermory lighthouse, and although technically a separate island, Staffa’s Fingal’s Cave is also featured, often visited on boat trips from Mull.
Kidnapped (1971)
Kidnapped (1971)
Plot Summary:
This adventure film is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel. Set in 18th-century Scotland, it follows the young David Balfour who, after his parents’ death, is cheated out of his inheritance by his villainous uncle and subsequently kidnapped and sold into slavery. He forms an unlikely alliance with the rebellious Jacobite, Alan Breck Stewart, and together they embark on a perilous journey across the Scottish Highlands to reclaim David’s rightful inheritance and escape the pursuing Redcoats.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
While the novel features the tidal island of Erraid (just off Mull’s Ross of Mull peninsula), the 1971 film adaptation utilised several areas on the Isle of Mull itself, capturing the rugged and wild essence of the Scottish landscape. Notably, scenes were filmed around the picturesque Calgary Bay on the north-west coast.
Madame Sin (1972)
Madame Sin (1972)
Plot Summary:
This spy thriller stars Bette Davis as the titular Madame Sin, a mysterious and formidable international criminal with an advanced “Thought Factory” in a remote Scottish castle. She abducts a former CIA agent, Anthony Lawrence, to recruit him into her elaborate scheme to steal a new Polaris nuclear submarine. The film is a blend of espionage, mind control, and high-stakes villainy.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
While specific detailed locations are less publicised, Madame Sin utilised the general dramatic and isolated landscapes of the Isle of Mull for its exterior shots, contributing to the remote and mysterious atmosphere of Madame Sin’s Scottish hideout.
Eye of the Needle (1981)
Eye of the Needle (1981)
Plot Summary:
This tense World War II spy thriller, based on Ken Follett’s novel, stars Donald Sutherland as “the Needle,” a ruthless German spy operating in Britain. He discovers vital intelligence about the Allied D-Day invasion plans but becomes stranded on a remote Scottish island after his boat is wrecked. There, he encounters a lonely Englishwoman and her family, leading to a deadly cat-and-mouse game as he tries to escape and deliver his critical information.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
Much of the filming for the “Storm Island” scenes took place on the spectacular Treshnish Headland and around Loch na Keal, showcasing Mull’s wild, windswept beauty. Some distant shots also feature the Connel Bridge, which is near Oban on the mainland but visible from parts of Mull.
Year of the Comet (1992)
Year of the Comet (1992)
Plot Summary:
A romantic comedy-adventure penned by William Goldman, Year of the Comet follows Margaret Harwood, the daughter of a wine merchant, who discovers an incredibly rare and valuable bottle of wine from the “Year of the Comet” (1811) bearing Napoleon’s seal. Her discovery sparks a chase across Europe, involving multiple interested parties—from a Greek billionaire to an amoral French scientist—all vying to possess the prized vintage. She finds herself in an unexpected adventure with American agent Oliver Plexico.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
While the film’s journey takes characters across various European locales, the Scottish Highlands featured early in the film, including scenes shot on the Isle of Mull, contributing to the adventurous and picturesque backdrop.
Entrapment (1999)
Entrapment (1999)
Plot Summary:
This high-tech heist thriller features Catherine Zeta-Jones as an insurance investigator who goes undercover to catch an elusive master art thief, Robert “Mac” MacDougal (Sean Connery). She convinces him to team up for a daring millennium eve heist in Kuala Lumpur, but the lines between hunter and hunted, and loyalty and betrayal, quickly blur as their intricate plans unfold.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
One of the most recognisable Mull locations in Entrapment is Duart Castle, which serves as Mac’s remote Scottish safe house and training ground. Its imposing presence and isolated feel make it a perfect fit for the master thief’s lair.
Island (2011)
Plot Summary:
This independent British drama tells the dark and intense story of Nikki Black, a troubled young woman abandoned at birth, who embarks on a vengeful quest to find and confront her birth mother. Her search leads her to a remote, isolated island where she discovers not only her mother but also a strange, violent brother, leading to a claustrophobic and ultimately tragic family drama.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
The atmospheric and isolated setting of the film was primarily captured on the Isle of Mull, along with the Isle of Bute. Mull’s rugged terrain and remote feel perfectly conveyed the film’s themes of isolation and complex family dynamics.
The Silent Storm (2014)
The Silent Storm (2014)
Plot Summary:
Set on a remote Scottish island in 1950, this brooding drama explores the strained marriage between a strict, fundamentalist minister, Balor (Damian Lewis), and his neglected wife, Aislin (Andrea Riseborough). Their isolated existence is disrupted by the arrival of a troubled juvenile delinquent, Fionn, sent to live with them. The film delves into themes of repression, desire, and faith amidst the wild and unforgiving landscape.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
The striking and often harsh beauty of the Isle of Mull is a central character in The Silent Storm. The film extensively used the island’s dramatic cliffs, windswept shores, and remote locations to underscore the isolation and emotional intensity of the story. Specifically, some reviews mention the beautiful views of Carsaig and out to sea.
Iona (2015)
Iona (2015)
Plot Summary:
The film follows Iona, a young mother, and her teenage son, Bull, as they flee Glasgow for the remote island of Iona (off the coast of Mull) after Bull performs a violent act. Returning to the island where she was born and raised, Iona seeks refuge and a fresh start, confronting her past and reconnecting with her foster family. The story explores themes of guilt, forgiveness, and the complexities of family ties within a devout, close-knit island community.
Where on Mull it was Shot:
While the narrative is centered on the Isle of Iona, the film also used locations on the larger Isle of Mull due to its proximity and shared scenic beauty, especially for scenes depicting the journey to the island and broader island landscapes.
The Isle of Mull continues to inspire, offering a truly unique and diverse palette for storytellers. Its cinematic legacy is a testament to its enduring appeal and stunning natural beauty.
