 Mackendrick (1912–1993) was best known as a director of the Ealing comedies "The Man in the White Suit" (1951) and "The Ladykillers" (1955), as well as "The Sweet Smell of Success" (1957), now recognized as a masterpiece.The material in "A High Wind in Jamaica" afforded the director an opportunity to combine a light touch with serious drama.Essentially, what makes the film fascinating is the theme of children growing up and their contact with a world of adults (the pirates) who act as if they are grown-up children.