"Annie Laurie" (1927) stars Lillian Gish, Norman Kerry, Creighton Hale, Joseph Striker, David Torrence, Hobart Bosworth, Patricia Avery, Russell Simpson, and so many others. Set at the time of the Massacre at Glencoe (occurred on the 13 February 1692) when government forces literally slaughtered somewhere around an estimated 30 Clan MacDonald members, including women and youngsters. The film does indeed fictionalize the entire event, but it does it via a ploy caused by the historian Thomas Babington Macaulay whose History of England attempted to completely exonerate King William III (of William and Mary fame) from any wrongful complicity in the affair. Instead, history until much later regarded Glencoe truly as a battle between the Clan MacDonald and the Clan Campbell. 'T'were na sae.
The film begins rather deliberately, if not slowly, with Lillian Gish and her cousin (played well by Patricia Avery) from the Laurie family (headed by David Torrence) showing an intense and loving friendship. This, among a gathering of Clan families at the immense and richly appointed castle of the Campbells. We also see Patrick Campbell (played extremely well by Creighton Hale!) trying to be a (or THE) suitor of Gish. She's willing, but only up to a point. Meanwhile, as things develop, Patricia Avery develops a longing and loving relationship with one of the Highland MacDonalds, those dirty, awful barbaric fighting MacDonalds! The MacDonalds have already had a Campbell deliver a body to their castle after his death was in answer to the long ongoing feud of the two families.
Eventually we meet the head of MacDonald clan, played by Hobart Bosworth and his son, Norman Kerry. Kerry and Gish several scenes later form a back and forth relationship that turns into a love affair - of course. The development of the affair takes a goodly amount of time in the film, some might say too long. Still, it is carefully developed by the director, but indeed focused on Gish, with Kerry getting the good parts, but Gish getting the camera and close-ups.
All leads to the battle that ensues at the end and the genuine tragedy. I'll just say that the ending is hogwash as far as history is concerned, and it is even a tad too washed-up for an audience today, but it must have been really good fodder in 1927.
The new Blu-Ray release from Kino Lorber is sumptuous, though near the end there are a couple of jumps where film is obviously missing a few frames and the picture isn't quite perfect, but overall the film is in lovely condition, and it was a good watch. Very much recommended. I've never been much of a Norman Kerry fan, but I must admit that he's superb in this film, and in my opinion takes all the acting honors. Gish is Gish, though a year later in '28 she turned in her stellar performance in "The Wind". It's always a pleasure to see Hobart Bosworth, and he's the older head of the MacDonald clan seemingly turning over the reigns to his son, Kerry. Of course, too, they got a good Scotsman, David Torrence, to head the Laurie family. Russell Simpson plays a comic eccentric, but almost seems a narrator at times, even breaking the fourth wall twice.
Camera work and set work in the film are gorgeous. A couple of miniatures are very dated now, but from a distance of one hundred years they still play somewhat... Direction could have paced a tad faster in my opinion, but I have a feeling John Robertson was being coached by Lillian Gish. Sets and camera angles to film sets are spectacular for the day. Yes, today things would have been filmed on location, but I give the one hundred years its due process. It wins in my court.
Have at it and enjoy.
