Reviews of silent film releases on home video. Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company. All Rights Reserved.

Annie Laurie (1927)

This Scottish romantic drama, directed by John S. Robertson, stars Lillian Gish and Norman Kerry, with Creighton Hale, Joseph Striker, Hobart Bosworth, Patricia Avery, Russell Simpson, Brandon Hurst, David Torrence and Frank Currier.

Long considered a lost film, a print of Annie Laurie was rediscovered in 1987 when a private collector donated a 35mm print with Technicolor sequences intact to the Oregon Historical Society, who then turned it over to the American Film Institute for preservation. The print, still a part of the AFI’s collection, is physically held by the Library of Congress.

Part Romeo and Juliet story, part Hatfields and the McCoys, Annie Laurie is largely a romantic invention inspired by the classic Scottish song. No mention is made of William Douglas, the author of the poem on which the song was based, and the historical Annie Laurie is nowhere to be seen.

Initially, sight yet unseen, we expected a stuffy historical romance from Annie Laurie. However, it comes as no surprise that the film is significantly buoyed by Lillian Gish’s multifaceted and nuanced performance. Norman Kerry is a pleasing male lead with his broad smile and bright personality but his signature moustache seems out-of-place, even a bit silly, within the context of the film’s historical era. Creighton Hale looks a bit silly all of the time.

— Carl Bennett

This Blu-ray Disc edition has been mastered from a 4K high-resolution scan of an archival 35mm print held by the Library of Congress that includes the original Technicolor sequences. Digital work has apparently been performed on the scan as much of the print scuffing, dust, speckling and exposure fluctuations have been minimized if not eliminated. Occasionally long vertical scratches will be seen for several moments and flashes of active nitrate decomposition appear on the right side of the frame in a couple of instances.

The film is accompanied by a music score composed, adapted, orchestrated and conducted by Robert Israel, and performed by a 30-piece orchestra (with occasional bagpipes). Excellent work, as usual.

Supplemental material includes audio commentary by film historian Anthony Slide.

This is our enthusiastically recommended home video edition of the film. A most pleasant viewing experience.

USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Regions ABC Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Regions ABC Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
This Regions ABC Blu-ray Disc edition is also available directly from . . .

This DVD-R edition has likely been mastered from a 16mm reduction print (as might be surmised from the publisher-provided still frame above), and it is unlikely that any original Technicolor footage is presented in color here.

The film is likely accompanied by a soundtrack (if there is one) compiled from preexisting music recordings.

Not recommended, as much for the low value rendered for the high cost charged. Shameful. The Kino Blu-ray Disc edition noted above is a far better qualtiy and value for the significantly lower cost.

USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.

Other silent era JOHN WAYNE films available on home video.

Other TECHNICOLOR FILMS of the silent era available on home video.