"Annie Laurie" (1927) - hidden gem
Norman Kerry and Lillian Gish
Directed by John S. Robertson
Produced by MGM
Written by Josephine Lovett
Starring Lillian Gish, Norman Kerry, Creighton Hale, Patricia Avery, Brandon Hurst
Cinematography Oliver Marsh
Editing by William Hamilton
Distributed by MGM
Release date May 11, 1927
Running time 99 minutes
Country US
Language Silent film
We have included this film in our program to illustrate the work and contributions of our star director John S. Robertson.
This film is part of our Silent Gems Collection and the DVD is available on Ebay.
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"Annie Laurie" is a powerful historical drama superbly directed by John Robertson starring Lillian Gish and Norman Kerry. This is the first of three outstanding films created by John Robertson in 1927, when he started working for MGM. The other two are "Captain Salvation" and "The Road to Romance", both starring Marceline Day.
The film tells the story of the feud between two Scottish clans - Campbell and MacDonald - and its tragic climax in the Massacre of Glencoe.
PLEASE NOTE:
The review posted below contains spoilers, so you may want to skip it if you intend to watch the whole film.
Annie Laurie (Lillian Gish) is close to the Campbells, where her cousin Enid (Patricia Avery) urges her to marry her brother Donald (Creighton Hale). Both girls regard the men from the enemy clan as savages, but one day Enid is captured by MacDonald warriors and taken away. When the two clans meet to negotiate, to everybody's astonishment Enid refuses to return home, declaring that she is in love with a MacDonald man. The chieftain of the Campbells (Brandon Hurst) curses his daughter and wishes her and her future children gloom and doom for the whole crowd to see.
Annie Laurie later meets Ian MacDonald (Norman Kerry) and in spite of her prejudice is conquered by his strength and personality. The two fall in love, but unlike Enid Annie hesitates and refuses to follow Ian, who is then brutally tortured by Donald Campbell and his soldiers.
In the meantime the chieftain of the Campbells plays a successful mind game against his enemies. He does not disclose to them the terms of the agreement proposed by the king, according to which the MacDonald clan will recover all its lands if they sign by January 1st. However, if MacDonald refuses to sign, as happens in reality, the king has authorized the Campbell chieftain to annihilate his enemies.
Annie Laurie learns about this clause and makes a desperate effort to warn Ian MacDonald, whom she still loves, and save his people. Ian, however, holds such a grudge that he won't listen to Annie, gets drunk and ridicules her. Somehow she is able to get her message across, and Ian dashes through a storm to sign the agreement, but is five days late.
Donald Campbell accepts in words that the delay is due to the storm, but has something sinister in mind, knowing that the king will not punish him for exterminating the enemy clan for being late. When the MacDonalds open their castle of Glencoe to the Campbells to celebrate the signed peace with them, Donald kills the chieftain of the hosts and leads an attack to annihilate the whole MacDonald clan. Ian organizes a heroic resistance, in which he is helped by Annie, who manages to light the beacon and call for help. With Ian MacDonald in the lead the defenders counterattack and defeat their double-crossing enemies.
In the end the victorious MacDonalds recover all their lands and property by decree of the king. Annie Laurie parts with her father and happily follows Ian MacDonald.
Click to enlarge:
Annie Laurie
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Norman Kerry holds a torch ready to light the beacon in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish uses an egg to tell Patricia Avery her fortunes in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry surprises his enemies in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Patricia Avery of the Campbells falls in love with a MacDonald man in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry sees Lillian Gish for the first time in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Brandon Hurst, the Campbell chieftain, curses Patricia Avery in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish is courted by Creighton Hale in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry exchanges glances with Lillian Gish in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish is impressed with Norman Kerry in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish and Norman Kerry meet face to face in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry carries Lillian Gish across the creek in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry kisses Lillian Gish in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish watches Norman Kerry win a "strongest man" competition in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish refuses to follow Norman Kerry in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish wants Norman Kerry, but it is too late in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish tries to warn Norman Kerry in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry won't listen to Lillian Gish in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry finally gets the message in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry apologizes to Lillian Gish in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry and Lillian Gish declare their love for one another in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry leads the MacDonald defenders in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry leads a hand-to-hand combat of his men in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry finishes off his enemy in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry throws the body of his vanquished enemy in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry is victorious in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish is ready to follow Norman Kerry in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish leaves with Norman Kerry in "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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A poster for "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Lillian Gish in a publicity still for "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry and Lillian Gish in a publicity still for "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry and Lillian Gish in another publicity still for "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
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Norman Kerry and Lillian Gish in a third publicity still for "Annie Laurie" (1927), director John Robertson.
Norman Kerry
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