Bonnie Scotland (1935)

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Well, half a good Laurel and Hardy movie is better than none. This comedy begins well, as Stan and Ollie visit a small village in Scotland hoping to secure a huge inheritance for Stan (aka "Stanley McLaurel", HA HA HA!) after a dear departed one of his has passed on. The duo are devastated when they find out what the "fortune" is (I'll leave that as a hilarious surprise). From here, the boys are involved in center stage antics as they run out of money and have to make ends meet in a boarding house where they do not disappoint their audience. Then, halfway through, L&H wind up joining the army, the action moves to India, and the comedy team takes a back seat to a very uninteresting love story between other characters. It's a shame, because the first part of the movie is so much fun. To make the situation even more overbearing, the romantic lead man here, played by William Janney, is a real silly geek and unworthy of our attention. **1/2 out of ****

Similar to the way Hollywood spoils almost all comedy films in 2006, the lesson ought to be that spending money isn't what laughs are all about.BONNIE Scotland begins in Scotland but takes a swift plot turn and has the boys soon enough in the Scottish Army in India. Both Scotland and India are no doubt either sunny southern California or inside the Hal Roach studio; but both locations are convincing. All this calls for a pretty big cast for a Laurel & Hardy movie and I'll bet this one cost maybe triple their usual budget. Big problem though: They forgot to include much humor anywhere in the 80 minute running time.Here's the point: Their later film WAY OUT WEST I score a 10, not a 5. That film was entertaining for the whole movie, tenaciously funny; yet the entire action takes place (first) on a trail somewhere out of town (second) in front of a saloon (third) inside the saloon (fourth) outside the stable; a very limited scope yet the film is a comic masterpiece. Money CAN buy you love, but it can't buy laughs.

As a Scot I really do resent how American movies portray us . We all have incomprehensible accents ( I can`t understand a word Scottie from STAR TREK says and I`m Scottish . Perhaps they should have employed a Scottish actor ? ) , we all have funny names like Gregor McGregor ( Randell Wallace is an American with a Scots sounding name , Scots are usually called Jim or Dave ! ) , wear strange skirts called kilts ( We only wear them at weddings ) and play strange instruments called bagpipes . It goes without saying this L&H feature plays up to the stereotypes but seeing as it`s Stan and Ollie all this cliche can be forgiven , same as I can forgive all the other flaws one can expect from seeing one of their movies after a period of many years , it`s rather episodic and loosely plotted with the main story of Stan and Ollie joining the army not happening untill half way through the movie`s running time , but it`s also funny and James Finlayson ( A Scottish actor ) getting to play a Scottish Sergeant called " Leatherpuss " By no means one of their greatest highlights - The features seen slightly drawn out compared to their shorts - BONNIE SCOTLAND is still one of the better L&H feature length movies

This time, Laurel and Hardy are off to Scotland to collect an inheritance from Laurel's uncle Angus Ian McLaurel. This is one of their more elaborate features, as they proceed to joining the Indian Army and fighting off the Arabs who are invading the country. Directed by perennial L&H director, James Horne. Great score, culminating Scottish folk tunes and the usual classic score by Marvin Hatley.