Bonnie Scotland Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Bonnie Scotland Blu-ray Movie Review

Don't get kilt.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 11, 2026

After their accidental first pairing in 1921's The Lucky Dog and dozens of popular one and two-reel comedy shorts beginning in 1927 after their official team-up, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy -- overseen by mentor Hal Roach -- soon graduated to the big leagues, starring in about a half-dozen feature-length films released during the next several years. 1936 marked the beginning of a more prolific era for the internationally popular duo but, a year before that happened, they starred in Bonnie Scotland, a charming comedy that shows no signs of the reported dispute between Laurel and Roach that flared during their previous collaboration, 1934's Babes in Toyland AKA March of the Wooden Soldiers.

Directed by James W. Horne (who also helmed other Laurel and Hardy shorts and features including Big Business and Way Out West), Bonnie Scotland takes us to scenic you-know-where for the grand arrival of Stanley McLaurel (Laurel) and his pal Oliver Hardy (Hardy), who stroll into town with the immortal tune of their shared theme song, "Dance of The Cuckoos", played by a blacksmith. They're both expecting that Stanley will inherit a huge fortune from his late grandfather, Angus Ian McLaurel... but he only ends up getting a set of bagpipes and a snuffbox.

So, who's the lucky principal heir? None other than Stanley’s cousin, Lorna McLaurel (June Lang), who's required to travel to India under the stiff guardianship of Colonel Gregor McGregor (Vernon Steele) until she reaches adulthood. However, Lorna's upset about this because she's madly in love with Alan Douglas (William Janney), an assistant to the family lawyer, Mr. Miggs (David Torrence). Lorna’s guardian and McGregor’s sister, Lady Violet Ormsby (Anne Grey), would rather keep Angus' fortune for herself and thus attempts to keep the young lovers apart.

Meanwhile, Stan and Ollie fall into a string of comic mishaps that lead to their accidental enlistment in the British Army while looking for more appropriate clothing. The duo is placed under the command of the hot-tempered Sergeant Major Finlayson (James Finlayson), whose repeated attempts to discipline the new recruits prove increasingly futile and, after being transferred to India, Stan and Ollie become entangled in Lorna's romantic difficulties once handsome Alan joins the army himself in order to follow her. Then, of course, there's scheming Lady Violet, who continues to manipulate the situation in her favor. And while our two accidental soldiers eventually become mixed up in a dangerous confrontation on the Northwest Frontier, their unique brand of incompetence once again might be a saving grace.

Bonnie Scotland certainly doesn't try to reinvent the formulas that made Laurel and Hardy such a popular comedy team, yet it can still be seen as a decently solid showcase of their talents. The Scottish and Indian settings create an expansive backdrop for physical gags, military routines, and the duo’s ever-growing misadventures, with all of these elements noticeably overshadowing the film's less effective "young lovers" subplot. Even so, at just 81 minutes Bonnie Scotland still feels light and breezy, just like a comedy ought to, and as a result it'll be a treat for long-time fans of the team who likely haven't seen it several years. It last appeared on home video as a Double Feature DVD alongside their enjoyable 1933 film The Devil's Brother... and while it's a shame that same "two for one" pairing wasn't repeated here, one would assume that other film won't be too far behind. In any case, WAC has again worked overtime to serve fans with another top-tier restoration, and one that makes Bonnie Scotland look better than ever before.

Bonnie Scotland Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Along with a countless number of Golden Age MGM feature films, the original nitrate camera negative for Bonnie Scotland was destroyed in the 1978 George Eastman House fire... but if Warner Archive's track record has taught us anything, that doesn't necessarily mean a top-tier restoration isn't possible. This time around, the boutique label and Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging were able to work with a nitrate lavender protection element which, despite its official categorization as a second-generation source, could very easily be mistaken for a negative based on its stunning clarity and crisp grain structure. As usual it's been scanned in 4K and treated to a round of Warner Archive's proprietary manual cleanup process with jaw-dropping results, presenting this film in a way that likely rivals a first-run theatrical showing. As seen in these direct-from-disc screenshots, Bonnie Scotland has indeed been brought back to life in grand fashion, and of course the 1080p transfer has been encoded on a dual-layered disc that runs at a high and supportive bit rate from start to finish. Simply put, this is yet another well-earned perfect rating for Warner Archive, and the fruits of their labor will truly excite fans of the legendary comedy duo and Golden Age cinema in general.

Bonnie Scotland Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, Bonnie Scotland's DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix sounds very good for its age, though perhaps slightly more reigned in by the limitations of its source. Even so, dialogue and sound effects remains clear and intelligible throughout, although anyone not trained to decipher various degrees of Scottish brogue may want to make good use of the optional English (SDH) subtitles. The original score -- which includes Laurel and Hardy's theme song -- is the work of Marvin Hatley and Leroy Shield, and it also presumably sounds as good as possible under the circumstances. Trace amounts of damage can be heard here and there, including small amounts of hiss, but this is still a nicely restored track that presents the original mono audio as a two-channel mix for wider playback. In short, it gets the job done.

Bonnie Scotland Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with vintage poster-themed cover art and a few solid extras.

• Audio Commentary - This outstanding legacy track features Laurel & Hardy aficionados Richard W. Bann and Leonard Maltin, who fill this feature-length conversation with no shortage of great stories, personal memories, and sharp insights about Laurel and Hardy's careers as well as the history of Hal Roach Studios. Unsurprisingly, this warm and enthusiastic track is a must-listen for fans and well worth 81 minutes of your time.

• Hollywood Party [Excerpt] (12:30) - Included here are three clips from the pre-Code MGM musical Holiday Party, a film that's never been released in full on home video (not surprising, given its reputation), two of which feature appearances by Laurel and Hardy and look to be sourced from a raw scan of very good elements.

• Pick a Star [Excerpt] (8:25) - Two more restored 1930s film clips featuring the dynamic duo, this time from a similarly so-so film that's at least available on DVD. Sadly, "Dueling Harmonicas" is not one of them.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:30) - This vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

Bonnie Scotland Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Bonnie Scotland isn't usually regarded as one of the top entries in Laurel and Hardy's joint filmography, but it's still a decent comedy with a good amount of charm and heart. Warner Archive's new Blu-ray edition is elevated to four-star status, however, based on the clear-cut strengths of its dazzling new 4K-sourced restoration as as well as a handful of enjoyable legacy bonus features led by an outstanding audio commentary. Firmly Recommended to fans.