DVD Corner

Bonnie Scotland Blu-ray Review

You can’t go wrong with a Laurel and Hardy film.  

In 1935’s “Bonnie Scotland,” Laurel and Hardy are escaped prisoners who stow away on a boat to Scotland where Stan is hoping to inherit a large chunk of money from his deceased grandfather. In reality, he receives a bagpipe and a snuff box. The two broke individuals stick around town and accidentally find themselves enlisting in the British Army through a misunderstanding. Laurel and Hardy then find themselves whisked away to India. They aren’t the only ones off to India, however, as Stan’s cousin Lorna relocates there leaving behind a boyfriend (Alan). The lovesick Alan is inspired by Laurel and Hardy to enlist in the Army so that he too can venture to India. While in India, the bumbling Laurel and Hardy get into all sorts of adventures and even get involved in a mission to thwart the enemy Khan Mir Jutra and his forces.

When it comes to Laurel and Hardy, their shorts are the cream of the crop, but they still have many joyous feature films. While director James W. Horne’s “Bonnie Scotland” isn’t on the level of their top tier classics like “Sons of the Desert” and “March of the Wooden Soldiers,” it’s still a respectable feature. 

“Bonnie Scotland”  plays like a military movie parody (ala “Gunga Din”) with Laurel and Hardy becoming Army soldiers and the hinjinks that ensue. You can’t help but shake the feeling that the title feels a bit like false advertising. The Scotland portion of the film is really only the first half and feels like an entirely different film from the second half. The second half finds the duo in India in the Army. The main through line through both halves is the Alan and Lorna romance which really drags the movie down and takes away valuable screentime from Laurel and Hardy.

In terms of the comedy, there’s several highlights here with the painting, the fish cooking, and the integration of Laurel and Hardy’s theme music in two sequences. Could the writers have done more with the comedy duo’s time in both Scotland and India? Absolutely, but Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy make the most with the material they are given as always. Even when the script may be lacking, you can always count on them to rise above it with their ever amusing comedic shenanigans. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.37:1 1080p. How does it look? The B&W classic gets a quality restoration. There’s no denying the fact that the image quality is the best we have seen on home video. Any time a Laurel and Hardy film gets a Blu-ray release it’s a reason to celebrate. 

Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The actual movie audio is decent, but the snowy background audio can be overpowering at times.

Extras include a theatrical trailer, commentary by Richard W. Bann and film critic Leonard maltin, and Laurel and Hardy excerpts from films “Hollywood Party” and “Pick A Star.” 

August 17, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Bonnie Scotland Blu-ray Review, Comedy, Laurel and Hardy, Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, Warner Archive