Figure 1.--While cpies of the silent film "Huntingtontower" have been lost, we have noted some surviving posters. The image here is a book cover.

The John Buchan spy novel Huntingtower (1922) was made into a silent film starring Sir Harry Lauder, a very famous Glaswegian music hall star. It's interesting that they used local boys then as they did for "Ratcatcher" (1999). Unfortunately the film has been lost. The book was later made into a popular Scottish TV series, "The Gorbals Die-Hards" (Scotland, 1978). As the film is lost, we are not sure how they were costumed. A surviving poster suggests the boys were wearing bits and pieces of the Scout uniform, a make-shift kilt, and short trousers--just as Buchan described in his book. The boys were Scottish - from the Gorbals area of Glasgow. The film was shot by a Scottish production company on location in Scotland and Northumberland with a Scottish film crew, but they had to use the studios for the interior scenes in London because the Glasgow studios had gone bust. They took the Glasgow boys down to the London Cricklewood studio to do the filming. A Scottish reader writes, "The 1927 version of "Huntingtower" was a silent film so the boys' glorious Glasgow accents were not captured by the film. This makes it even more remarkable that they used local boys. Being a silent film obviously highlights the visual aspect and therefore the costuming. .... Also the film studio at Rouken Glen (an old tramshed south of Glasgow) had closed in 1924 so maybe that's why they went down to London."

Filmology

"Huntingtower" was a silent film. Unfortunately the film has been lost. The film was shot by a Scottish production company on location in Scotland and Northumberland with a Scottish film crew, but they had to use the studios for the interior scenes in London because the Glasgow studios had gone bust. The book was later made into a popular Scottish TV series, "The Gorbals Die-Hards" (Scotland, 1978). While all known copies of the film have been lost. There are, however, a few surviving stills.

Book

The film was based on John Buchan's spy novel, Huntingtower (1922). Buchan had firm views on the adapotation of books to film. He also decided to only sell production rights for his books to British companies. [Mannock] I'm not sure how closely the film followed the book, but given Buchan's views, we suspect that he the director did attempt to faithfully recreate the book.

Cast

Sir Harry Lauder

The star of the film was Sir Harry Lauder, a very famous Glaswegian music hall star.

Gorbal boys

In addition to Lauder, an interesting aspect of the cast was the boys involved. The boys were Scottish - from the Gorbals area of Glasgow. It's interesting that they used local boys then as they did for "Ratcatcher" (1999). A 1920s film critic writes about the boys used in "Huntingtowers", "I was privileged to witness many of the incidents of production on this floor. But first let me introduce the Gorbals Diehards. A week or two before beginning the film, which features a large number of semi-irregular Boy Scouts, George Pearson inspected over three hundred boys, actual denizens of that delectable environ of Glasgow called Gorbals. From their number he chose a dozen, and then added a few more. These youngsters are wonderful. They do not prove that any amateurs can be taken up and made into film-stars; for they were specially chosen for intelligence as well as for being 'types.' They have had the time of their lives in London, and Sir Harry has taught them some Highland ballads, which they have alternated with a community song of their own devising, when not actually working. t has not been entirely a holiday for them, however. One particular scene I watched entailed a fierce fight in the castle. some unkempt fellows in Bolshevik garb (now from Glasgow!) were involved in several "scraps." Pat Aherne, the breezy young hero, had some fierce tussles, and the Diehards arrive in time to square accounts. A huge candelabra was hurled at one boy, and violence of various kinds apparently threatened others. It was a most realistic 'rough-house.'" [Mannock]

A Scottish reader writes, "It must of been a big adventure for those Gorbals boys to be taken down to London back then and film with Harry Lauder - who was a music hall hero to Glaswegians - I bet their mum's were jealous! Most Gorbals kids would not even get out of their city back then - let alone down to London - which is why Scouting with it's camping must have been so popular. The Gorbals was notorious as a poor slum area of the city. Some rather rough kids cme out of the Gorbals. It must have been unusual to portray boys from there on film back then, but the book demanded it. Of course it was a silenbt film and no one could have known. The decession to with actual Gorbals kids is an interesting decission on the part of the producers. I remember that the boys in the TV version of 'Huntingtower', 'The Gorbals Die-Hards' (Scotland, 1978) did not have real Glasgow accents, but if they had no-one outside of the city would be able to understand them!" A sample from the book--"'Good Deeds!' he repeated bitterly. 'I tell ye I'm fair wore out wi' good deeds. Yon man Mackintosh tell't me this was going to be a grand holiday. Holiday! Govey Dick! It's been like a Setterday night in Main Street—a' fechtin', fechtin'." No collocation of letters could reproduce Dougal's accent, and I will not attempt it. There was a touch of Irish in it, a spice of music-hall patter, as well as the odd lilt of the Glasgow vernacular. He was strong in vowels, but the consonants, especially the letter "t," were only aspirations. The 1927 film of Huntingtower must have been ahead of it's time in using local boys as actors. Shame they didn't use local film studios too - but not for those lucky kids who got a trip to London. I wonder if they made any more films or what the reaction of their pals was? Also how much they got paid! What a shame the film has been lost.

Now many of the people of the Gorbals have been rehoused in high-rise blocks in places like Govan (where "Ratcatcher" was shot) or new towns like Cumbernauld ( where "Gregory's Girl" was filmed).

Setting

The film was largely shot in Scotland and at Bamburgh castle over the border in Northumberland, but similar scenary to the Scottish lowlands. Glasgow played an important role in the filming. Some scenes were shot on Sauchihall Street is in Glasgow, an important shopping district, and Dalhousie Street. The interior shots were filmed in London. It was filmed in 1927 with a contemprary setting.

Plot

The series is about Dickson McCunn, an elderly and very a respectable gentleman who has just retired. He has a romantic soul. He goes on a walking tour in the hills of south-west Scotland. On one of his walks he makes the acquantience of a young English poet. Soon he finds himself involved in a kidnapping plot. A Russian princess is held prisoner in Huntingtower, an isolated mansion. A group of Glasgow scouts - "The Gorbals Die-Hards" - are used to run messages and keep watch on people.

Costuming

As the film is lost, we are not sure how they were costumed. A surviving poster suggests the boys were wearing bits and pieces of the Scout uniform, a make-shift kilt, and short trousers--just as Buchan described in his book.

Reader Comments

They took the Glasgow boys down to the London Cricklewood studio to do the filming. A Scottish reader writes, "The 1927 version of "Huntingtower" was a silent film so the boys' glorious Glasgow accents were not captured by the film. This makes it even more remarkable that they used local boys. Being a silent film obviously highlights the visual aspect and therefore the costuming. I'm going to try to find out if there are any contemporary reviews of the film to see if the costuming is mentioned." Also the film studio at Rouken Glen (an old tramshed south of Glasgow) had closed in 1924 so maybe that's why they went down to London."

Sources

Mannock, D.L. "Screening Sir Harry," The Picturegoer (August 1927).

Created: January 2, 2004
Last updated: 12:42 AM 8/2/2005