December 1926: “Glimpses from the Life of Sir Walter Scott” – Private View of an All-Scottish Film Production, in the Coliseum Theatre, Glasgow

An article on page seven of The Scotsman, on Thursday the 16th of December, 1926, reads:

 

“GLIMPSES OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.

A PRIVATE view was given in the Coliseum Theatre, Glasgow, yesterday, of an all-Scottish film

production bearing the title, ‘Glimpses from the Life of Sir Walter Scott’, and produced by the

Scottish Film Productions, Glasgow, under the direction of Mr Maurice Sandground. Sir Walter’ s

wanderings over his beloved Trossachs district is shown. He is seen in deeply thoughtful mood,

pausing at various places, leaning on his staff, and recalling the days that are gone. Loch Lomond

and the adjacent district, so fertile of romance, comes into the picture. Here Scott collected much

of the material for the exploits of the immortal freebooter, Rob Roy. A considerable portion of Rob

Roy is given in dramatic form, and the incident in which harsh treatment is meted out to Rob’s wife

and children, who are turned adrift from their home while he is absent on a visit to Bailie Nicol

Jarvie in Glasgow, is finely treated. Much is made of the famous story of the ‘Lady of the Lake,’

which is also treated dramatically, and the combat scene between Fitzjames and Roderick Dhu is

made a living thing. A feature is the excellent selection of songs which are used to give point and

character to the film, such as the ‘Macgregor’s Gathering,’ &c. The figure of Sir Walter Scott is

fairly well represented, and throughout the film his many appearances are always welcome and

refreshing. The film is an excellent and educative production, and a suitable companion work to

‘The Life of Robert Burns.'”

 

 

The British Newspaper Archive.

 

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, June 2025.