February 1927: Sir Harry Lauder As Glasgow Grocer in New Film – Adaptation of John Buchan’s Novel, “Huntingtower”

An article on page five of The Shields Daily News, on Tuesday the 1st of February, 1927, reads:

 

“SIR HARRY LAUDER

As Glasgow Grocer in New

Film.

 

After refusing many tempting offers from film producers all over the world, Sir Harry Lauder has at last consented

to appear on the screen in a British production. He is to play the leading part in ‘Huntingtower,’ an adaptation of John

Buchanan’s [sic] widely-read novel, which is to be produced in the spring by Welsh-Pearson.

 

Sir Harry has expressed himself as immensely keen upon the project, and has postponed many theatrical engagements

in order to devote his whole time to the making of the picture. It is a condition of his contract that the film shall be made

entirely in Great Britain.

 

Colonel John Buchan, the author of ‘Huntingtower,’ interviewed yesterday, expressed great delight at the news that Sir

Harry Lauder is to portray the principal character. ‘I had no idea that Messrs. Welsh-Pearson were negotiating with Sir

Harry,’ he said, ‘but I can think of nobody better suited to play the part of the Glasgow grocer. He has a perfect understanding

of the type, and, as an actor, reveals just the degree of humour, sentiment, and restraint that the part demands. Moreover,

he is so sincere and painstaking in everything he does that I am sure he will make a big success in what is to him an entirely

new sphere of art.”

 

 

For further information about Welsh-Pearson, the British film production and distribution company, please see the entry

on Wikipedia.

 

 

 

The British Newspaper Archive.

 

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, August 2025.