Laxdale Hall [Scotch on the Rocks] *** (1952, Raymond Huntley, Ronald Squire, Sebastian Shaw, Fulton Mackay, Kathleen Ryan) – Classic Movie Review 13,389

The whimsical 1952 British second feature comedy film Laxdale Hall [Scotch on the Rocks] is based on Eric Linklater’s 1951 novel, and stars Raymond Huntley, Ronald Squire and Kathleen Ryan.

Director John Eldridge’s 1952 British second feature comedy film Laxdale Hall [Scotch on the Rocks] is based on Eric Linklater’s 1951 novel, and stars Raymond Huntley, Ronald Squire, Sebastian Shaw, Fulton Mackay, and Kathleen Ryan.

There is more than a whiff of Compton Mackenzie’s Scottish comedies in this tale of five Hebrides car owners who refuse to pay their road tax until there is a street in Laxdale village, and clash with the government delegation, led by pompous member of Parliament Samuel Pettigrew MP (Raymond Huntley), who arrive for an inquiry.

Pettigrew is accompanied by Hugh Marvell MP (Sebastian Shaw) and Andrew Flett of the Scottish Office (Fulton Mackay),

[Spoiler alert] Pettigrew presents plans to abandon Laxdale and set up a New Town called Brumley Dumps (!) 100 miles away. But, when Pettigrew gets done for poaching, his colleague forces him into rubber-stamping a new road.

There’s a lack of oomph in the script, but this always warm-hearted and appealing film hits the right whimsical comic tone throughout and the lovely cast keeps it gently amusing, and maybe a bit more. It is actually genuinely funny at times. As with You’re Only Young Twice (1952), a tasty crop of Fifties Scots actors all do their darndest for the project, along with many English ones, this time with Raymond Huntley the hit turn and Ronald Squire the next best thing.

Alfred Shaughnessy and John Eldridge adapt the novel for the screenplay.

It was retitled Scotch on the Rocks for the US.

Release dates: April 1953 (UK) and 5 June 1954 (US).

The film was produced by the British government-backed Group 3 Films and shot at Southall Studios. The external scenes were shot in Applecross, a peninsula in Wester Ross, in the Scottish Highlands, and the film’s Laxdale Hall is Applecross House, an early 18th century laird’s house.

John Eidridge had previously made the similar spirited Brandy for the Parson for Group 3 Films.

Group 3 Films (1951 to 1955) was set up by the National Film Finance Corporation to finance films from newer film-makers. It was run by John Grierson and John Baxter, and made more than 20 films but lost £500,000. Scottish documentary maker John Grierson certainly favoured Scottish projects at Group 3.

The cast

The cast are Ronald Squire as General Matheson Kathleen Ryan as Catriona Matheson, Raymond Huntley as Samuel Pettigrew MP, Sebastian Shaw as Hugh Marvell MP, Fulton Mackay as Andrew Flett of the Scottish Office, Jean Colin as Lucy Pettigrew, Jameson Clark as poacher Roderick McLeod, Grace Gavin as Mrs McLeod Keith Faulkner as Peter McLeod, Prunella Scales as Morag McLeod, Kynaston Reeves as the Reverend Ian Macaulay, Andrew Keir as McKellaig, Nell Ballantyne as Nurse Connachy, Roddy McMillan as Willie John Watt, Rikki Fulton as first poacher, Eric Woodburn as poacher leader Gamlie, Archie Duncan as Police Sergeant at Kyle of Lochalsh, Ian MacNaughton as police constable, Howard Connell as the postman, Nell Ballantyne, Meg Buchanan, Tom Baird-Ferguson, Rikki Fulton, James Gilbert, Howard Connell, James Copeland, Margaret Boyd, Norman MacOwan, James Anderson, Julian D’Albie, Walter Horsbrugh, Anthony Kilshawe, and Lionel Harris.

Laxdale Hall [Scotch on the Rocks] is directed by John Eldridge, runs 77 minutes, is made by Group 3 Films, is released by Associated British-Pathé (UK), is written by John Eldridge and Alfred Shaughnessy, is shot in black and white by Arthur Grant, is produced by John Grierson, John Baxter and Alfred Shaughnessy, is scored by Frank Spencer, and is designed by Ray Simm.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,389

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Applecross House, an early 18th century laird’s house.