The sea-swept Hebridean island may be fictitious, and the stunning Scottish location-shooting may actually be in Massachusetts, but this charming tale of West Coast fisher-folk will beguile you with its proud tartan heart.

Mary Pickford plays plucky Marget MacTavish – only daughter of the last Chieftain of the Clan MacTavish, a fishing community on the Scottish island of Killean. When her father dies at sea it is up to Marget to assume leadership of the Clan and to whip the islanders into shape. Her happiness seems assured at last when she is betrothed to Jamie Campbell but secrets from the past threaten their future together.

The “Woman who made Hollywood” brought her formidable talents for successful collaboration with director Maurice Tourneur and art director Ben Carré to make this enchanting ‘Scottish’ gem – available at last in a new restoration that reveals the makers’ beautiful composition, lighting and art direction.

DRESS CODE: Tartan or HippFest glamour!

Be sure to stay for the Scottish-themed after-party. The Hippodrome bar serving soft and alcoholic drinks will be open until 23:00.

Please download the free Neatebox WelcoME App and use it to automatically alert us that you are attending the Hippodrome and have specific access needs so that we can do our best to accommodate you when you arrive and during your visit. More information about the App here: Welcome for Visitors (wel-co.me)

Audio description (AD) for blind and low vision audiences (feature film only): created by Polly Goodwin AccessingDescription@gmail.com. We have two options:

1. Synchronous audio description, accessed through headsets. We have a limited number of AD headphones available for in-person audiences. Please indicate when booking if you require a headset. Pre-booking essential, this can be done online or by calling box office on 01324 506850. 

2. Synchronous Braille descriptions, accessed through your own Wi-Fi-capable refreshable Braille device (please bring with you fully charged). This is a unique attempt to capture the voice-free magic of silent film, with descriptions being transmitted to your braille device in synch with the film and its live musical accompaniment. A one-time Wi-Fi code will be offered to users of Braille devices.  Please consider if the Braille version is right for you. You should: have your own refreshable Braille device capable of connecting to Wi-Fi (we recommend a device with at least 40 cells); consider yourself someone who is a competent Braille reader, who ‘reads Braille for fun’; have a reading speed of 125 wpm. 

To keep the live experience as user-friendly and enjoyable as possible, the synchronous descriptions will be relatively brief. These will be sufficient to follow the film, but we think you’ll get the best experience by prior reading of a much richer descriptive text which will be shared with you ahead of the day. Your feedback after the event will help further the development of this new offering and be gratefully received.

If you have any questions or concerns about which accessibility option to choose, please contact Polly at accessingdescription@gmail.com – she will be happy to work with you to find your ideal experience.

All HippFest at Home audiences for this title will be given the choice of screening links with or without audio description, plus access to preparatory materials as above.

Dir. Maurice Tourneur | USA | 1917 | N/C PG | b&w, tinted & toned | English intertitles | 1h 24m + short

With: Mary Pickford, Matt Moore, Warren Cooke, Kathryn Browne-Decker

Performing live: Stephen Horne (piano, flute, accordion), Elizabeth-Jane Baldry (harp)

Screening material courtesy of the Mary Pickford Foundation
Online programme notes by Thomas Walsh