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Braveheart wins battle to be top Scots movie of all time

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Published Date: 24 June 2008
IT MAY have been filmed 13 years ago but Mel Gibson's stirring portrayal of William Wallace in Braveheart was unforgettable.
So much so that Gibson's 1995 epic came top in a survey of cinema-goers asked to name their favourite Scottish film of all time.

In second place was Trainspotting, Danny Boyle's 1996 dark comic adaptation of the novel by Irvine Welsh. Twelv
e per cent of voters said the film, which launched the career of Ewan McGregor, was their favourite Scottish film.

Another comedy – albeit one filmed in 1949 in black and white – romped into third place. Whisky Galore, the film of a Compton Mackenzie novel based on the true story of a shipwreck raided for its cargo of whisky was fondly remembered by cinema-goers.

The sentimental Disney version of Greyfriars Bobby, made in 1961, still has many fans, earning 9 per cent of the vote.

The 1997 film Mrs Brown, the tale of Queen Victoria's relationship with her Highland servant John Brown, was in fifth place, while Bill Forsyth's much loved schoolyard fable Gregory's Girl was the seventh most popular.

The Last King of Scotland, made in 2006, was the most recent film on the list with 6 per cent of the vote, while the historical epic Rob Roy, made in 1996 and starring Liam Neeson, was the eighth most popular film. The 1973 film The Wicker Man came in ninth place and Dog Soldiers, from 2002, came tenth.





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  • Last Updated: 23 June 2008 9:54 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scottish film
 
1

Snuffy Ivy,

Aberdeen 24/06/2008 02:48:49
Braveheart? Scottish feudalism & socialism at its worst! Scots in Scotland....well, whatever Hollywood trend will they follow next?

At least Greyfriars Bobby had a smidgeon of truth to it and the acting by the dog was remarkable compared to the cast of Braveheart!
2

Saul Tyre,

Germany 24/06/2008 06:09:17
The battle of Stirling without a bridge, Irishmen changing sides before the battle of Falkirk, Bruce saving Wallace at Falkirk, Wallace having an affair with the wife of Edward II, Wallace and Edward I dying at the same time, Wallace being called Braveheart (James Douglas gave the name to Bruce), blue painted faces a few centuries too late and kilts far too early, English sherrifs having the right to spend the first night with Scottish brides... Like science fiction.

Now that Scottish history is to be taught in schools, the next generation will watch that film and have a good laugh. The story of William Wallace deserves to be filmed but not by Hollywood.
3

Manco,

New Mexico 24/06/2008 07:14:16
Here's a question for Saul and Snuffy - would you rather that Mel Gibson had made a movie portraying the Scots as villains?

Who cares if Braveheart is historically accurate? It is an incredibly inspiring film, and in my opinion one of the greatest ever made. It honors William Wallace's memory and his incredible dedication to his country's liberty. Before this film was made nobody knew who Wallace or Robert the Bruce was. Now these are household names. Does it matter that Mel Gibson is clean-shaven in this movie and that Wallace had a beard? No. Absolutely not. What matters is that this film has taught millions around the world to follow your heart even if they cut it out of you.
4

Nell,

The Preservation Hall 24/06/2008 07:35:14
I thought Rob Roy was worthy of being higher up the listing. Some of the subtle humour is brilliant, especially from Brian Cox.
5

eddylongshanks,

24/06/2008 07:52:05
Lol, sums it all up really doesn't it? 99% of you actually want to believe it dont you ?
6

eddylongshanks,

24/06/2008 07:53:21
Hi Dave, how are you doing ? Well, I hope, it must be glorious in your part of the world this time of year.
7

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 24/06/2008 08:14:44
#3 Manco

Your view is that of paleface. Ancient wise man say that Star Wars is better vehicle for instant inspiration and makes clear difference between fantasy and reality. Now Sottish people have heap big confusion and have tendency to show hairy ar*e at football match. Everyone laugh at them. Should have watched Fort Apache instead.

8

danbob,

24/06/2008 08:37:43
Comfort and Joy. That was my favorite film. Very funny.
9

Boy Wonder,

24/06/2008 09:20:18
Braveheart is just a mediaeval romp. Lotsa fun! Leave it at that and just enjpoy it for what it was! Anyone who takes it seriously is 10p short of a pound! It deserves its place in the list because it had everything you want in a movie! Plus the added bonus of the fictional cuckolding of Edward the Hammer's French daughter-in-law. I bet you all smiled at that one! :D

10

Saul Tyre,

Germany 24/06/2008 10:18:55
#3 Manco,

Can you imagine a film about William Tell where he throws a spear to split a pineapple balaced on the head of a young damsel?

I am a supporter of Scottish independence but the story of Wallace was changed too much and the English were made out to be psychopaths (Edward I was mad but not everybody else). The true story is so brilliant, there was no reason for the absurd modifications. I dread to think what would happen if Mel Gibson ever decides to make a film about Robert Bruce.

PS: my favouite is Local Hero (genuine fiction).
11

danbob,

24/06/2008 10:47:29
Braveheart was total rubbish. we know it is 99% inaccurate but even the screenplay didn't match up.
12

ThePeter,

Glasgae 24/06/2008 18:22:05
Where is Local Hero?
Now that truly was a great Movie
And no more fictional then Braveheart either....
13

Snuffy Ivy,

Aberdeen 24/06/2008 18:24:55
#3
"...Before the film was made nobody knew who Wallace or Robert the Bruce was..."
Cone on man, I'd like to have met any Scot before this Hollywood dribble who had never heard of either Wallace or Bruce. That's a terrible indictment on your own Scottish history education! I learned about both in primary two!
14

danbob,

24/06/2008 20:04:26
15# Very few Americans knew who he was. Now they all think they are related.
15

,

24/06/2008 20:14:25
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
16

danbob,

24/06/2008 20:27:49
17# It was indeed. And the reason. The scottish weather was too wet. You couldn't make it up.
17

Biker,

Ayr 24/06/2008 22:35:53
Personaly I prefered Carla's Song with the wonderfull Robert Carlyle.
18

weeshooie1,

Wollongong 25/06/2008 04:34:12
No even a mention o' Rockets Galore or Whisky Galore? :0(
19

Manco,

NM 11/07/2008 06:24:15
#8, #12, #15:

That is true, I hear Scots learn about him very early on in their education. However, I was educated in the United States, where teachers don't even bother with most of the American presidents, much less medieval Europeans. Everyone I have ever met who knows who William Wallace is found out by watching Braveheart. You Scots should be thankful that, because of Braveheart, the world doesn't see you as people who "have tendency to show hairy ar*e at football match."

Specifically #12, the writer, Randall Wallace, probably knows much more than you do about telling stories on film. He maybe had a hundred reasons he diverted from history. For example, Wallace killing an English soldier over an argument about a fish is far less cinematically compelling than Wallace riding slowly into a village, faking surrender, and then pulling a mace from the back of his shirt and exacting revenge for the death of his lover.
20

Billiam Wallace,

04/02/2009 16:00:16
The film is inspirational. It can bring a tear tae a glass eye. It's not true of course and it suffers from the worst excesses of Hollywood but it makes you wish for things to be better, for the rise and success of the underdog, for some form of justice and of course, for FREEDOM!

PS. I love the story of the Scot who asked Mel Gibson why he was fiming the battle of Stirling Bridge without the bridge. "Aye,well we found it got in the way." the Scot replied, "Aye, the English thought the same." Brilliant!

 

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