Cunningham and Montrose-> Rob Roy movie

[Deil the Yin]

Another Rob Roy aside. I absolutely love the duel between Cunningham and Rob Roy. As a former fencer I was very impressed with the moves and the strategies employed by both combatants....Cheers

What do you think about the finale when RR grabs Cunningham's sword?

That trick came off a little weak to me in that it seemed Cunny could have simply withdrawn his sword which would have easily sliced RR's hand nearly in two... Just my perception, but I'm no fencer!

[Deil the Yin]

Hi Gents,
On a literary note, ... recently David Stevenson has published The Hunt For Rob Roy: The Man and the Myths, which represents the first academic biography of this character to appear in print.
Le deagh dhurachd,
Deasan

If this is the book that I think it is- just came out about 2001 or 2?- it was reviewed by one of our Council Members in the Clan Gregor Society who found it to be quite lacking: highly inaccurate in more than a few places to be precise, and generally gave it a very poor review, well written though it may be (well researched is another story all together apparently). And this review comes from one with an extensive knowledge of MacGregor history and access to many of the official documents etc.

This is not to say it's not worth reading, but you should be aware that it is not to be held necessarily as the final word on Rob Roy... For more info you could drop over to the MacGregor website/message board ( http://disc.server.com/Indices/25102.html ) and post a question to our Chairman, Professor Richard MacGregor, or practically anyone else on the board for that matter.

[Panache]

What do you think about the finale when RR grabs Cunningham's sword?

That trick came off a little weak to me in that it seemed Cunny could have simply withdrawn his sword which would have easily sliced RR's hand nearly in two... Just my perception, but I'm no fencer!

Here is the disadvantage of the small sword. The speed comes from having a light slim blade and using the point rather than the edge. Cunningham (foolishly) puts his blade to Rob Roy and prepare to skewer him. Rob Roy grabs the blade. Imagine instead of gripping it tightly and pulling back (OUCH! ) he instead uses the strength in his hand to try and bend the blade (by the flat sides) sideways against Cunninghams grip. This wouldn't work with a less flexible heavier blade. But with Cunningham's light one it would. Rob's hand would still get cut a bit while holding on, but his opponent wouldn't be able to pull or push the sword or back as long as he's bending it.

Cheers

[Deil the Yin]

Here is the disadvantage of the small sword. The speed comes from having a light slim blade and using the point rather than the edge. Cunningham (foolishly) puts his blade to Rob Roy and prepare to skewer him. Rob Roy grabs the blade. Imagine instead of gripping it tightly and pulling back (OUCH! ) he instead uses the strength in his hand to try and bend the blade (by the flat sides) sideways against Cunninghams grip. This wouldn't work with a less flexible heavier blade. But with Cunningham's light one it would. Rob's hand would still get cut a bit while holding on, but his opponent wouldn't be able to pull or push the sword or back as long as he's bending it.

I guess I can give you that one since you're a fencer and I'm certainly not, though I would say that this tactic is very obtuse for a movie. If I was more knowledgable about swordplay I think I would feel alot better about this ending...

But at any rate- thanks for the inside scoop on that point (no pun intended).

[Panache]

I guess I can give you that one since you're a fencer and I'm certainly not, though I would say that this tactic is very obtuse for a movie. If I was more knowledgable about swordplay I think I would feel alot better about this ending...

It works for me. Cunningham is a much better swordsman than Rob Roy. Rob defeats him by doing something unexpected. I recall a somewhat confused look of panic crossing Cunningham's face as Rob's free hand scrambles for his basket hilt broadsword. He was better. He got cocky. His opponent did something unexpected. He didn't have an immediate countermove. As a result he got chopped in half!*

Cheers





*Exactly what happened to Darth Maul, though he took on TWO opponents and beat them.

[MacWage]

It works for me. Cunningham is a much better swordsman than Rob Roy. Rob defeats him by doing something unexpected. I recall a somewhat confused look of panic crossing Cunningham's face as Rob's free hand scrambles for his basket hilt broadsword. He was better. He got cocky. His opponent did something unexpected. He didn't have an immediate countermove. As a result he got chopped in half!*

*Exactly what happened to Darth Maul, though he took on TWO opponents and beat them.

Cheers

Though, Maul was chopped horizontally, while Archie bought it vertically.

Point is well made, I had not made the connection. Both were winning and the opponant, on the point of death, does the unexpected and the would-be victor bites it.

[cessna152towser]

Great pics at the Kingshouse Hotel at Balquidder in the snow, Mike. We pass that way in summer on our annual visit to Fort William and have been known to stop and visit Rob Roy's grave.

[Mike1]

Great pics at the Kingshouse Hotel at Balquidder in the snow, Mike. We pass that way in summer on our annual visit to Fort William and have been known to stop and visit Rob Roy's grave.

Here are a couple more of the day -


At Balquhidder Parish Church for the commemoration (Todd, you may recognize the wee fellow holding the floral arrangement. As a hint, he's of Belgian descent... )


This was the fellow that organized the commemoration for Na Fir Dileas


The white rose arrangement we laid at the grave



And then back to the snow <shiver> -