Stone of Destiny

[Hamish]

I've not heard of this film either, but I clearly remember the event itself - and the sense of disgust at the desecration of Westminster Abbey!

Since I have an 'aversion' to modern, multi-screen cinemas - sorry, popcorn emporia - I'll probably wait for the film to be shown on TV or its DVD release!

Take care,
Ham.

[sathor]

looks good, perhaps the arthouses will get it.

[Rob Wright]

I've not heard of this film either, but I clearly remember the event itself - and the sense of disgust at the desecration of Westminster Abbey!

Since I have an 'aversion' to modern, multi-screen cinemas - sorry, popcorn emporia - I'll probably wait for the film to be shown on TV or its DVD release!

Take care,
Ham.

One of the benefits of being a manger at a movie theatre is I can do private viewings for myself

I doubt it will get abroad release in the states, maybe a few boutique cinema's if at all.

Rob

[lammy d]

Dvd release in Scotland sometime in feb Dont think there was much damage done in westminster abbey mind you i think they dropped it !and for not having the backing in Scotland why did they not charge the people that tried to bring it back to its rightfull place!

[Derek Conley]

Looks fun!

[thescot]

I think I'll declare a kilted outing to see the flick whenever it comes here. I can get up at least 5 or 6 kilted rabble on pretty short notice, and that's a movie I want to see.

[Raphael]

We caught the trailer on the tube yesterday and my girlfriend wants to see it.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I spoke once with Ian Hamilton about the reason for the non-prosecution of the lads who lifted the stone, and came away with the impression that the government had decided to treat it as a prank, not a criminal act. The prevailing attitude being, "alright, you've had your laugh, now give back the stone and everyone can go home."

Which is pretty much what happened. Hopefully I can get my local cinema to book in the film. If I can't, I'll cancel their lease on the building.

Just joking about that last part...

[BruceBC]

I watched this film last fall at the Vancouver Film Festival. A good movie - entertaining, well made... and an interesting story. Worth the time and money.

..and I did wear my kilt! (just so you know.. there are no kilts in the film)

(ps the Vancouver Film Festival does have an unofficial kilt day - many a kilt that day)

[McClef]

It would have been politically embarrassing to have made a charge of theft as ownership would have had to be proved as would the intention to "permanently deprive."

The SNP only enjoyed some 0.7% popular support at the time and the Conservative and Unionists were enjoying a strong number of seats in Scottish constituencies. That isn't to say that they were not proud of being Scots even within a United Kingdom. Once the stone had been found at Arbroath Abbey the perpetrators obtained a folk hero status that crossed boundaries of political opinion.

A better charge would have been of criminal damage given that the stone was damaged as was part of Westminster Abbey - a "prank" that went badly wrong. But it would probably have appeared to be heavy handed treating what transpired to be an idealistic bunch of students this way and created resentment where none had existed.

And of course there are controversies as to whether the English ever had the original stone in the first place or even whether the one that was returned was the one that was stolen.

And Hamilton went on to follow a legal career so he most certainly would not want his student capers to be considered criminal. Interestingly he refused to attend the repatriation ceremonies it appears.

I found some reviews of the movie and was very taken with one which stated:

"A woeful slice of sentimental whimsy that makes Braveheart look like a documentary."