Rob Roy

[SnakeEyes]

I just watched Rob Roy for the first time, and I quite enjoyed it. I couldn't seem to find a pre-existing thread about it, so I decided to start my own, and share my thoughts.

It was pretty brutal and violent, but I suppose that's what the times were like. Overall I thought the acting was great, which goes without saying I guess. Liam Neeson, Brian Cox and John Hurt are all some of my favourite actors, though I really can't stand Jessica Lange. The story was good without being too hard to follow. The costumes and sets were generally pretty good. I especially liked the Duke of Argyle's outfit. I did think the set where Rob and Archie duel looked a bit "cardboard and styro", though. In the end, alltogether a good film.

So how accurate was it? I've heard some people say that Rob Roy was just a bandit, not some kind of hero (though in the film he does admit to stealing cattle). I've also read that the kilts worn by the Scots in this movie weren't authentic. Most of the sources I've found can't seem to agree on when the Scots started wearing pleated kilts, so maybe some of the kiltmakers and historians can clear that up for me. Any thoughts and opinions would be great!

Thanks.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

The costumes in this movie were very good. If you want to see a movie that accurately portrays Highland Dress of the era, [I]Rob Roy/I] is as good as any. I beleive Peter MacDonald (tartan scholar, highland dress historian) served as a consultant on this film.

Is the story accurate? According to what standards? My understanding is that the film was based on the book by Sir Walter Scott, which was based on the legends about Rob Roy, which were based on the actual person and his life. So, was any given element of the story accurate to history? Or maybe it was accurate to the novel? Or maybe it was accurate to one of the folk accounts? In my opinion, this story is so far removed from the real events that I don't get hung up on whether or not it was "accurate" and just enjoy the movie!

Aye,
Matt

[N. Campbell]

I have seen the movie more times than I can remember, and enjoyed watching it every time. I agree with Matt enjoy the movie for what it is a "Movie".

[macwilkin]

INHMO, Rob Roy was a great "period" movie; much, much, much better than Mel Gibson's "Scottish Movie"! (yes, I said that!)

Cheers,

Todd

[McMurdo]

I just saw Rob Roy for the first time last week, I have been looking for a copy on DVD for the longest time and found new copies of it and Braveheart, for $10 each. I enjoyed the movie, as Highland Thrower say for what is was a movie, I did like the costumes and sets. I really do like John Hurt, Tim Roth, Brian Cox, and Liam Neeson, so I liked the film. One thing I was wonering about though, how much material did they use for Liam's Great kilt, he really is a tall guy, you can really notice it when he is walking with John Hurt.

[McClef]

I watched it again on DVD only last week and yes it's best to enjoy it as a movie which is evocative of a period of time in Scottish history.

It's a goodie v baddie scenario set amongst stunning scenery and with great costumes too!

[AllenJ]

it is also one of the closer portrayals of accurate swordplay than most of hollywoods horrific sword twirlers. It's certainly not without it's flaws but it is one of the closer to accurate ones.

[Warhoover]

One thing about Liam's oufit is that I wish I could find a large belt and buckle like he wears! Have been looking for one for a while now. I am sure it was made in the costume dept but all the same I would at least like to get my hands on a buckle like that, the leather for the belt could be dealt with.

I agree with Matt, I enjoyed the movie. Even Braveheart is enjoyable as a movie. People who know even a little about history know that it was not meant to be an accurate depiction. To pick apart a movie based on the historical accuracy of it I think is too easy. A movie, is a movie. Entertainment, nothing more. You want a documentary then talk accuracy. You have to admit that even though Rob Roy and Braveheart and the like, sure sparked interest! Even I walked out of Braveheart with a swelling of pride in my Scots ancestry. "In the year of our Lord 1314, Patriots of Scotland, staving and outnumbered. Charged the fields at Bannockburn.........and won their freedom". We all know it took longer than that but still I got a lump in my throat.

[thescot]

I love Rob Roy, the movie and the novel. the movie was, as stated, a movie, not history, but the costuming was good, and the acting was terrific. I like it as well as Braveheart, but I love both movies as movies with exciting stories, great acting, and kilts!. I watch both of them once or twice a year, and I insist that my students see them, too.

As a side note, please realize that the movie had very little to do with the very excellent novel by Sir Walter Scott. His novel has Rober Roy MacGregor as a minor character, and he only titled the book Rob Roy at the insistence of his publishers; they knew the name would sell!

In fact, all of the story of the movie is only slightly alluded to in a very few paragraphs in the book. The story in the movie is based primarily on other sources, all of which pretty well agree with the events of the movie. He was a rogue, a hero, a scoundrel (especially if you were of the larger clans who wanted to squeeze the MacGregors out), a good man, an adventurer, and a mystery. And he lived to a pretty ripe auld age for a man whose last name was outlawed. (He was forced to use his mother's name, Campbell, when MacGregor was proscribed!)

Well, there's your literature lesson for the day. If you get the book to read, be aware that Walter Scott's style is very dated by today's monosyllabic, car-chase-oriented, low-browed mentality. It's a very good story about how the "old ways" of people like MacGregor were passing, but MacGregor, a noble character, is able to hold on for a while. Even in that story, however, he has become almost insignificant in the great scheme of things.

[thescot]

I just saw Rob Roy for the first time last week, . . . how much material did they use for Liam's Great kilt, .

Did anyone else notice that Liam's "great kilt" was actually a "little kilt" with a big, wadded up sash--like thing over the shoulder? He took it off in a couple of scenes, and, as the wearer of a great kilt, I can assure you that I cannot remove the over-ther-should part of the breachen.