Bonnie Prince Charlie [1948]

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-10-27 rating:
A mixed bag
It is very easy to knock this film about Charles Edward Stuart's bid to reclaim the throne for the Stuarts in 1745. There's numerous errors of fact. For instance, George II was on the Continent when Charles arrived, not in London as here. Lord George Murray joined Charles at Perth in September, not at Glenfinnan in August. Cope's army at Prestonpans was not surprised in bed as here. Charles' father was not James II, he was on poor terms with him and James II was not thrown out by George, but by William of Orange in 1688. Charles and Murray did not have a chat on Culloden's battlefield after the fighting - both had fled and Cumberland was in possession fo the field - any Jacobites there were dead or held prisoner. One could go on. The inclusion of lowly but 'loveable 'characters (actually quite embarassing), such as the blind piper and Donald the shepherd/piper are also galling. Jumping about between scenes, eg, the Jacobites are at Edinbugh at one scene, then at Derby another. Culloden is omitted - at one point we are shown Cumberland talking about the state of the campaign, then we see people on the moor, then the aftermath of the battle. As this was the camapign's crucial battle, its ommission is not unimportant. Charles is portrayed in far too much a romantic vein, and his faults (sulking, temper tantrums, alcoholism) appear not at all. He lacks any form of Italian accent (he had only lievd there all his life up to this point), whereas Cumberland, who had lived in England all his life is saddled with a German one. The inclusion of nineteenth century Jacobiter songs is predictable, but annoying. Finally the scenes of Charles on the run are far too long; nor do we see any evidence of destruction of Jacobite property/loss of cattle/prisoners and executions, as a result of their participation in the campaign.

Is there anything good about this? Well, the scenery for one; the Glenfinnan scene is actually shot there. The fact that the Highlanders were divided between Stuart and Hanover is another. The costumes look authentic. George II, complete with German accent and bravery, is well done. Cumberland, his accent apart, is fine, as is Lord George Murray. His arguments with Charles at Derby and elsewhere, are well done, showing his prickly, arrogant nature.

This is not all bad, but could, with soem care, have been a lot better. However, with the possible exception of Chasing the Deer, it is the only film version we have of the campaign (Culloden only deals with the latter part of the campaign, in 1746).

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review by: MON date: 2008-02-26 rating:
IT`S ONLY HOLLYWOOD`S VERSION
IF YOU WATCH THIS MOVIE, AS A HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION, AND NOT AS AN ACTUAL HISTORY LESSON, YOU WILL LOVE IT.....
THE BRILLIANT DAVID NIVEN LEADS A GREAT CAST, WHICH INCLUDES THE LATE GREAT JACK HAWKINS....
...WE ENJOYED IT....


review by: date: 2003-02-21 rating:
bonnie prince drivel
The most historicaly inacurate pile of pap ever to grace a screen with the bonnie prince acctually portraid as somewhat of a hero and not the bungling idiot he truly was also considering prince charlie was itallian he seems to have a very distinguished english gentry type of accent which is more than can be said for king george of england and his son the duke of cumberland (who was born and raised in england) to top it off with the most convincing scotish acents since brigadoon and you have the most cringeworth film since some one pulled out that camcorder taping of you singing hi ho silver lining after one to many at a wedding reception.

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