Braveheart ( film)
Braveheart (1995) is a historical, action-drama movie produced and directed by Mel Gibson, who also starred in the title role. Written for screen and then novelized by Randall Wallace. Gibson portrays a legendary Scot, William Wallace, who gained recognition when he came to the forefront of the First War of Scottish Independence by opposing Edward I of England (portrayed by Patrick McGoohan) and subsequently abetted by Edward's daughter-in-law Princess Isabelle (played by Sophie Marceau) and a claimant to the Scottish throne, Robert the Bruce (played by Angus Macfadyen).
Mel Gibson William Wallace
James Robinson - Young William Wallace
Sean Lawlor - Malcolm Wallace
Sandy Nelson - John
Wallace
James Cosmo - Campbell
Sean McGinley - MacClannough
Alan Tall - Elder Stewart
Andrew Weir - Young Hamish Campbell
Gerda
Stevenson - Mother MacClannough
Ralph Riach - Priest #1
Mhairi Calvey
- Young Murron MacClannough
Brian Cox - Argyle Wallace
Patrick McGoohan - Longshanks, King Edward I
Peter Hanly - Edward, Prince
of Wales
Sophie Marceau - Princess Isabelle
The
film won five Academy Awards at the 68th Academy Awards, including the Academy
Award for Best Picture and Best Director, and had been nominated for an additional
five. Produced by Icon Productions for Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox,
the film's success may have helped to revive the historical epic genre, with subsequent
films such as Gladiator, The Patriot, Alexander, Troy.
Awards
The
film won numerous awards including the 1995 Academy Award for:
Best Picture
Best Director (Mel Gibson)
Best Cinematography
Best Makeup
Best
Sound Editing
Nominated:
Film Editing
Costume Design
Best Original
Screenplay
Sound
Best Original Dramatic Score
Box
office
On opening weekend, Braveheart grossed US$9,938,276 in the US . Its
overall domestic gross was $75.6 million, and its total worldwide gross was $210.4
million.
The film's depiction of the Battle of Stirling Bridge is often considered one of the greatest movie battles in cinema history.
The film
generated huge interest in Scotland and in Scottish history, not only around the
world, but also in Scotland itself. Fans come from all over the world to see the
places in Scotland where William Wallace fought for Scottish freedom, and also
to Ireland to see the locations used in the film. At a Braveheart Convention in
1997, held in Stirling the day after the Scottish Devolution vote and attended
by 200 delegates from around the world, Braveheart author Randall Wallace, Seoras
Wallace of the Wallace Clan, Scottish historian David Ross and Bláithín
FitzGerald from Ireland gave lectures on various aspects of the film. Several
of the actors also attended including James Robinson (Young William), Andrew Weir
(Young Hamish), Julie Austin (the young bride) and Mhairi Calvey (Young Murron).
Braveheart
(1995)
Main Title (2:51)
A Gift of a Thistle (1:37)
Wallace Courts
Murron (4:25)
The Secret Wedding (6:33)
Attack on Murron (3:00)
Revenge
(6:23)
Murron’s Burial (2:13)
Making Plans/ Gathering the Clans (2:05)
“Sons of Scotland” (6:19)
The Battle of Stirling (6:07)
For
the Love of a Princess (4:07)
Falkirk (4:04)
Betrayal & Desolation
(7:48)
Mornay’s Dream (1:18)
The Legend Spreads (1:09)
The Princess
Pleads for Wallace’s Life (3:38)
“Freedom”/The Execution/ Bannockburn
(7:24)
End Credits (7:16)
Plot
Plot
In 1280
A.D. Edward I of England, known as "Longshanks," has occupied much of
Scotland, and his oppressive rule there leads to the deaths of William Wallace's
father and brother. Years later and after Wallace has grown up with his uncle
outside of Scotland, the Scots continue to live under the harsh thumb of Longshanks'
cruel laws. Wallace returns, intent on living as a farmer and avoiding involvement
in the ongoing "Troubles." Wallace rekindles a romance with his childhood
friend Murron after showing her the carefully preserved thistle she gave him as
a child, and the two marry in secret to avoid the primae noctis decree the King
has set forth. After Wallace beats up a group of English soldiers attempting to
rape Murron, the village Sheriff publicly cuts her throat before Wallace is able
to save her. An enraged Wallace, with the assistance of his fellow townsmen, slaughters
the English soldiers at the encampment, killing the sheriff in the same manner
that Murron was killed. He then orders the burning of the local English fort,
and unintentionally kindles a Scottish rebellion.
News of the rebellion spreads quickly, and hundreds of Scots from the surrounding clans volunteer to join Wallace's militia. Wallace leads his army through a series of successful battles against the English, including the Battle of Stirling and sacking the city of York. However, he is betrayed by the Scottish nobility and defeated at the Battle of Falkirk. He goes into hiding, fighting a guerrilla war against English forces and personally executes two Scottish nobles who betrayed him. Meanwhile, Princess Isabelle, whose husband Prince Edward (Longshanks's effeminate son and heir) ignores her, meets with Wallace as the English King's emissary. She and Wallace share a tryst, during which she conceives Wallace's child. Still believing there is some good in the nobility of his country, Wallace eventually agrees to meet with the Bruce. He is caught in a trap set by the elder Bruce and the other nobles, beaten unconscious, and handed over to the English Crown. Robert the Bruce is enraged by his father's treachery, and disowns him forever.
In London, Wallace is brought before the English magistrates and tried for high treason. He denies the charges, reasoning that he had never accepted Edward as his King. The court responds by sentencing him to be "purified by pain." Later, in a London square, William Wallace is brutally tortured to death, being alternately hanged, racked, and finally disemboweled alive. He signals to the magistrate that he wishes to speak. Using the last ounce of strength in his tortured body, he cries out, "FREEDOM!". He turns his head and sees Murron in the crowd smiling at him, and smiles lovingly back at her as he is finally beheaded.
Some time later, Robert the Bruce takes control of the remaining Scottish army and faces a ceremonial line of English troops at the fields of Bannockburn. Cheering Wallace's name, Robert Bruce and the Scots charge the stunned English lines and win their freedom.
Spoofs and cultural references
In
the South Park episode "Starvin' Marvin", both Chef and the leader of
the evil turkeys deliver speeches à la Wallace to their people just before
leading the charge into battle.
In a 2007 episode of the US version of The
Office, boss Michael Scott uses the term "Primae Noctis" inappropriately
during preparations for Phyllis Smith's wedding. Character Jim Halpert states
that it is used in the movie Braveheart and that this fact is "confirmed
on Wikipedia".
In the video game Daxter, there is an unlockable Braveheart
dream sequence.
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