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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Niven and the Bonnie Prince, October 1, 2002
This review is from: Bonnie Prince Charlie [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This English version of Charles Stuart's attempt to seize the British crown from the House of Hannover, is disjointed and relatively unexciting. The crucial Battle of Culloden Moor is talked about, but not depicted. David Niven, as the Young Pretender, is very sincere, and does a good job, but he is betrayed by the script and the editing. The highlight of the film are the Scottish Highlands themselves. The color photography is breath taking. A word of caution on the VHS tape. The edition available is issued by Republic Pictures of Canada. It is in the EP mode, and the audio is TERRIBLE. One literally has to turn the volume to Max to hear anything.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bonnie Dull Movie, November 28, 2003
This review is from: Bonnie Prince Charlie [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Despite the subject matter I found this movie to be quite dull. This is unfortunate as the story of the '45 Rebellion is anything but that! I think the casting of David Niven as the Prince was a bad choice. While he tries to put energy into the role, Niven is just too English! Also, from what we know of the Prince he was not such an inspiring figure. Like most of the Stewarts he tended to be moody, headstrong and could come across as detached and arrogant. He was also quite foriegn in his outlook and knew little about Scotland other than what members of the exiled Stewart Court in France and Italy divulged to him. The film itself is impressive visually. But the story progresses slowly and is more atmosphereic. Jack Hawkins plays well as Lord Murrary, the leading Jacobite general. The clashes between him and the Prince over strategy are well portrayed in the movie. The battle of Prestonppans is well done. I wish they could have done the same for rest of the battles. Culloden is not even shown! The movie then drags considerable as we trace the progress of the Young Pretenders flight from Scotland. This part of the movie seems too long drawn out. Throughout the Prince is given almost saintly treatment. His relationship with Flora Macdonald is also too good to be true. For an English movie its surprising how the Bonnie prince is so favorably portrayed. The film willingly enters into all the Scottish fantasy and lore about him. Again, a pretty film, but too slow and stately.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Bonnie Prince Charlie [VHS], April 23, 2011
This review is from: Bonnie Prince Charlie [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I would have given this film a higher rating except for ONE glaring omission: there was no climactic Battle of Culloden. Only a short melodramatic aftermath. That director Anthony Kimmins, let alone the film producers, would omit the one battle that continues to haunt the Scottish psyche some 260 years later borders on criminal. That said, the second unit shots of highland Scotland (Glen Coe, Glenfinnan, Eilean Donan Castle, Isle of Skye, & Kyle of Lochalsh, to name a few) are all first-rate. Also, the scenes of Jacobite highlanders tramping across the highlands evoke Scottish memories (mostly afore-mentioned highlander) of wishing they should have marched on to London after the victory at York to dictate terms to the Hanoverians.
This movie is a great example of my belief that there are no bad film ideas. Only 'less than stellar' executions of said ideas. (See the film "Speed".)
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