Bonnie Prince Charlie ** (1948, David Niven, Margaret Leighton, Jack Hawkins, Judy Campbell, Morland Graham, John Laurie, Ronald Adam) – Classic Movie Review 11,020

‘Filmed in the Highlands of Scotland in nature’s own glowing colors!’

Director Anthony Kimmins’s 1948 British historical biographical drama Bonnie Prince Charlie stars David Niven, who is an uncomfortable bonnie wee laddie in this rare attempt to capture the magic of this romantic historical figure. It depictis the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s role in it.

The London Film Productions studio boss Alexander Korda was what is now known as ‘hands-on’ producer, meaning that he interfered a lot and gave everybody a hard time. His interference did not initially include cutting the film to an enjoyable length, and it runs 136 minutes, though after it flopped it was lopped to 118 minutes.

Margaret Leighton (as Flora MacDonald) and Jack Hawkins (as commander Lord George Murray) lead the talented but largely unhappy support, with Judy Campbell as Clementina Walkinshaw, Morland Graham as Donald MacDonald, John Laurie as Blind Jamie and Ronald Adam as Macleod.

It is written by Clemence Dane and shot in Technicolor by Robert Krasker. But beware black and white TV prints at 100 minutes.

Filming took place over nine months on location in Scotland and at Shepperton Studios in London. Second unit filming began in August 1946 near Fort William. Anthony Kimmins directed much of the final film but Korda took over and also directed some of it. Will Fyffe died during the film and many of his scenes had to be re-shot.

Though Leighton was praised, it was generally thought that Niven was miscast. He claimed he was born in Kirriemuir, Scotland, thinking it sounded more romantic, until his appearance on the radio show Desert Island Discs when he admitted he was born in London.

Niven’s first wife, Primula Rollo, died while attending a dinner at Tyrone Power’s house. After dinner, playing hide and seek, she opened what she thought was a cupboard door but tumbled down the basement stairs and onto the concrete floor. Niven said that he was keen to make the film as it gave him the chance to return to England as he did not enjoy being in Hollywood after the death of his first wife.

Niven met his second wife during filming. He knew Hjördis Genberg for just 10 days before marrying her on 14 January 1948. They stayed married till his death on 29 July 1983, and had two children.

Also in the cast are Finlay Currie, John Laurie, Franklyn Dyall, John Longden, Elwyn Brook-Jones, Hector Ross, Hugh Kelly, Herbert Lomas, Ronald Adam, Julien Mitchell, Simon Lack, Edward Lexy, Bruce Seton, Anthony Holles, Jean Stuart, Guy Le Feuvre as Cameron of Lochiel, Stuart Lindsell as MacDonald of Armadale, James Hayter as Kingsburgh, Martin Miller as King George II, G. H. Mulcaster as The Duke of Newcastle, Torin Thatcher as Colonel Kor, Hugh Kelly as Lieutenant Ingleby, and Henry Oscar as The Old Pretender.

Niven recalled: ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie was one of those huge, florid extravaganzas that reek of disaster from the start. There was never a completed screenplay and we suffered three changes of directors. I loved Alex Korda, a brilliant, generous creature, but with this film he was wallowing in confusion.’

The film failed to recoup its £600,000 cost at the box office. The UK take was £175,311.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,020

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