Rob Roy *** (1995, Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth) – Classic Movie Review 1,489

The lusty 1995 box-office hit adventure film Rob Roy is based on the classic novel by Sir Walter Scott. Set in early 18th-century Scotland, it tells the tale of clan chief Rob Roy MacGregor (Liam Neeson) and his fight for justice against the nasty English. 

Director Michael Caton-Jones’s lusty 1995 box-office hit historical adventure film Rob Roy is based on the classic 1817 novel by Sir Walter Scott. Set in early 18th-century Scotland, it tells the tale of Scottish clan chief Rob Roy MacGregor (Liam Neeson) and his fight for justice against the nasty, foppish, decadent English.

The screenplay is by Alan Sharp, who conceived his version of the story as a Western set in the Scottish Highlands. Along with the script’s Scots Western idea and its attack on the English, as with Braveheart, this may help to explain the film’s popularity in America.

Caton-Jones delivers a good-looking, pacey film, packed with plenty of high spirits and high adventure. Neeson and Jessica Lange (as Mrs Mary MacGregor) are excellent, though they are none too Scottish. But they are outclassed by the extravagant portraits of villainy from John Hurt (as Rob Roy’s benefactor, the Marquis of Montrose) and especially Tim Roth (as the evil aristocrat Archibald Cunningham). Roth won the 1996 Bafta award for Best Supporting Actor, and was Oscar and Golden Globe nominated.

Also making notable appearances are Eric Stoltz as Alan McDonald, Andrew Keir as John Campbell, the 2nd Duke of Argyll, Brian Cox as Killearn, Brian McCardie as Alasdair MacGregor, and Jason Flemyng as Gregor.

This stirring historical epic is shot entirely on location in Scotland, and beautifully filmed by cinematographers Karl Walter Lindenlaub and Roger Deakins in the wild Scots Highlands, with striking production designs by Assheton Gorton. The were working in some difficulties. Some Highland locations were so remote they had to be reached by helicopter, while cast and crew were battling non-stop Highland rain and swarms of midges.

Plus there is a notable score by Carter Burwell, while Karen Matheson sings a traditional Gaelic song called ‘Ailein duinn’. William Hobbs choreographs the great swordfights.

The film is dedicated to Scotsmen: the film director Alexander MacKendrick and the football player and manager Jock Stein.

Eric Stolz, Andrew Keir, Brian Cox, Brian McCardie, Gilbert Martin, Vicki Masson, Gilly Gilchrist, Jason Flemyng, Ewan Stewart, David Hayman and Brian McArthur co-star.

It cost $28 million and earned $58.7 million globally.

Richard Todd played Rob Roy in a famous 1953 Walt Disney version of the tale, Rob Roy the Highland Rogue.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1,489

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