Braveheart Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Braveheart is an
American motion picture released in
1995 that was very loosely based on the life of
William Wallace, a major
Scottish hero.
Mel Gibson played Wallace and also
directed the film.
For a historical treatment of events see the William Wallace entry.
The film won numerous awards including the 1995 Academy Award for:
Nominated:
Cast
- Mel Gibson - William Wallace
- Sophie Marceau - Princess Isabelle
- Patrick McGoohan - King Edward I
- Catherine McCormack - Murron
- Brendan Gleeson - Hamish
- Ian Bannen - Robert the Bruce's leprous father
- Alun Armstrong - Mornay
- Michael Byrne - Smythe
- Liam Carney - Sean
- Bernard Horsfall - Balliol
- Phil Kelly - Farmer
- Sean McGinley - MacClannough
- Tam White - MacGregor
- Joe Savino - Chief Assassin
- Ralph Riach - Priest No 1
- David O'Hara - Stephen
- Niall O'Brien - English General No 2
- Alex Norton - Bride's Father
- Martin Murphy - Lord Talmadge
- Peter Mullan - Veteran
- Barry McGovern - King's Advisor No 2
- Tommy Flanagan - Morrison
- Julie Austin - Mrs Morrison
- James Robinson - Young William
- Donal Gibson - Stewart
- Rupert Vansittart - Lord Bottoms
- Alan Tall - Elder Stewart
- Robert Paterson - Priest No 2
- John Murtagh - Lochlan
- Gerard McSorley - Cheltham
- Jeanne Marine - Nicolette
- Sean Lawlor - Malcolm Wallace
- Sandy Nelson - John Wallace
- Malcolm Tierney - Magistrate
- James Cosmo - Campbell
- David McKay - Young Soldier
- Brian Cox - Argyle Wallace
- Mal Whyte - Jailor
- Angus MacFadyen - Robert the Bruce
- Jimmy Keogh - Drinker No 2
- John Kavanagh - Craig
- Peter Hanly - Prince Edward
- Martin Dempsey - Drinker No 1
- Martin Dunne - Lord Dolecroft
- David Gant - Chief Justice/Executioner
Events
Braveheart is historically inaccurate and some differences are noted:
- Edward I's second wife, Margaret, whom he married in 1299 (a few years prior to the time of the film) is absent from the film, apparently giving the impression his first wife Eleanor of Castile was his only wife.
- One of the film's more exorbitant insinuations is that Wallace had an affair with Isabella of France, and that she was pregnant with his child at the time of his execution. As the real Isabella was still in France, that would have been impossible.
- Gibson was also slammed for his portrayal of Isabella's future husband, Edward II of England (in the film, they are married). Although historians agree that Edward was a homosexual, many took Gibson to task for the demeaning stereotypes he saddles Edward with.
- Wallace's long-standing hatred for the English was not because of his wife's death, it was because two English soldiers challenged Wallace over some fish he had caught. The argument escalated into a fight, resulting in Wallace killing the soldiers.
For a historical treatment of events see the William Wallace entry.
Miscellaneous
In 1997 a statue of Gibson as "William Wallace" was placed in the car-park of the Wallace Monument near Stirling, Scotland. The statue, which includes the word "Braveheart" on Wallace's shield, was the cause of much controversy and one local resident stated that it was wrong to "desecrate the main memorial to Wallace with a lump of crap". In 1998 the statue was vandalised by someone who smashed the face in with a hammer. After repairs were made, the statue was encased in a cage at night to prevent further vandalism. This has only incited more calls for the statue to be removed as it now appears that the Gibson/Wallace figure is imprisoned. The irony is compounded by the fact that the statue bears the word "Freedom" on the plinth.
External links
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