Rob Roy: A Highland Adventure

Over the past month I have been recovering from foot surgery. This meant weeks spent in a recliner watching movies to keep my mind occupied. One of the films that I watched was Rob Roy starring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange. When one thinks of Scotland, movie audiences almost immediately think of BraveHeart. I happen to think Rob Roy is superior to Braveheart in many ways.

Rob Roy is a 1995 historical drama film directed by Michael Caton-Jones. Liam Neeson stars as Robert Roy MacGregor, an 18th century Scottish historical figure who battles with feudal landowners in the Scottish Highlands. The villains in this movie were perfectly casted. John Hurt, famous for his portrayal of Caligula in the 1976 BBC television production of I Claudius, plays the part of Marquis of Montrose who lends Rob Roy £1000 only to have Montrose’s conniving factor Killearn (Brian Cox) and evil henchmen Archibald Cunningham (Tim Roth) conspiring to take the money for themselves.

Together John Hurt and Tim Roth portray the greed that can befall men who hunger for nobility and power. Tim Roth was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the villain Archibald Cunningham.

(Tim Roth as Archibald Cunningham)

(John Hurt as Marquis of Montrose)

(Liam Neeson as Robert Roy MacGregor)

Breathtaking landscapes of the Scottish highlands, steamy love scenes and non-stoping, riveting action together make this film a must see. Rob Roy had excellent cinematographers in Karl Walter Lindenlaub and Roger Deakins and costume designer Sandy Powell.

The realistic sword fighting scenes in this movie can be attributed to fencing master and choreographer William Hobbs who also choreographed Othello (1965), Excalibur (1982) and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) among many other great films.

Click below to view the final duel between Rob Roy and the infamous Archibald Cunningham in addition to a montage of the movie with Celtic music performed by Scottish folk singer Karen Matheson.