Film of the Day: 67

Braveheart (1995)

In the Wars of Scottish Independence which began around 1297, one of the main leaders and most famous Scotsman was the infamous Sir William Wallace who was born in Elderslie.

Wallace, who in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, alongside Andrew Moray defeated the English army. He remained a true patriot and guardian of Scotland until he fell at the Battle of Falkirk and was captured in Robroyston today in 1305.

He was then taken to London to King Edward I of England and was hanged (but was still alive), castrated, had some of his organs removed and burnt in-front of him and then beheaded.

He was then cut into four parts, one each displayed in Newcastle upon Tyne, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Stirling, and Aberdeen in Scotland and his head was placed on a pike on top of London Bridge.

Wallace's actions did not go in vain however, Scotland regained its rightful independence in 1328 with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton. Wallace remains a true icon of Scottish history and patriotism and also has a statue in Aberdeen along with a few other statues and monuments elsewhere in Scotland.

Thanks to an epic film from 1995 titled Braveheart, William Wallace became even more well known around the world as a true Scottish hero. It was directed by and stared Mel Gibson. Mel however did not want to place Wallace in the first place, it was only because Gibson desperately wanted to direct the film and the studios would only let him direct the film if he played Wallace. Gibson felt he was too old for the part (he was).

The film won 5 Oscars including best director and picture. It was a terrific epic film on the accounts of William Wallace and showed how Wallace became the man that he was and how he was pushed into becoming a warrior as he was originally a simple landowner. The script of the film was mainly based on a 15th century poem by Blind Harry titled The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace.

It also contained some brutal battle scenes, and it is said that Mel Gibson has screened the Orson Welles Classic Chimes at Midnight (aka Falstaff) over and over for him and his cast. Chimes at Midnight contained one of the most brutal and amazing battle sequences ever put on the silver screen.

Click here for the trailer