When the Scots were revolting: Do we need another Braveheart?

The Herald Scotland

a day ago

The latest in the Archive on 4 series, the programme dipped into the BBC's vintage recordings to follow the impact of the film on Scottish cinema, Scottish cultural and political life and, perhaps most importantly, on the tourist trade. Stirling is still seeing the benefits three decades later. Morrison went up the Wallace Monument at the Abbey Craig to discover that, yes, all the international visitors had indeed seen the movie.
'Who needs historical accuracy when you've got a gift shop?' she asked.
The programme invariably touched on how the film was exploited by politicians at the time (notably by former SNP leader Alex Salmond, although the Tories also sought to tap into the film's popularity) and how it unleashed a wave of anti-English sentiment in cinemas. 'People were standing up and cheering English people getting killed,' historian Fiona Wallace pointed out to Morrison.
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There's another question to be asked about Braveheart, perhaps. Is it any good? Not really. That's never stopped Scots embracing it though. You could say the same about Restless Natives, a sub-par Bill Forsyth simulacrum that's now been transformed into a musical, or The Wicker Man, a not-that-great horror movie that's been reclaimed as some kind of masterpiece (Morrison isn't a fan of the latter, we learn in passing). Maybe Scots in the past were just starved of films and TV about themselves that they'll embrace anything.
The stereotypical Scotland on screen that existed prior to Braveheart, film lecturer Johnny Murray told Morrison, is a country that's an unspoiled wilderness, that's authentic, untameable and inhabited by noble savages. It's a recipe, he pointed out, that can either be served sweet - as in Whisky Galore! or Local Hero - or savoury, as in Braveheart.
'These are all very masculine, these stereotypes,' Morrison suggested. Indeed. At another point we are reminded that in Braveheart it takes 20 minutes before any of its female characters gets to say a line.
Which suggests what? That we need less Mel Gibson, more Morven Callar maybe.
Earlier in the day Radio Scotland's Sportsound had the excitement of a penalty shootout to bring us. When Aberdeen won it, a Sportsound reporter - I was in the car so I can't be sure, but I think it was Tyrone Smith - went pitchside to catch the jubilant victors. A couple of them, carried away in the moment swore, a little, prompting an apology from the presenter.
Aberdeen players celebrate winning the penalty shoot-out during the Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park (Image: Andrew Milligan) You do wonder if interviewing players in a heightened state of emotion is a good idea if you are bothered by the odd swear word. Then again, was it the Scottish players who couldn't mind their language? Noble savages indeed.
On Monday 5 Live had spent the day reporting from the joyous chaos of the Liverpool FC victory parade through the city. My sister lives in the city and had sent me photos of the players on the bus passing her home in the south of the city earlier in the day. At teatime 5 Live Drive presenter Chris Warburton was clearly enjoying the atmosphere in the city centre. And then everything changed when a car hit some of those in the parade.
The sudden shift from joy to shock and horror could be heard in Warburton's voice. 'The mood since I last spoke to you has really changed now,' he said, trying to find the words when he still wasn't totally clear what had happened.
Nicky Campbell spent his 5 Live phone-in show on Tuesday morning talking about the incident.
The conversation was largely sensible. But now and then Campbell would read out comments from listeners speculating on the why. Campbell then added, 'We can't speculate on any motivation but I am just conveying to you what some people are saying. We don't yet know.'
Hmm, why read them out then?
Kenneth Cranham (Image: free) Listen Out For: The Essay: An Actor's Life, Radio 3, Monday to Friday, 9.45pm
It's easy to forget that actor Kenneth Cranham - star of Shine on Harvey Moon and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and known for playing London gangsters on a regular basis - grew up in Dunfermline. In this series he talks to fellow actor Neil Dudgeon about working with Joe Orton and Harold Pinter