This takes me back to when I was a 10 year old boy in Scotland in 1964. I was mesmerised and horrified, particularly because it wasn't about a past war half-way across the world, it was a tragic conflict which had torn apart my own country and the telling of which also tore at the common view of Bonnie Prince Charlie et al. Even my erstwhile Jacobite-leaning parents had their eyes opened and were disgusted by Charlie's attitude. This was no Disney/David Niven Jacobite epic.
I was particularly taken by the interviews with Gaelic-speaking clansmen as they stood in line, the sullenness of their spirits echoed by the miserable weather and the pit-pat of rain on the outdoor microphones. It was chilling, as I felt I was in the company of ghosts. I also well remember the scenes of impotent rage, the tears of fury and hatred, the Highlander slashing the ground in despair with his broadsword, as he and his comrades stood like tenpins waiting desperately for belated orders to charge, all the while being professionally dismembered by Belford's Royal Artillery pieces, firing roundshot and canister. No wonder they could stand it no more and Clan Chattan under MacGillivary of Dunmaglass broke ranks and started to charge at their tormentors, soon to be followed by the other clans.
It also brought home that this was not Scotland v England, this was a civil war. There were plenty Scots on the Government side. The young Chisholm, son of Strathglass, stood in the red ranks of The Royals, Britain's and Scotland's senior infantry regiment, looking across the moor at his father and brother, who were heading up the Jacobite Chisholm of Strathglass's regiment.
I really hope some day to get my hands on a copy. It was a formative part of my upbringing. I have always had a copy of John Prebble's book "Culloden" ever since and still marvel at its sharp observations. As he put it (not verbatim), the British Army looking across the Culloden battlefield at the ranks of the Jacobite Army must have felt as remote from them as fellow beings, as 19th Century redcoats felt when looking out on the Zulu army.
You wanna f * * k with me? Okay. Say hello to my little friend! (Tony Montana)
reply
share
Inishere
15 years ago
'Culloden' is now on DVD, paired on the same disc with Peter Watkins' nuclear war film from the following year, 'The War Game'. After renting it from Netflix, I couldn't help but think of President Bush & Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. Bonnie Prince Charlie is an inexperienced soldier who somehow finds a streak of good luck on the battlefield. Naturally, he takes this to mean he and his men are invincible because God is on their side. And Colonel Sullivan thinks himself so brilliant that the realities of combat will simply follow his theories to the letter. And of course, then as now the big shots get rewarded for failure; Sullivan gets a medal in Rome for his service, while the rank and file suffer the consequences.
reply
share
tom_amity
15 years ago
It's not surprising that this magnificent flick and its treatment of punk Prince Charlie would remind you of punk George W. Bush. It's the eternal way of war. As Pink Floyd put it, "'Forward!' he cried from the rear, and the front rank died." Nothing has changed. God help us.
reply
share