MovieChat Forums > The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (1995) Discussion > Sorry, it's fiction

Sorry, it's fiction

posted 18 years ago by starr05
4 replies | jump to latest

Despite the implication in the film, and the real-life local legend, the story is fiction. Historians have determined that the mound at the summit of Garth Mountain (the inspiration for the movie) is a Bronze Age burial mound. In 1999, local officials and the History Society placed a sign on the mountain, telling the many climbers who've been coming there because of the movie's popularity of the site's real significance - and warning that they face two years in prison if they disturb the burial mound. Some maps do identify the 307 meter (1,007 feet) prominence as Garth Hill.
http://www.pentyrch.net/village/garth/map.htm

[–] montmong 17 years ago

I heard the director argue with a historian about this on the radio when the film came out. The historian said 'It's a burial mound' and the director said - 'Yep, that's what the film shows - they bury the Reverend in it,' And then the historian said 'But it happened in the Bronze age!' and the director laughed and said 'You mean you're arguing because we changed the date?'

[–] onethatgotaway 16 years ago

Heh

I loved the ending; I thought it was a really heartwarming and beautiful meld of film and fact, and was disappointed to read on Wikipedia afterwards that it was all a fiction.

Your story makes me feel better though!

[–] holmswede 15 years ago

Yes, thanks for sharing that info about the filmmaker and the historian. Dare I surmise that the historian was "English" about it?

[–] rooprect 14 years ago

From wikipedia:

"The new notice will tell them that the story in the Hugh Grant film is not true – and they could face two years in prison if they disturb the ancient burial mounds on the summit. To set the record straight the Pentyrch History Society and Community Council will leave the information notice up near the summit."

What a dirty trick. You'd think they would've put the notice at the bottom and save everyone the trouble of climbing (and leaving all their footprints)! All the same, it's a great movie & clever story. I actually appreciate it more knowing it was fiction.