Main Cast: David Niven, Margaret Leighton, Morland Graham, John Laurie, Judy Campbell
Release Year: 1948
Country: UK
Run Time: 135 minutes
Plot
In one of his rare visits to his home turf, British actor David Niven essayed the title role in Bonnie Prince Charlie. The film's principal challenge was to transform 18th-century Scottish Prince Charles into a sympathetic character, which, patriotism aside, he most decidedly was not in real life. The court-intrigue scenes are the weakest aspect of the film; the strongest moments take place on the battlefield, where Charles "the pretender" and his followers face down the battalions of King George II (Martin Miller). Even in defeat, Charles is the victor, successfully eluding his British pursuers and escaping to France. Filmed in Technicolor at a cost of $4 million, Bonnie Prince Charlie fell with a thud when it premiered at a kidney-busting 140 minutes. Subsequent reissues were cut by as many as 40 minutes, and some were economically reprocessed in black-and-white. Thanks to constant exposure on American television, this notorious flop finally posted a profit in the late 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Henry Oscar - James II; Finlay Currie - Marquis of Tullibardine; Jack Hawkins - Lord George Murray; Guy le Feuvre - Cameron of Lochiel; Franklin Dyall - Macdonald; Herbert Lomas - Kinloch Moidart; Ronald Adam - Macleod; Stuart Lindsell - MacDonald of Apridale; John Longden - Capt. O'Sullivan; Hector Ross - Glenalandale; Martin Miller - George II; Elwyn Brook-Jones - Duke of Cumberland; G.H. Mulcaster - Duke of Newcastle; Charles Goldner - Capt. Ferguson; Julien Mitchell - Gen. Cope; James Hayter - Kingsburgh; Simon Lack - Young Alan of Moidart; Hugh Kelly - Lt. Ingleby; Charles Cullum - Sir John MacDonald; Mark Daly - Ian MacQueen; Tom Duggan - Clanranald; John Forrest - Neil; Margaret Gibson - Mysie; Anthony Holles - Col. Warren; Edward Lexy - Lachlan; John Rae - Duncan; Bruce Seton - Allan Macrae; Kenneth Warrington - Staff officer; Bill Allison - Sir Francis Strickland; Nell Ballantyne - Mrs. Kingsburgh; Jane Gill Davies - Lady Graham; Louise Gainsborough - Madame d'Epoiles; Lola Duncan - Effie
Credit
Anthony Kimmins - Director, Grace Garland - Editor, Ian Whyte - Composer (Music Score), Joseph Bato - Production Designer, Vincent Korda - Production Designer, Wilfred Shingleton - Production Designer, Robert Krasker - Cinematographer, Edward Black - Producer, Clemence Dane - Screenwriter
