The Battle of Culloden (TV 1964)
"Culloden" (original title)

A reconstruction of the Battle of Culloden, the last battle to take place on British soil, as if modern TV cameras were present.

Director:

Peter Watkins

Writer:

Peter Watkins

Stars:

Olivier Espitalier-Noel, George McBean, Robert Oates

Cast

Credited cast:
Olivier Espitalier-Noel	...	Prince Charles Edward Stuart
George McBean	...	Alexander McDonald
Robert Oates	...	Private Alexander Laing

Storyline

A reconstruction of the Battle of Culloden, the last battle to take place on British soil, as if modern TV cameras were present.

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Plot Keywords:

battle | butchery | death | soldier | army | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Scottish Gaelic

Release Date:

24 May 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Battle of Culloden

Filming Locations:

Inverness, Highland, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

What the film refers to as "grapeshot" is more commonly referred to as "canister"; bags full of musket balls fired from cannon, like a gigantic shotgun. "Grapeshot" is usually used to refer to much larger shot in a container that breaks up when fired; the name comes from its fancied resemblance to a bunch of grapes.

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Quotes

Narrator: [introducing the Jacobite military command] Sir Thomas Sheridan, Jacobite military secretary. Suffering advanced debility and loss of memory. Former military engagement, 56 years ago. Sir John MacDonald, Jacobite captain of cavalry. Aged, frequently intoxicated, described as 'a man of the most limited capacities.' John William O'Sullivan, Jacobite quartermaster general. Described as 'an Irishman whose vanity is superseded only by his lack of wisdom.' Prince Charles Edward Stuart, Jacobite ...

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Connections

Featured in Ex-S: Culloden: Making Reel History (1996)

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Soundtracks

"My Bonnie Moorhen"
(trad.)
Sung by Colin Cater

User Reviews

The first true depiction of war

Peter Watkins's much underestimated Docu-Drama that, frankly, has to be watched by the individual to have the maximum impact. This is, without doubt, the fairest and most realistic depiction of war in cinema history. Here we have no poetic licence and no particular bias, despite some claiming a strong swing in favour of the Jacobites. Men are men, war is war and blood is blood.

There are few ways in which to describe this masterpiece in a simple review. If you desire a stark wake up call to the brutality and pain that war and Civil War creates, get hold of a copy of this film.

If you are not moved, then you have no heart.