Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue

Plot synopsis:
The film begins in the early 18th century with Rob Roy leading his McGregor clansmen against King George I's forces commanded by the Scottish Duke of Argyll. While determined to establish order in the Highlands, Argyll is sympathetic to "the bonny blue bonnets" whom he is fighting, even refusing to unleash German mercenaries against them. A final charge by royal dragoons scatters the clansmen but honour appears satisfied and Rob Roy returns to his village to wed his beloved Helen. The wedding celebrations are interrupted by fencibles - the private army of the Duke of Montrose who has been appointed as the King's Secretary of State for Scotland and who lacks Argyll's regard for the highlanders. All clans involved in the rising of 1715 are pardoned except for the McGregors.
Rob Roy is arrested and the Clan McGregor is deprived of the right to use its name. Rob Roy escapes, leaping a waterfall and subsequently leads McGregor opposition to the increasingly repressive regime imposed by Montrose through his agent Killearn. A fort is stormed by the clan and its garrison of English soldiers taken prisoner.
The Duke of Argyll goes to King George to plead the case for leniency for the Clan McGregor, who have been forced into rebellion. At a crucial point Rob Roy appears at the royal court, heralded by a piper. Rob Roy's self-evident qualities quickly convince the king to pardon him and his clan. After an exchange of compliments: "Rob Roy - you are a great rogue"; "and you sire are a great king", the McGregor returns to his people and his wife.

Tags: cult, violence

Review:
Probably the best FAMILY entertainment version of Rob Roy ever made..
This Walt Disney (early, when Walt Disney Production was synonymous with wholesome family fare - poor Walt!) film, was actually part of a trilogy contracted with British actors Richard Todd and James Robertson Justice (The Sword and the Rose & The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men were the other two).
The lovely Glynis Johns, who plays Rob's wife, portrays a charming Mary Tudor in the Sword and the Rose, but is absent from 'Robin Hood'.
Joan Rice is delightful as Maid Marion, but ....Admittedly, one shouldn't substitute 'Highland Rogue' for a documentary on Scottish history of the period.
However, there is more than enough accuracy to explain the attitudes and conflicts of the time.Richard Todd shows, clearly, why he was one of the top British film stars of his time and why he was a popular North American import for both stage and screen .
He was one of the most passionately animated actors to achieve leading man status.
His dark good looks, range of expression, and obvious athleticism (he served as a paratrooper in WWII) complemented his energetic performances.Those who, after watching him, have wondered why he didn't have even greater success in North America, should remember two things: Britain, aflame with patriotic fervor after the war, had a very strong film industry of its own; therefore, many actors felt no desire to join Hollywood's 'British Colony'.
Also, Todd fell slightly short, pardon the pun, of North America's standard for romantic leading men.For those concerned about coarse language, explicit sex, or graphic violence when selecting family viewing - this is a keeper.
The historic struggle, warm interaction between the stars, and humour should satisfy the more mature members, while the bright colours and action sequences should appeal to all.I first saw this movie about 45 years ago and 3 scenes stayed with me until 'my good woman' was able to find a copy for me last year.
(Since I watch it every month, she uses it as one of her arguments when she feels a need to remind me why I should appreciate her so much!) I also heartily recommend the other two movies from the trilogy as wonderful family viewing..
Disney's Highland Fling.
The third and last of his British made films with Richard Todd is Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue.
As per a Disney family audience it's a lot more upbeat than the Nineties version of this same tale that starred Liam Neeson.It's after the 1715 uprising and James Robertson Justice as the Duke of Argyll wants to bring peace to Scotland as he's figured out the Stuarts ain't coming back.
But his aide Lord Montrose has a wholly different agenda going and it involves a special if unspecified grudge he has against the MacGregor Clan as headed by Richard Todd.Anyway in many attempts they just can't seem to capture Todd or intimidate the MacGregors.
The Earl of Montrose is played by Michael Gough and his bloodthirsty aide is played with special relish by Geoffrey Keen.Rob Roy is not quite up to the excellence of Robin Hood and The Sword and the Rose, but Richard Todd is earnest and athletic and every inch a Scottish hero.
There was definitely a special eye for the customs and mores of Eighteenth Century Scotland in the making of Rob Roy. And it holds up well after over half a century..
ROB ROY, THE HIGHLAND ROGUE (Harold French, 1953) **1/2.
Walt Disney's follow-up to THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN (1952) is this similar epic about another legendary outlaw (emanating from Scotland this time around).
He is once again played by Irishman Richard Todd (who has just passed away at the venerable age of 90) and the film even re-unites the actor with his three co-stars from yet another period outing from the Disney Studios, THE SWORD AND THE ROSE (1953), namely Glynis Johns, James Robertson Justice and Michael Gough.
For some reason, the film is fairly maligned (awarded a measly *1/2 by the "Leonard Maltin Film Guide"!) but I rather enjoyed it, while readily admitting to be the least of Disney's three colorful adventures derived from the pages of English history.
In traditional Disney fashion, the familiar events were simplified (though by no means rendered juvenile, as would often prove the case later) but there is enough sprawling action and engrossing drama – to say nothing of the beautiful scenery captured in gleaming Technicolor – to please most audiences.
Similarly, characterization for this type of larger-than-life fare is pretty much standard but, given careful casting all round, it emerges as forceful rather than clichéd; besides, at a terse 81 minutes, the film has little chance of outstaying its welcome.
Incidentally, I had found the flabby, oddly uninvolving and ill-cast 1995 remake (which had garnered critical praise and at least one top Oscar nod back in the day) a major disappointment on my sole viewing so far!.
The Film Deservedly Selected for the Royal Command Performance of 1953.
Although not based on Sir Walter Scott's novel of the same name, I found "Rob Roy" a most entertaining effort.
Splendidly acted throughout, particularly by James Robertson Justice (as the sympathetic Campbell), Michael Gough and Geoffrey Keen (two wonderful villains), and Eric Pohlmann (a truly charismatic performance  one of his best  as King George), "Rob Roy" emerges as a rousing adventure yarn with plenty of swashbuckling excitement, hair's breadth escapes, and even a bit of humor and romance.
French has directed in rousing style.
He has an eye for both the pictorial and dramatic possibilities of real locations.
Supporting technical credits are absolutely first-class, featuring fine scenic photography and a handsomely atmospheric music score..
Long time ago.
Although I said I had seen this film before it was at least 44 years ago and I was only a strapping lad of about 6 or 7 so my comments of the film might be touched with some nostalgia.I have incidently seen the new release of Rob Roy several times but I somehow prefer the 1953 version..
******* Disney Action Flick.
One of Disney's better historical pictures with excitement and plenty of action to satisfy moviegoers of all ages.
Richard Tod stars in the title role as the rogue clan leader and is primarily a British production, as it was filmed mainly in Scotland and the film contains mostly British actors.
Our hero leads raids and uprisings against British troops and the main thrust of the film is his efforts to get amnesty for his MacGregor clan in return for a truce.
The main nut is that the English might be so inclined, but not for Rob Roy himself.
Lots of battle and chase scenes throughout the picture keep the action moving.This film is much better than the write-up given it in Maltin's.
For some reason the reviewer thought very little of it and gave the film a bad review.
As is often the case, you must judge for yourself, because in my opinion it is one of the better family-oriented action films from the Disney studio.7/10 - The website no longer prints my star ratings..
Perfect Version of the Scott Novel.
If you're looking for a perfect swashbuckler in which people sound like stage Scots, ye can nae do better than this movie about the Scottish cattle thief and protection racketeer whom the early 18th-Century press, along with highwaymen, romanticized into heroes; the magnificently idiotic image was perfected by Sir Walter Scott and so we have this flick.Disney went full English with this, shooting at Elstree and the Highlands with a British cast, and the care shows, particularly with Guy Green's beautiful oil-painting Technicolor lighting.
Richard Todd gives a fine performance in the traditional, anachronistic costume; Glynis Johns (who is still with us as I write this) has never been cuter; Finlay Currie was never more Scottish; and John Robertson Justice, as the Duke of Argyll, plays his role as befitting a man whose name is John Robertson Justice, even though his real middle name was Norval..
Better than the Liam Neeson Version..
I am surprised this has a 6.6 rating.This was a classic I watched again and again as a kid.Plenty of action, rousing patriotism, singing, dancing, light romance, and manly speeches/battles to go around.This is from the era when Disney knew the basic formula for success, family values, and how to deliver a good story with a historical background, even if liberties were taken.Richard Todd is believable; tough and cunning, he also provides some humor as well.
He often reminds me of Odysseus, in his protracted journey abroad and home again, using his wiles and determination to defeat his enemies and survive.Todd's version is WAY BETTER than that Liam Neeson reboot that came later.
I was excited to see a modern adaptation of Rob Roy, but the Neeson thing just didn't cut it for me.
Way too many boring scenes that grew tedious, with no payoff.
Neeson himself didn't bring the mischief and energy of the role that Todd was brimming with.
A couple of scenes are good from the later one, and I still watch it occasionally, but it really wasn't the amazing remake I hoped for.
I felt they wasted a good opportunity to bring this to a new audience, and it fell flat, with little excitement or battles to showcase, nor the intrigue back in England.This was sort of the first version of a Braveheart film, noting the fiery Scottish rebellions against English rule that had gone on for years.The only thing I can really detract from the earlier film, is the fact that it is a little cheesy, and takes liberties, as most movies do.
It puts more of a light-hearted spin on certain things(though much of it is nicely dark and tense), and runs wild with history at times.