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| William Wallace leads charge of TV history dramas | William Wallace leads charge of TV history dramas |
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| Scotland's independence referendum has not just ignited furious debate over the country's future; it has also started a renewed fascination among film-makers with the country's colourful past, with two new dramas about Sir William Wallace and the Scottish wars of independence being planned to coincide with next year's poll. | Scotland's independence referendum has not just ignited furious debate over the country's future; it has also started a renewed fascination among film-makers with the country's colourful past, with two new dramas about Sir William Wallace and the Scottish wars of independence being planned to coincide with next year's poll. |
| Some 18 years since a kilted Mel Gibson, wearing a tub of facepaint, swept the Oscars with Braveheart, the latest projects are two ambitious TV series, with at least one signalling an intent to be rooted more in fact than myth. Sir Ridley Scott, the director of Alien and Gladiator, and David W. Zucker, producer of US TV show The Good Wife, are to make a mini-series based on books by one of Scotland's most loved authors, the late Nigel Tranter, including The Wallace and The Bruce Trilogy. The drama will focus on Wallace and Robert the Bruce after Edward I invaded Scotland and imposed English rule. Another drama, said to be along the lines of HBO's Game of Thrones, was announced recently. | Some 18 years since a kilted Mel Gibson, wearing a tub of facepaint, swept the Oscars with Braveheart, the latest projects are two ambitious TV series, with at least one signalling an intent to be rooted more in fact than myth. Sir Ridley Scott, the director of Alien and Gladiator, and David W. Zucker, producer of US TV show The Good Wife, are to make a mini-series based on books by one of Scotland's most loved authors, the late Nigel Tranter, including The Wallace and The Bruce Trilogy. The drama will focus on Wallace and Robert the Bruce after Edward I invaded Scotland and imposed English rule. Another drama, said to be along the lines of HBO's Game of Thrones, was announced recently. |
| "With all eyes on Scotland in the current political climate, this seems an appropriate time to tell [Wallace's] story in depth," said Alan Clements, executive producer of Wallace. "This was a turbulent time in Scottish history in which Wallace had a pivotal and starring role. We plan to delve deep into his character and explore his passions." He added that would be a "raw" depiction. | "With all eyes on Scotland in the current political climate, this seems an appropriate time to tell [Wallace's] story in depth," said Alan Clements, executive producer of Wallace. "This was a turbulent time in Scottish history in which Wallace had a pivotal and starring role. We plan to delve deep into his character and explore his passions." He added that would be a "raw" depiction. |
| The 1995 film Braveheart was criticised for numerous historical inaccuracies, based as it was on a poem written 150 years after Wallace was forced to watch his own entrails being pulled out while being hanged, drawn and quartered in the middle of London's Smithfield market. Attributed to a minstrel called Blind Harry, the medieval epic The Wallace was the second bestselling book in Scotland after the Bible for several hundred years after its publication. | The 1995 film Braveheart was criticised for numerous historical inaccuracies, based as it was on a poem written 150 years after Wallace was forced to watch his own entrails being pulled out while being hanged, drawn and quartered in the middle of London's Smithfield market. Attributed to a minstrel called Blind Harry, the medieval epic The Wallace was the second bestselling book in Scotland after the Bible for several hundred years after its publication. |
| But according to historian Dr John Reuben Davies, it is hard to disentangle the myth from the truth. "There's so much about the Blind Harry account that could be true, but we don't know. There's several bits that simply aren't true. Wallace was an accidental hero, he had been a number two, supporting other military figures, but first one then another were killed, so he became Scotland's guardian rather by accident. I suppose people do like to make a human connection with the past; at the end of the day they were fighting for freedom, but freedom for the landholders." | But according to historian Dr John Reuben Davies, it is hard to disentangle the myth from the truth. "There's so much about the Blind Harry account that could be true, but we don't know. There's several bits that simply aren't true. Wallace was an accidental hero, he had been a number two, supporting other military figures, but first one then another were killed, so he became Scotland's guardian rather by accident. I suppose people do like to make a human connection with the past; at the end of the day they were fighting for freedom, but freedom for the landholders." |
| Indeed Davies points to one document that suggests that the English may have completely misunderstood Wallace. In the accounts of Edward I for the financial year 1305-1306, he found a reference to Wallace's execution expenses, with Wallace described as "a robber, a public traitor, an outlaw, an enemy and rebel who throughout Scotland had falsely sought to call himself King of Scotland". | Indeed Davies points to one document that suggests that the English may have completely misunderstood Wallace. In the accounts of Edward I for the financial year 1305-1306, he found a reference to Wallace's execution expenses, with Wallace described as "a robber, a public traitor, an outlaw, an enemy and rebel who throughout Scotland had falsely sought to call himself King of Scotland". |
| But as Davies points out, Wallace never sought to be king and was scrupulously clear that he had no claim to the throne. "I'm quite perplexed by that account. Perhaps a form of propaganda was going on," he said. Even that Mel Gibson cry of "freedom" is doubtful. What Wallace did say to his troops on the eve of battle was: "I've brought you to the ring, now dance the best you can." | But as Davies points out, Wallace never sought to be king and was scrupulously clear that he had no claim to the throne. "I'm quite perplexed by that account. Perhaps a form of propaganda was going on," he said. Even that Mel Gibson cry of "freedom" is doubtful. What Wallace did say to his troops on the eve of battle was: "I've brought you to the ring, now dance the best you can." |
| "He was, after all, brought down to London especially so that his execution could be the opening spectacle for the fair of St Bartholomew," said Davies. "They took him all that way, escorted by the king's men." | "He was, after all, brought down to London especially so that his execution could be the opening spectacle for the fair of St Bartholomew," said Davies. "They took him all that way, escorted by the king's men." |
| It remains to be seen whether the new dramas will inspire patriotic fervour in a country currently rooted in the "no" vote – an Ipsos Mori poll from May showed only 31%in favour of independence. But it is clear that Wallace will always be a hero among Scots in both camps. | It remains to be seen whether the new dramas will inspire patriotic fervour in a country currently rooted in the "no" vote – an Ipsos Mori poll from May showed only 31%in favour of independence. But it is clear that Wallace will always be a hero among Scots in both camps. |
| On Saturday a small but determined group from the Society of William Wallace, led by pipes and drums, climbed from Falkirk's Old Parish Church to lay a wreath at a cairn – a monument of stones – dedicated to their hero on the anniversary of the battle of Falkirk (1298). | On Saturday a small but determined group from the Society of William Wallace, led by pipes and drums, climbed from Falkirk's Old Parish Church to lay a wreath at a cairn – a monument of stones – dedicated to their hero on the anniversary of the battle of Falkirk (1298). |
| Tranter, who died in 2000, said of him: "Wallace was Scotland's greatest hero. While Robert the Bruce fought Edward, the Hammer of the Scots, for a crown, Wallace did it purely for the freedom of Scotland.'' | Tranter, who died in 2000, said of him: "Wallace was Scotland's greatest hero. While Robert the Bruce fought Edward, the Hammer of the Scots, for a crown, Wallace did it purely for the freedom of Scotland.'' |
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