|
Post by teleadm on Jun 6, 2018 17:24:15 GMT
Melinda and Melinda 2004, directed by Woody Allen, written by Woody Allen, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Will Ferrell, Johnny Lee Miller, Radha Mitchell, Amanda Peet, Chloë Sevigny, Wallace Shawn and many others. Beautiful location cinematography from New York by Vilmos Zsigmond. Comedy drama romance that tells two parallel stories about Melinda, one a drama and the other a comedy, and how she comes to grips with her life romantically. As told by some intellectual friends in a restaurant. Beautiful cinematography and some very good acting by the whole ensamble, but I didn't get it and thought it was quit boring, or just meeh. I bought it long long ago and had totally forgotten about it.
|
|
|
Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Jun 6, 2018 17:52:45 GMT
Angels With Dirty Faces (1938), I liked it so much I made a thread all about it. Once again, Cagney impresses me.
|
|
|
Post by louise on Jun 7, 2018 19:50:40 GMT
BRidesmaids (2013) A rather tiresome comedy, with an irritating heroine.
|
|
|
Post by teleadm on Jun 8, 2018 15:28:43 GMT
The Theory of Everything 2014 I guess this movie about the early life of the remarkable Stephen Hawking's early life and his wife doesn't need any inrtoduction. Movies about real life people, so called biopics, are always interesting, and this managed to keep my interest the whole way, since I personally hadn't heard about Hawking until sometimes in the mid 1980s I didn't know much about his back story. As of always with biopics some poetic liberties must be taken to make a story cinematic, or if one objects one should watch a documentary instead. My only objection is that I didn't like that it played on the heartstrings in some scenes, my point is that his story is so enriching and interesting as it is, it should'nt use such an old trick. I think it's great that a movie like this can be a comercial success in an era of cgi movies.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2018 16:47:25 GMT
Cloud Atlas (2012)
I liked it 8\10
|
|
|
Post by louise on Jun 8, 2018 17:12:59 GMT
SNatched (2017). terrible comedy with Goldie Hawn, don't know what she's done to herself but she looks really strange.
|
|
|
Post by kijii on Jun 9, 2018 1:18:09 GMT
Angel (1937) / Ernst Lubitsch Seen from a TCM DVR. This is my 2nd viewing of the fairly clever Lubitsch movie. It is not in his top 5 nor in his bottom 5 movies. But, it was worth a second viewing for me.
In this Lubitsch movie, he uses two main performers that he had used before or would use again--Herbert Marshall, used in this best movie, imo, Trouble in Paradise (1932) and Melvyn Douglas who he would later use in That Uncertain Feeling (1941), which for me, just laid there and didn't go anywhere at all...
This is a love triangle of sorts, in which Marlene Dietrich played the part of a wife who felt unnoticed by her VIP husband, a highly successful British diplomat, Herbert Marshall. Marshall had received international attention for his accomplishments.
Since he is often out of town, Dietrich decides to take a trip (under and assumed name) to the Parisian "saloon" of an old friend of hers, Grand Duchess Anna Dmitrievna (Laura Hope Crews). There, Dietrich and Douglas meet without sharing their names. Douglas just decides to call her "Angel." When Douglas and Marshall later meet in London, they become good friends after renewing their remembrances from the War. Dietrich serves a connection for the two, though not directly...maybe...
Maria (Marlene Dietrich): What's the matter, darling? Is it France? Sir Frederick (Herbert Marshall): No, no. It's Yugoslavia. Maria : Oh, I see..
|
|
|
Post by MrFurious on Jun 9, 2018 10:02:22 GMT
Hungry Hill(47) Had no idea this was gonna be an Oirish one, surprised it wasn't on tv over here back in the day with The Quiet Man and Darby O'Gill. Loved it.
|
|
|
Post by MrFurious on Jun 9, 2018 12:27:08 GMT
Another great one in before lunch, Woman on the Run(50) Lesson learnt here, never witness a shooting, see nothing haha....I saw this one last December. This was one of those movies in which you want to shout to the gullible woman that don't search for danger outside. Just look near you. A pretty interesting movie might I say. Raw Deal (1948) which stars this movie's villain ( Dennis O'Keefe) in a slightly more positive role is also a good watch. Was going through the Retro channel listings last night and there was Raw Deal, just watched it at work and it was a great trip. Mann was great at the present days films as well as the westerns
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
@Deleted
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2018 16:44:20 GMT
Almost Human 1977. Crime movie, it was good. I don't recommend most people see it though, I doubt most could handle some parts of it.
|
|
|
Post by kijii on Jun 10, 2018 17:17:28 GMT
The Left Hand of God (1955) / Edward Dmytryk Watched from a TCM-DVR'd movie So why is Humphrey Bogart posing as a Catholic priest in 1947 China? Why was he there in the first place, and who did he work for? It's complicated.....but the story did not quite work for me. In the heart of the studio era, Gene Tierney was a 20th Century actress and Humphrey Bogart was a Warner Brothers main draw.
Here is the full TCM synopsis of the movie with Spoilers:
In 1947, American priest Peter John O'Shea makes the torturous journey to reach a Catholic mission in a remote province of China. O'Shea is nearly drowned and loses his possessions but finds the mission, where he is greeted by Dr. Dave Sigman and his wife Beryl, who, along with nurse Anne "Scotty" Scott, run the mission's hospital. Anne, who is Catholic, is thrilled about O'Shea's arrival, but the following morning, Sigman tells the priest that he thinks the mission should be closed. Sigman states that because O'Shea's predecessors died, the locals from the surrounding seven villages are reluctant to attend the church, and that pressure from warlord Mieh Yang makes the area too dangerous. O'Shea vaguely addresses Sigman's concerns, then goes to the nearest village with Anne, who is impressed by his respectful treatment of the village elder. Parishioner John Wong asks O'Shea to say Mass, but the priest protests that he cannot, as he has lost his vestments. John persuades O'Shea to preach, and on Sunday, the priest reads from a book of sermons. Anne, who has dresssed up for the occasion, shrugs off Beryl's supposition that she is attracted to O'Shea. At first, Anne is disappointed, but then smiles when the priest speaks in Chinese to the congregation and explains the lesson. After the service, however, a disreputable-looking stranger arrives, and when he spits at O'Shea's feet, the priest violently strikes him. Soon after, Anne attempts to comfort O'Shea, who is disappointed in himself for his lack of control. When O'Shea states that he wants to close the mission, Anne protests, asserting that he has accomplished a great deal of good. As they talk, Anne reveals that she came to China because her pilot husband crashed in the mountains during World War II, and she was hoping that he would be found. Having realized that her husband was dead, Anne stayed on, and has become dedicated to helping the poor villagers. Later, Beryl comments to Sigman about O'Shea's odd demeanor, claiming that there is something "wrong" about him. Sigman, who has warmed to the priest, despite O'Shea's inexplicable concern over the delay of the usual trade caravans, defends him, although he agrees that Anne, who is falling in love with O'Shea, should return to the United States. Concern for Anne prompts Beryl to approach O'Shea and suggest that he talk with a man who could understand what he is going through. O'Shea agrees and sets out for the Protestant mission of Reverend Thomas Marvin, which is several days away. Upon reaching the mission, O'Shea startles Marvin by revealing that he is not a priest, and that his name is actually James Carmody. Carmody relates that he was an American pilot during the war, and after being shot down three years earlier, was rescued by Yang. Although he was a virtual prisoner, Carmody served as Yang's second-in-command. Carmody then describes how he came to his present situation: One day, as Carmody leads a raiding expedition, he hears a shot from the scouting party ahead. When he rides up, Carmody sees that the insolent Pao-Ching, who is the stranger that came to the mission, has shot and wounded a priest. Carmody lashes Pao-Ching for disobeying his orders not to fire, then takes the priest to Yang's mountain fortress. Carmody and Yang engage in their customary crapshoot for Carmody's salary, after which Yang upbraids Carmody for reproving Pao-Ching and tells him that they will have to kill the priest. Word then comes that the priest, named Peter John O'Shea, has died, and Carmody goes to see Jan Teng, the Buddhist doctor who was tending to O'Shea. Knowing how desperately Carmody wishes to escape Yang, Teng hints that a man disguised as a priest could possibly elude Yang's spies. Carmody finishes his story by stating that he assumed O'Shea's identity and traveled to the mission in the hope of joining a trade caravan destined for the coast. Amazed, Marvin instructs Carmody to write to the bishop in Sinkiang, and urges him to return to the mission. Carmody demurs, insisting that he cannot carry on with the charade. As they are talking, the men receive word that Yang's men, alerted by Pao-Ching about Carmody's presence at the mission, are attacking the seven villages. Marvin again tells Carmody that "his" people need him, but the flyer refuses to don the priest's collar again. Soon after, terrified villagers attempt to flee but are stopped by Yang's soldiers, who begin mercilessly beating men and sending them to the mission in an attempt to provoke O'Shea into revealing himself. After three days, during which they are baffled by "O'Shea's" absence, Anne and Sigman are arguing when Carmody appears, again clothed as the priest. Without revealing his identity, Carmody continues to act as O'Shea and tells Sigman that the simple villagers could never outfight Yang's men. Carmody urges Sigman, Beryl and Anne to trust him, but soon the mission is overflowing with refugees. Determined to end the situation, Carmody meets with Yang alone. Carmody urges Yang to depart, and when Yang asks him to return to his service, Carmody proposes a game of dice to determine his fate. Yang agrees that if Carmody wins, he will leave the villages, the mission and the American alone, but that if he wins, Carmody must return with him for five years. Carmody acquiesces, and is deeply relieved when he wins. Yang then proposes to roll for the fate of the Protestant mission, wagered against three years of Carmody's life, and the American again wins. Yang sighs about the legends that will arise from his retreat, then warns Carmody that two priests from Sinkiang are coming. After Yang departs, Carmody returns to the mission and hears John telling a story about Carmody convincing Yang to leave by filling him with fear of the Holy Ghost. That night, Carmody tells Anne that he is an imposter, and she is relieved to learn that she had not fallen in love with a real priest. In the morning, Fathers Cornelius and Joseph Keller arrive and question Carmody about the letter he sent to the bishop, detailing his adventures. Cornelius doubts Carmody's sincerity because of the stories about the "miracle" of his defeat over Yang, and Carmody reveals that it all lay in the toss of the dice. Despite himself, Cornelius is impressed that Carmody was willing to risk five years of servitude in order to save the mission, and states that the bishop wants him to continue impersonating a priest and go to Sinkiang, where his punishment will be decided. Cornelius explains that as the parishioners have not been hurt by his imposture, it would only destroy their faith to learn the truth about their beloved "Shen-fu," the Chinese term for priest. The following day, Carmody bids farewell to John, Beryl, Sigman and his parishioners, while inside the mission, Anne tells Cornelius that despite his deception, Carmody was a good priest. Surprised by the devotion Carmody has inspired, Cornelius tells Anne the pilot's real name as they watch him ride away.
|
|
|
Post by teleadm on Jun 12, 2018 17:24:49 GMT
Daddy Long Legs 1955, directed by Jean Negulesco, based on novel by Jean Webster, songs by Johnny Mercer, starring Fred Astaire, Leslie Caron, Terry Moore, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark, Ray Anthony and his Orchestra and others. Musical about millionaire Jervis Pendleton (Astaire), on a trip to Paris, sees an 18 year old girl (Caron) in an orphanage. Enchanted with her, but mindful of the difference in their ages, he sponsors her to college in New England. She writes him letters, which he doesn't read and forgetting about her. After 3 years, he goes to visit her at a dance, not telling her that he is her benefactor and they fall in love... This is a very cute and entertaining movie of the old kind that I like. The obvious age difference between Astaire and Caron is also part of this movies plot and creates concerns. Leslie Caron could read the telephone directory and still charm me. My only objection is a ballet sequence near the end that felt unnecessary. All in all, I liked to be in their company for the two hours the movie took, plus Thelma Ritter and Fred Clark gives the movie some comedy when it needs it. It was nominated for 3 Oscars, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color, Best Music, Original Song "Something's Gotta Give" and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture (Alfred Newman). To my knowledge this is the latest version of Jean Webster's novel, I was pretty sure there had been a later TV-movie, but I must remember wrong.
|
|
|
Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Jun 12, 2018 17:58:43 GMT
THE SCARLET BLADE 1963 Hammer was not only known for horror films, they were also making comedies and historical adventure films. This one takes place during the time of Cromwell, with various shenanigans in a household involving royalists and their enemies. The low budget nature of it means that the swashbuckling adventure elements take a backseat to the dramatic intrigue, and this is what makes such a film interesting now. It has the type of basic storytelling care to characters and dialogue you would be hard pressed to find today in similar films 10 x the budget.
The stand out in the cast is Lionel Jeffries as Colonel Judd, who switched from supporter of the king to Cromwell, presumably for monetary reasons. This causes problems for him with his daughter Claire (June Thorburn) who is secretly helping refugees flee the Cromwell soldiers (by use of secret passageways in old houses--I like those secret passageways-wish I had one). Captain Tom Sylvester (Oliver Reed) fancies her, and is willing to turn traitor to help her, but she repays his help by having an affair with the head of the royal resistance, Edward Beverely, the Scarlet Blade himself, (portrayed by Jack Hedley). He doesn't wear a mask or have a red costume. This seems a deficiency IMO.
The film leads to a poignant conclusion where Colonel Judd has to choose between his duty and his daughter.
Jeffries and Reed own the movie, along with another Hammer semi-regular Duncan Lamont. The Scarlet Blade himself is ok but no Errol Flynn (or even Sean Flynn).
Amusingly, King Charles I is played by Robert Rietti, best known for dubbing so many movies--and in this one, he has no lines at all.
|
|
|
Post by teleadm on Jun 13, 2018 17:39:42 GMT
Zorba the Greek 1964, directed by Michael Cacoyannis, based on a novel by Nikos Kazantzakis from 1946, music by Mikis Theodorakis, starring Anthony Queenm Alan Bates, Irene Papas, Lila Kedrova, Giorgos Foundas and many others. Drama about an uptight English writer (Bates) traveling to Crete on a matter of business finds his life changed forever when he meets the gregarious Alexis Zorba (Quinn). I didn't like this movie at all, I thought it had a strange moral, and I found Zorba to be an irresponsible rascal who just creates chaos in whatever he does. This so called celebration of life to the fullest, includes a lynch mob killing a woman, and looting another just as she is dying. The only things I liked was Theodorakis influential music and Irene Papas as a young widow who gets lynched, she hardly has any dialog yet says so much moore with her body and her face, that's great acting! It won three Oscars for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kedrova), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Walter Lassally) and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White. On our old board I remember many Cretes or Cretans disliked how they were portrayed in this movie. Though this movie takes place long before Crete became a charter resort and much must have changed already by 1964, and even more by now.
|
|
|
Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Jun 13, 2018 20:53:11 GMT
IVANHOE 1952 I can see why someone said they can't warm to Robert Taylor. He seems like a, pardon the expression, "severely constipated Errol Flynn." And Joan Fontaine, I am sorry to say, is a poor man's Olivia de Havilland. I watched this mainly for the display or castles and armor--the castles were great. But the armor-bleh--the Dark Avenger had better. The duels were good though.
Next up for me is KNIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE although I also have another 50s Flynn movie to watch, CROSSED SWORDS.
|
|
|
Post by teleadm on Jun 14, 2018 17:32:47 GMT
Le repos du guerrier aka Love on a Pillow aka Warrior's Rest 1962, directed by Roger Vadim, based on a novel by Christiane Rochefort, starring Brigitte Bardot, Robert Hossein, Jean-Marc Bory, Michel Serrault, Macha Méril, James Robertson Justice and others. French romantic drama about a young bourgeois girl (Bardot) who rescues a man (Hossein) from a suicide attempt. He turns out to be a sociopath, who begins to take over her life, abusing her both verbally and emotionally, yet she can't seem to tear herself away from him. Bardot is as always beautiful, but Hossein (in this character) is a lazy destructive repulsive bohemic person that I don't get why she is at all attracted to him in any way. Was Vadim running out of ideas how to explore his goldmine? or was he the wrong director to make a movie based on Rochefort's novel any justice? James Robertson Justice who plays Hossein's father lights up the screen whenever he is around, even if he is dubbed. Beautiful scenery from Paris, Dijon and Florence, and the whole movie is also beautifully restored in all it's colors. Sadly I found it boring and it dragged, as I couldn't care less for the main characters.
|
|
|
Post by mikef6 on Jun 14, 2018 17:49:09 GMT
Please Murder Me! / Peter Godfrey (1956). Two well-loved actors, both on the cusp of stardom, give intense performances in this worthwhile but totally forgotten film noir. My full review will come this Saturday (June 16) in the weekly “What classics did you see…” thread. Angela Lansbury and Raymond Burr standing in that noir lighting that we all love.
|
|
|
Post by teleadm on Jun 15, 2018 17:50:10 GMT
Tony Rome 1967, directed by Gordon Douglas, based on a novel by Marvin H. Albert, music by Billy May, starring Frank Sinatra, Jilll St. John, Richard Conte, Sue Lyon, Gena Rowlands, Simon Oakland, Jeffrey Lynn, Lloyd Bochner, Robert J. Wilke and others, including cameos by Michael Romanoff and Rocky Graziano. Main titles song written by Lee Hazlewood and sung by Nancy Sinatra. Detective neo noir about private eye Miami based Tony Rome (Sinatra) who get a simple case of just transporting a girl (Lyon) that is stoned drunk rich girl that is found in a sleezy hotel to her parents for 200USD, a local construction millionaire (Oakland) without involving the police, and so far so good, but then all kinds of people begins to questions Tony about a missing pin with diamonds, and then follows dead bodies, missing persons, drugs, hired killers and finds himself knee-deep in trouble, and wan't to get out, but more people want's Tony to dig deeper, and offers more money, and Tony also has a gambling habit and needs money badly so he continues his search... I won't go further or I would reveal something... The a-little wrinkled Sinatra is an asset as the wry don't wan't to get involved but anyway get's involved Tony Rome, and he is great with a few one-liners that reminds of Bogart in The Big Sleep. I had a hard time following all the threads, red herrings and divertions that somehow made the conclution made me think "What didn't I notice?". Many great location shots of how Miami looked like in the mid 1960s
|
|
|
Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Jun 16, 2018 0:12:11 GMT
THE INCIDENT 1967 -- Grim film, the most grim I have watched since Blast of Silence. Various characters with problems which are purged by fire in the form of two hooligans portrayed by Martin Sheen and Tony Musante. And yet the ending leaves you uncertain whether any of them is any better off. Ultimately a negative experience with great performances.
BTW I have had a subway incident that reminds me of the film--one time I was on a late train with two young guys behind me and another passenger and they started smoking. The third one got upset about it in a silent rage kind of way which was scary. I was glad when they all got off.
|
|
|
Post by kijii on Jun 16, 2018 0:50:30 GMT
Rob Roy (1995) / Michael Caton-Jones It took me two viewings to understand the complete plots of this movie, as well as the speaking style and Scottish brogue. However, it was worth the two viewings. I think this is based on Sir Walter Scott's novel of the same name, but I can't find his name among the writing credits.
Tim Roth received an Oscar nomination for his characterization of the foppish English champion (Archibald Cunningham) of Lord Montrose (John Hurt). We come to hate them both, but no one is more despicable than Cunningham, who practices almost every sort of sin on our heroes (the MacGregor Clan), especially, Rob Roy, before them movie is over. Cunningham is the villain we really come to hate the most, but when all is said and done, he is just the all-too-faithful champion agent of Lord Montrose, just as Killearn (Brian Cox) is Montrose's factor who "looks on" while Cunningham rapes, murders, robs, plots, and disgraces Rob Roy and MacGregors in every possible way, including burning down Roy's his farm, killing his livestock, raping his wife, killing his agent, dragging him, steeling the agent's money (which had been loaned by Montrose) and blaming the theft on the agent absconding with the money. The protagonists of the story are Rob Roy MacGregor (Liam Neeson), his wife, Mary (Jessica Lange), and the rest of MacGregor clan who faithfully work the land and raise the cattle for Lord Montrose. But, in spite of Roy's loyalty to Montrose, the later tries to use Roy in a quarrel he is having with Argyll (Andrew Keir), by carrying fourth the rumor that Argyll is a Jacobite.* ---------------------------------- *The story is set in the Scottish Highlands in 1714, soon after Scotland had joined England to create the United Kingdom (1707) during the reign of Queen Anne, the last of the Stuarts. ("Anne was the second daughter of James II. She had 17 pregnancies but only one child survived – William, who died of smallpox aged just 11..After Anne’s death the succession went to the nearest Protestant relative of the Stuart line, George I, the first of the Hanovars..Sir Robert Walpole [become] Britain’s first Prime Minister. In 1715 the Jacobites (followers of James Stuart, son of James II) attempted to supplant George, but the attempt failed.") Still, there were those loyal to the Scottish Stuarts. And, being called a Jacobite, at that time in Scotland, was akin to being called a Communist in West in the late 20th Century (There were Jacobite risings until 1759.) ------------------------------------
So, the engine that drives this story also rests upon an ongoing quarrel between two Scottish Lords, Montrose and Argyll.
Duke of Argyll (Andrew Keir): You promised MacGregor amnesty from his debts if he would lay charges against me. Montrose (John Hurt): So! That is how he cozened you into giving him shelter. Duke of Argyll : Oh, I know the truth when I hear it. Montrose : Oh! And here was me, thinking that was God's gift alone. Duke of Argyll : Do not think that all sins go unpaid in this life, Montrose. Montrose : Well... I see one set soon to be paid for.
But when these two Lords fought their quarrels, they did it though their factors and champions.
Archibald Cunningham (Tim Roth): What did you do with that bag of guts Killearn? Vex me not, McGregor, or I shall have you dragged a while. And I am a man of my word. Robert Roy MacGregor (Liam Neeson): You're a thief, a murderer and a violator of women. Archibald Cunningham: Aah... I had hoped you'd come to me long since on that score. Robert Roy MacGregor: If I had known earlier you would have been dead sooner. Archibald Cunningham: I will tell you something, to take with you. Your wife was far sweeter forced than many are willing. And truth put to it, I think not all of her objected...
There is love, hate, plots and counter-plots, brutality, revenge, and honor in this action movie. It all fit together perfectly for me. I liked it well!!
Robert Roy MacGregor: Do you know how fine you are to me, Mary MacGregor? Mary MacGregor: And you to me.
Cunningham (Tim Roth) - Montrose (John Hurt) - Rob Roy (Liam Neeson)
Full synopsis of the movie with Spoilers: The story is set in early 18th Century Scotland. A group of Scots highlanders are tracking another clan who have stolen cattle from a lord. The protection of the lord's property, including his livestock, is managed by Robert Roy MacGregor, the man leading the trackers. One of his men, Alan McDonald, tells Rob and the rest of the party that they are about a day behind the thieves.
The search party finally spots the thieves, camped out in a valley. Knowing that an attack at night would be unwise, Rob orders his party to get some sleep. He also says that he'll personally approach the thieves in the morning and try to negotiate with them. When Alan asks Rob why he thinks speaking to them will accomplish anything, Rob tells him "I know one of them."
The next morning, Rob makes good on his word and wakes up the thieves in their camp. He tells them that the cattle belong to his lord and they'll all live if they lay down their weapons and surrender the animals. To prove his point, Rob tells his men to reveal their positions, which surround the camp. Their leader, Sibbald, mocks Rob's authority. When he tries to kill Rob, he is killed himself. Rob allows the rest of Sibbald's party to live and they leave. Rob returns home to his proud wife, Mary, and his two young boys. He spends a few days at home and he and Mary make passionate love under a tree.
Rob Roy's village is under the protection of John Campbell, Duke of Argyll. While watching his best duelist, Guthrie, in a sword match, one of Campbell's vassals the Marquis of Montrose, meets with him. Montrose is accompanied by a foppish young man, Archibold Cunningham. Archie had been sent to Scotland by his mother, who had grown irritated by his promiscuous playboy behavior. Archie challenges Guthrie to a duel and Duke Campbell and his vassal Montrose wager heavily on the outcome. Campbell is surprised when Archie easily bests Guthrie, and Montrose wins a hefty sum.
Rob meanwhile devises a plan to make money droving cattle: he decides he will ask Campbell to loan him 1000 guineas that he will use to buy cattle at a nearby port. He will raise the cattle and sell them back to Campbell at a profit. Campbell tells Rob to to draw up a loan agreement with Montrose. Montrose's chief banker, Killearn, is a treacherous businessman who is secretly loyal to Archie, whom Killearn believes is more ambitious than Duke Montrose. Killearn reveals to Archie that Rob will be receiving the 1000 guineas as coin and that Archie should prepare to steal it.
The next day, Rob meets directly with Killearn and signs the papers to receive the credit. Rob leaves, charging his man MacDonald with collecting the credit slip. Killearn deliberately makes MacDonald wait all day while he deals with all his other clients. When Killearn finally calls MacDonald in to receive the loan, Killearn tells him that he cannot give him a credit slip and MacDonald must take coins instead, violating the agreement with Rob. MacDonald is reluctant but finally accepts the coin. On his way to deliver the money to Rob, he is pursued through the woods by Archie, who has prepared an ambush. MacDonald's horse carry's him into a rope strung across the path, and he is injured and thrown from his horse. He staggers away, hiding the money in a tree. Archie finds him and kills him, taking the money.
When MacDonald doesn't show up, Rob goes back to Killearn, demanding to know what happened. Killearn tells him that he'd given MacDonald the money and he left. Killearn also suggests that MacDonald had stolen the money for himself and may have boarded a ship to America. MacDonald had earlier told Rob he wished to leave Scotland for Virginia. Rob refuses to believe that MacDonald would betray him and decides to take his case directly to Montrose. When he meets with the lord, he tries to strike a new deal for more money. Montrose will agree, provided Rob falsely testifies that Campbell is a Jacobite. Rob refuses, only knowing Campbell by reputation. When he suggests that Montrose is crooked, Montrose orders Archie to arrest Rob. Rob pulls a hidden knife and holds Archie at bay, pushing him over and running off. Montrose instructs Archie to find Rob and bring him to justice, "broken, but not dead." Archie sets out with Killearn and a small unit of soldiers.
Rob returns home and tells Mary that he'll be leaving their home until he can figure out a plan to clear his name. Mary is angry, saying he'll be hiding like an animal. Rob leaves his younger brother Alasdair and a couple of other men loyal to him to guard Mary and the farm. Very soon, Archie, Killearn and the unit of soldiers sail across the lake in front of the MacGregor home and arrive early one morning. Mary gathers her boys and tells them to hide in the hills behind the house. She goes out to meet the landing party, frightened but confident. She defiantly calls Archie a fool when he demands to know where her husband is. Archie orders the soldiers to burn her house and kill the livestock. Killearn suggests that Mary step aside, but Archie grabs her hair and drags her into the house. He forces her over a table and brutally and gleefully rapes her. Her house burning around her, Mary finally walks out, shaken but proud. The noblemen and their soldiers depart on their boat as Alasdair arrives, yelling for the marauders to return and fight. They fire a warning shot at him and bleat like sheep as they sail back across the lake. Mary furiously washes her groin in the lake, and Alasdair realizes that she's been raped. Mary compells him to promise not to tell Rob, because she doesn't want him to get killed in his desire to avenger her honor. Alasdair reluctantly promises Mary he won't say anything.
Mary formulates a plan of her own to prove Rob's innocence and honor. She discovers that Archie's lover, Betty, one of Montrose's servants, is pregnant with Archie's child. Spurned by Archie, Betty agrees to testify that she overheard Archie and Killearn conspiring to steal the money given to MacDonald. Mary comforts her when she admits that she's pregnant and becomes upset, saying she still loves Archie despite his evil nature. Mary tells Rob about Killearn's and Archie's dealings and Rob vows to bring them both to justice. Rob finds Killearn in a tavern. Guthrie attempts to defined him, and Rob kills him. When Rob arrives at a secret location with Killearn, he sends Alasdair to retrieve Betty, but when Mary goes to find her, she finds that Betty has hanged herself and is dead.
Mary demands to meet with Killearn privately, demanding that he testify to restore Rob's honor. Killearn refuses, gaining the upper hand when he mentions that he remembers how Archie raped her and that the child Mary is now pregnant with may be Archie's and not Rob's. Enraged, Mary stabs him in the neck, bringing Rob and Alasdair. Rob tries to calm Mary down, leaving Killearn to Alasdair. Alasdair drowns Killearn in the lake. Rob and Mary's plan is foiled and Rob tells his brother to drop the body in the middle of the lake since Montrose will search for him.
Alasdair joins Rob in the Highlands. They observe Archie's war party from a distance burning the house Rob & Mary had occupied after their own home was destroyed. Rob orders a retreat before Archie notices them; his own men are out-armed and outnumbered. Alasdair, angry over Archie's violation of Mary, takes a potshot at Archie, missing and killing one man. Archie orders his men to chase Rob's party into the mist covering the peaks. As he runs to catch up with Rob, Alasdair is shot, paralyzing his legs. Rob grabs him and carries him into the mist. As he dies from his wound, Alasdair tells Rob that Mary was raped by Archie.
A soldier finds them and finishes Alasdair off. Rob overpowers the man and mounts his horse to escape, but it's shot out from under him and lands on his leg, trapping him. He's captured by Archie, who binds his hands and drags him behind his horse. At night, Rob is tied to a tree. He tells Archie that he a thief and rapist, and Archie tells him that Campbell's wife Mary was more enjoyable when raped than others who were willing, and that "not all of her objected." Rob lunges forward and bites at Archie ripping his coat. Archie beats him and has him gagged for the rest of the march home.
When they reach the Bridge at Glen Orchy, Montrose is waiting. Rob is allowed to speak in his defense. He claims that Archie killed MacDonald and stole the money. Archie denies the charges and Montrose orders his men to hang Rob from the bridge. Rob quickly grabs the rope binding his hands, loops it around Archie's neck and jumps from the bridge. The rope pulls Archie to the edge where one of the soldiers uses a sword to cut it, freeing Rob, who plunges into the stream below - Archie is still alive. Rob washes downstream with the current, going over a small waterfall. On the bank, he finds the rotting carcass of a dead ox and quickly guts it, using the animal to hide from the search party, who won't approach because of the stench.
Rob rejoins Mary at a safe house,. which Mary had earlier negotiated from Campbell himself and secured the property under his protection. Rob confronts Mary about the rape but realizes she still loves him and that the child she bears is definitely his. Rob recovers from his wounds and visits with Campbell, seeking a way to settle his dispute with Archie. Knowing Archie's skill with a sword, Campbell reluctantly agrees to sponsor Rob in a fair duel. He tells Rob that as a prudent man he ought to bet on Archie. Rob tells him to bet any way he chooses. Rob bids his family farewell, telling his sons to ask their mother about the new addition to their family. Mary asks Rob what to name their child if Rob doesn't return: he tells her to name it for himself if it's a boy and for herself if it's a girl.
On the way to Montrose's court. Rob convinces Campbell to pay Mary's and his children's living expenses if he loses the match with Archie. They agree on a high sum and Campbell exclaims that he likes Rob's negotiating style.
Rob arrives at Montrose's court where he and Archie will duel to the death with swords. Campbell and Montrose agree on a wager. After laying out the customary rules about backstabbing and quarter, "no quarter being given or asked." The two duel, and Archie has obviously superior skills to Rob Roy. He toys with Rob, slashing him superficially several times on his torso, and then on his dueling arm, disarming him.
He lifts Rob's chin with his blade, and receives a nod from the moderator to end the duel and Rob Roy's life. Rob suddenly grasps Archie's sword blade at his own neck with his bare hand. He picks up his own sword from the floor next to him, and Archie is too surprised for a moment at Rob's sudden action to do anything. Rob swiftly cuts Archie deeply from his shoulder to his sternum, opening a wide wound. Archie is shocked, gasps, blood spilling from his mouth, stumbles, and falls dead.
Rob settles his wagers with Campbell and Montrose and leaves. Montrose tells Archie's sponsor that he will hold him to their wager, meaning that all of Rob Roy's debts are wiped clean. Rob returns home to Mary who is overjoyed to see him.
|
|