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| Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue - 1953 |
Coming up next is 1953's "Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue", a story about famed Scottish hero Rob Roy and his quest to gain amnesty for the Clan MacGregor. This film has a particular interest for me, as Rob Roy was an ancestor of mine.
The film's cast includes Richard Todd, Glynis Johns, James Robertson Justice, Michael Gough, Finlay Currie, Jean Taylor Smith, Eric Pohlmann, and Ina De La Haye.
The clans of Scotland are not happy with the installment of King George I of England as the ruler of Scotland. They want their own monarch. So, they go to war. Eventually, only a small band of rebels remains, and they are quashed by George I's forces.
Their leader, Rob Roy MacGregor, is captured. All of this is watched over by the Duke of Argyll, who is Secretary of State for Scotland. Argyll is a kinsman of Rob's.
The families of the Highlanders watch as the wounded come home. Many are sad that their deceased loved ones are not among them.
The Duke of Montrose is jealous of the position held by the Duke of Argyll. He uses Argyll's handling of the rebel situation to become Secretary of State for Scotland himself.
The Duke of Argyll is inclined to be lenient towards Rob MacGregor. Rob's mother, Lady Margaret, is a member of the Argyll family, and she informs the Duke that she is engineering an escape plan for her son.
Those plans come off without a hitch. Rob uses the opportunity to teach a lesson to the Duke of Montrose, who vows revenge.
After escaping from Montrose's clutches, Rob uses the time to propose to his sweetheart, Helen Mary.
The Duke of Montrose is swift in his revenge. At Rob and Helen Mary's wedding, they are informed that the Clan MacGregor is disbanded by order of King George I, and the name MacGregor can no longer be used by any man in Scotland.
Rob is furious. He organizes the clans together so they can fight the armies of King George once again.
The armies try hard to catch him, but Rob is always one step ahead of them.
Rob's mother is killed during a shootout at the MacGregor estate. With her dying breath she utters, "It's so easy to set the heather on fire. So hard to put it out."
Rob buries his mother quietly. He promises open rebellion to avenge his mother's murder.
The Duke of Argyll counsels restraint, but Rob won't listen. He once again organizes armies to fight against the King's forces.
In London, the fame of Rob and his rebellion grows. Ballads and stories of his exploits appear on every street corner. They come to the attention of Countess von Pahlen, who is the mistress of King George I.
The Countess and the King read about Rob. The King is quite impressed at the rogue in Scotland. He especially enjoys the story of how he tweaked the Duke of Montrose's nose.
After taking the rebellion one step too far, Rob travels to London to ask for amnesty for the MacGregors. He offers his sword to the King.
The Duke of Montrose advises against amnesty. The King says, "The king does not fear the bold enemy. The king fears only the self-seeking friend." Amnesty is duly granted.
Rob is then free to return to Scotland and the loving arms of his wife, Helen Mary.
Cast rundown:
Richard Todd....................................Rob Roy MacGregor
Glynis Johns.....................................Helen Mary MacGregor
James Robertson Justice....................Duke of Argyll
Michael Gough..................................Duke of Montrose
Finlay Currie....................................Hamish MacPherson
Jean Taylor Smith.............................Lady Margaret MacGregor
Eric Pohlmann..................................King George I
Ina De La Haye................................Countess von Pahlen
And that's it for Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue. The film was shot in Scotland. In his autobiography, Richard Todd said that the extras used for the battle scenes were soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had just returned from the Korean War. Todd experienced an injury when he was shooting the opening battle scene: he stepped in a rabbit hole.
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