Stone of Destiny (2008)

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

Ian Hamilton (book)
Charles Martin Smith (writer)

Release Date:

19 December 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A heist 600 years in the making

Plot:

The story of Ian Hamilton, a dedicated nationalist who reignited Scottish national pride in the 1950s with his daring raid on the heart of England to bring the Stone of Scone back to Scotland.

Plot Keywords:

Stone | 1950s | Scotland | Student | Bar

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Charlie Cox	...	Ian Hamilton
Kate Mara	...	Kay Matheson
Billy Boyd	...	Bill Craig
Robert Carlyle	...	John MacCormick
Ciaron Kelly	...	Alan Stuart
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rab Affleck	...	Old Gypsy
Gillian Aitken	...	1950's Student
Janine Ballantyne	...	1950's Student
Ross Bennie	...	1950's Student
Juliet Cadzow	...	Ian's mother
Alan Cuthbertson	...	Police Officer CID
Ron Donachie	...	Nightwatchman Murphy
Adrienne Fraser	...	1950's Student
Brenda Fricker	...	Mrs. McQuarry
Mark Harvey	...	Cheering Student
Pauline King	...	Jen
Bryan Lowe	...	Brian / Obnoxious Student
Stephen McCole	...	Gavin Vernon
Ashley McFarlane	...	Gavin's Girl 1
Iain McGregor	...	Abbey Worker
Johnny Meres	...	Detective Simpkins
Peter Mullan	...	Ian's dad
Rod Scott	...	Policeman
Adam Smith	...	Tourist

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and some incidental smoking.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, UK

Company:

Infinity Features Entertainment

Trivia:

Christopher Lee was originally cast as "Elder Ian Hamilton", the lead character, now in his 80s, who begins to the tell the story of what happened 57 years ago. However, when the rough cut of the film was screened for a test audience, the director, editor and producers all decided that this device of a "Flashback" was not necessary to the film, and in fact, unnecessarily slowed down the beginning of the story. Therefore that scene was cut and as a result the film is told completely from the point of view of Young Ian Hamilton.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Tramlines on Westminster bridge (which is shown from above) were not lifted until 1952, yet the film is set in 1950. Also, double red lines are marked which would not have been painted until much later.

Quotes:

Mrs. McQuarry: It's good for a man to change his mind sometimes.

Soundtrack:

Wild Mountain Thyme

A gem of a feel-good movie, and that's coming from an Englishman!!!

Since around the 9th century, tradition holds that Scottish monarchs took their place upon the Stone of Scone during their coronation ceremony, until 1296 when it was captured by Edward I and placed in Westminster Abbey under a seat upon which English sovereigns were crowned, thereby showing the English power over the Scots. "Stone of Destiny" tells the true story of Ian Hamilton, a young student and nationalist, who was to attempt to return the Stone to its rightful place in Scotland and thereby right a long-standing injustice by the English.

The cast is strong and features the likes of Robert Carlyle, Brenda Fricker and Billy Boyd (that "fool of a Took"). However, Charlie Cox once again caught my attention following his leading role in Stardust. Given he is not a native Scot, he makes a great effort at the accent, and again manages to portray his character with a great balance of likability, determination and youthful exuberance, and gives us hope that some of the next generation's leading men can combine acting and looking good... Director Charles Martin Smith does wonderfully in conveying the underdog theme brilliantly with a good balance of action, comedy and emotion. It's a definite feel-good movie, with the people around me clapping at the end. 5 stars, a British gem.