Culloden (1964)
1h 9m | PG-13
Culloden, Scottish Highlands, April 16th, 1746. It was one of the most mishandled and brutal battles ever fought in Great Britain. Its aftermath was tragic. The men responsible for such a disaster must be exposed. The men, women and children who suffered because of it must be remembered.
Director: Peter Watkins
Studio: BBC
Genre: TV Movie, War, History, Drama
Video: 720p
Cast
George McBean
as Alexander McDonald (uncredited)
Olivier Espitalier-Noel
as Prince Charles Edward Stuart (uncredited)
Tony Cosgrove
as Lt. Ward / Field Interviewer (voice) (uncredited)
Robert Oates
as Private Alexander Laing (uncredited)
Patrick Watkins
as Crying Baby (uncredited)
Don Fairservice
as English Officer (uncredited)
Reviews
This must be one of the first docudramas around. They interview the battle participants and bystanders as in a documentary, but of course they are all actors since the battle took place in the 1700s. The film must mean more to the British and Scottish viewers than a mere Anglophile like myself, as it involves the last land battle fought on their soil and the final one of this clan uprising under the overrated Bonnie Prince Charlie. The show suggests that the Scottish strategy was deeply flawed to the point that the Prince’s own generals were mystified, and that it led not only to defeat but to practically a massacre, with 1200 deaths compared to 50 British soldiers. The movie also discusses the post-battle hunting down of upper clan survivors and families, leading to a rampage of rape and murder that would have done Hitler proud. Culloden has aged fairly well, retaining some interest even after over 50 years and despite it concerning a relatively minor battle in world history.