May 24, 2012 one of the greatest films to ever air was mel gibsons braveheart. The best historical movies that are also mostly accurate. The brave heart refers in scottish history to that of robert the. Judging historical fiction is not as simple as accurate equals good and inaccurate equals bad. Jan 30, 2020 the bad news is, pretty much everything else in braveheart is wrong. One medieval epic wins in a scottish history smackdown over weapons, clothing, costumes, and. The inaccuracies are everywhere, from the general timeline to the characters themselves. History is full of noteworthy people and events that are just ripe for the screenwriter s picking and often result in.
It also sparked the interest of many in scottish history. Is the film braveheart historically accurate answers. Historical inaccuracies in the movie braveheart free essays. Gibsons tale of scottish heroism steers pretty clear of historical accuracy and political implication, its primary aim being to showcase gibson and entertain. One of the greatest films to ever air was mel gibsons braveheart. Top 5 hacksaw ridge historical mistakes history vs. As gripping and entertaining as the film was, though, it was not particularly historically accurate.
Starting at the beginning, where they actually tell you theyre planning on telling you lies for the entire movie, we are told the date is 1280 ad, and the narrator says. For a controversial episode of history such as the crusades, the issue of historical accuracy becomes even more relevant. This movie is set during the scottish rebellions around 0, during the rule of edward i longshanks. But how close did it stay to what actually happened. When ridley scott released his crusade epic kingdom of heaven in 2005, his film provoked widespread controversy from historians and derision from film critics. All the historical inaccuracies in braveheart we just cant. The film depicts the life of wallace leading the scots in the first war of scottish independence against king edward i of england.
Vikings, an irishcanadian television series written and created by michael hirst, for the history channel, and filmed in ireland, has been tremendously successful. Star and director mel gibson himself notes that the film is a historical. Til braveheart has been described as one of the most. Braveheart is a 1995 american epic historical fiction war film directed and coproduced by mel gibson, who portrays william wallace, a latethcentury scottish warrior. I would also remind you that braveheart was a theatrical film release, not a documentary. Indeed, mel gibson has caught a lot of flak from historians for a number. Something about the words based on a true story flashing across the screen has the ability to capture a viewers attention unlike anything else.
The 1995 movie, braveheart, is a cinematic masterpiece. Dramatic in its nature, pearl harbor is certainly meant to be an artistic retelling of the events of the pearl harbor attack. A multiple oscar winner, an aweinspiring cinematic portrayal of scottish freedom. That is where disney pixars 2012 animated film, brave falls on the scale. Braveheart, historical epic film, released in 1995, that was directed by and starred mel gibson and was loosely based on the story of thcentury scottish leader william wallace. There is still a lot of leeway in the way in which key events are. Nov 03, 2016 it won multiple oscars, praised by film critics and adored by audiences. Director and actor mel gibsons portrayal of scotlands hero william wallace mesmerized audiences and won the movie five oscars the film is set in thcentury scotland, when wallace returns to his homeland to find it oppressed and taken over by the brutal, pagan king of england, edward i. The film gained worldwide recoginition, has won five academy awards including best picture and best director, and was nominated for another five. The film braveheart, to which clann tartan members should need no introduction, has been nominated for academy awards and rereleased, which prompts me to do something i should have done when it was released the first time.
The movie s opening narration states wallace is one of two sons. There is evidence wallace had at least two older brothers. Braveheart won five oscars including for best picture and best makeup, but oscar for best costume design went to less famous movie restoration. The story is centered on the bravery and leadership of the famous william wallace, and though wellmade with an interesting story, this film is notorious for being historically inaccurate. However, changes have been made to make the film more entertaining and romantic. Top 5 hacksaw ridge historical mistakes history vs movies. A multiple oscar winner, an aweinspiring cinematic portrayal of scottish freedom fighter william wallace and his greatest accomplishments. The braveheart has returned glorious historical spectacles on a menu, however, it.
It depends on whether the inaccuracies are constructive lies or accidental mistakes. Its also an extremely historically inaccurate film, but that doesnt devalue it as a cinematic achievement. The lying art of historical fiction books the guardian. This essay describes some of the many historical problems with the film braveheart. The same standards of historical accuracy which are to expected for one do not apply to the other. It would be hard to write down all inaccuracies but here are top 5 braveheart historical mistakes. Dec 23, 2015 elizabeth ewan describes braveheart as a film which almost totally sacrifices historical accuracy for epic adventure. Historical inaccuracy in braveheart 865 words bartleby.
After all, if youre capable of separating enjoyment of history from enjoyment of an exciting adventure film, why not. Historical accounts indicate wallace was involved with a woman named marion braidfute, the daughter of a lord, whom he met as a young man. The film is set in thcentury scotland, when wallace returns to his homeland to find it oppressed and taken over by the brutal, pagan king of england. In the real life, the fight was between doss father and his uncle but his. Wallace was a scottish knight who became a hero in the scottish rebellions against the english in the late th. Braveheart the 10 historical inaccuracies you need to know. Despite its failings with authenticty and general historical accuracy braveheart was a commercial success and would go on to win 5 academy awards out of a possible 10. All the historical inaccuracies in braveheart we just can. Jun 12, 2017 in the movie, we see one of strongest reason why doss decided to never ever touch a weapon.
There is absolutely, undoubtedly zero fact outside the basic requirements. Gibson did not want to act in the movie he felt he was too old for the part, but the studio refused to finance it without the superstar appearing. By far the most commonly cited book in this respect is the da vinci code, even though it is not a historical novel. The epic movie helped along by a solid cast, bloodily rousing battle scenes, james horner s swooningly romantic score and the awesome landscapes of the scottish. One historian took particular exception to the costumes and compared it to, a film about colonial america showing the colonial men wearing 20th century business suits, but with the jackets worn backtofront. The movie is exceptionally accurate when compared with other historical movies. The most historically inaccurate movies ever readers digest. Maybe the issue is not historical accuracy, but the time in which a movie is released braveheart was wildly successful upon its initial release, and it has maintained that popularity over time. Please see my policy if you wish to cite any part of this essay. The movies opening narration states wallace is one of two sons. The scottish war for independence roughly 12965 most people i have spoken to know that braveheart is not a film rife with historical accuracy. Gibson did not want to act in the movie he felt he was too old for the part, but the studio. Mel gibsons braveheart is a fullthroated, redblooded battle epic about william wallace, the legendary scots warrior who led his nation into battle against the english in the years around 0. When braveheart came out in 1995, it was an instant success.
Ill also note that for whatever reason, i remember 1995 the year of release distinctly as a time of distrust of the u. Braveheart the 10 historical inaccuracies you need to. Film locations for braveheart in ireland and scotland. Braveheart, rob roy all portrayed a distinctive passion and intensity in their respective time periods.
William wallace the movie braveheart, directed by mel gibson and released in 1995, is an epic tale about a scottish hero named william wallace. Apr 23, 2008 historian elizabeth ewan describes braveheart as a film which almost totally sacrifices historical accuracy for epic adventure. One of the most common questions im asked is how factual mel gibsons portrayal of william wallace was in the 1995 film braveheart. The braveheart has returned glorious historical spectacles on a menu, however, it is questioned how much this movie is historical.
The life and times of viking ragnar lodbrok, a farmer who rose to fame by successful raids into engla. It stars mel gibson as the scottish patriot william wallace. Nov, 2018 braveheart has been called one of the least accurate historical movies ever made, a harsh critique when you consider films like 10,000 bc, pocahontas, jfk, and pearl harbor. The film also stars sophie marceau, patrick mcgoohan and catherine mccormack. Wallace was a scottish knight who became a hero in the scottish rebellions against the english in the late th and early 14th century. Historical inaccuracies in the movie braveheart free. In the film, wallace secretly marries childhood friend murron, a peasant.
Mel gibsons braveheart is fullblood medieval action movie based on life and death of scottish national hero william wallace, scottish personal che guevara. The films historical denigrators were divided into muslim. Star and director mel gibson himself notes that the film is a historical fantasy and shouldnt be taken as the accurate portrayal of wallaces life. Gibson both directed and starred in the 1995 film that depicted the true story of a rebellious scottish warrior, william wallace, as he led an uprising against the king. The movie indicates that father, a world war i veteran, was a drunkard with an anger problem. Aug 23, 2015 and still others fall in the middle of that scale, containing historical accuracy mixed with fantasy. All the historical inaccuracies in braveheart we just cant ignore. Yet the wild liberties it took with history have led it to be repeatedly panned by historians and critics. The many historical facts the movie braveheart got wrong. Ignoring the mythical holy grail of historical accuracy is even more problematic. But here are a few places where we wish they had gotten it right. These 20 historical inaccuracies in braveheart just.
In fact, very little is known about the real william wallace. Mel gibsons film braveheart is both one of the most celebrated and one of the most reviled pieces of historical filmmaking ever. Scottish hero william wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered on 23 august 6. So im going to surgically dissect it, because its just. A reckless disregard for historical accuracy didnt prevent mel gibsons twodimensional tale of scots hero william wallace from snagging both best film and best director oscars.
Here we have an interesting problem, where movies that are more historically correct and ones that are not, are both enjoyed. Its an ambitious film, big on simple emotions like love, patriotism and treachery, and avoids the travelogue style of so many historical swashbucklers. While braveheart has been much criticized for its lack of historical accuracy, and not to mention how it diminishes the role robert the bruce played in the war against the english, outlaw king does a generally better job in showing key events until the battle of loudoun hill. Since the screenplay was written by randall wallace, a descendant of the films hero, you might expect a bit of bias, and there is. Mel gibsons braveheart is one of the movies with most historical inaccuracies. Folks, it is rare to see this level of historical accuracy in a movie sword fight. Top 5 braveheart historical mistakes history vs movies. The movie barveheart in 1995, which was starred, produced and directed by academy award winner mel gibson, depicted or tried to depict the life of scottish hero and patriot sir william wallace.
The far side of the worlds historical accuracy is a matter of some debate simply because of the nature of the films plot. Braveheart was wildly successful upon its initial release, and it has maintained that popularity over time. The story about wiliam wallace, a scottish national hero, is changed for better dramatisation so the movie has a little connection with the reallife hero. The endless historical errors made in the pearl harbor movie. One time he got in a fight with his wife and young doss interfered to save the mother. Apr, 2010 despite its failings with authenticty and general historical accuracy braveheart was a commercial success and would go on to win 5 academy awards out of a possible 10. Maybe the issue is not historical accuracy, but the time in which a movie is released. The bad news is, pretty much everything else in braveheart is wrong. Outlaw king vs braveheart on historical accuracy popular mechanics. The film was the winner of five academy awards including best picture and best director. Despite braveheart s false pretenses, it is undeniably a lovable movie.
Director and actor mel gibsons portrayal of scotlands hero william wallace mesmerized audiences and won the movie five oscars. Elizabeth ewan describes braveheart as a film which almost totally sacrifices historical accuracy for epic adventure. The hero, desmond doss, did not sell rights to the story because he had one requirement. Most of the characters in this movie never really existed although some are based on certain archetypes, and the major conflict that the movie portrayed is also entirely fictional. Til braveheart has been described as one of the most historically inaccurate modern films.
Braveheart was a popular movie released in 1995 that won 5 oscars and featured mel gibson as william wallace. Mel gibson has a reputation for the historic blockbuster and braveheart is his best. The epic movie helped along by a solid cast, bloodily rousing battle scenes, james horner s swooningly romantic score and the awesome landscapes of the scottish highlands and erm ireland. Braveheart has been called one of the least accurate historical movies ever made, a harsh critique when you consider films like 10,000 bc, pocahontas, jfk, and pearl harbor. Braveheart is a war movie that was released in 1995. The movies wallace is inspired to fight the english because they killed his wife, but historical records dont mention her. But in providing a complex picture of robert bruce, a man usually idealised in fiction, it brings something surprisingly accurate to the screen. However, despite the films box office success, millions of dollars in viewings, and academy award nominations, flaws exist that make it one of the most inaccurate portrayals of a historical event in filmmaking history. A heartstirring and carefully crafted piece of storytelling, it won five oscars. Historian elizabeth ewan describes braveheart as a film which almost totally sacrifices historical accuracy for epic adventure. Set in a kingdom in the highlands of medieval scotland, brave s fictional story is mixed with accurate costumes and sets as well as real themes and ideas that give. Braveheart inaccurately portrays the heroism of william wallace, the evil of edward i, and a thousand other details. The movie was a surprise winner of the academy award for best picture. Whether they were cinematic choices or somebody skipped out on researching, the movie is basically made up.