boblipton If you're looking for a perfect swashbuckler in which people sound like stage Scots, ye can nae do better than this movie about the Scottish cattle thief and protection racketeer whom the early 18th-Century press, along with highwaymen, romanticized into heroes; the magnificently idiotic image was perfected by Sir Walter Scott and so we have this flick.Disney went full English with this, shooting at Elstree and the Highlands with a British cast, and the care shows, particularly with Guy Green's beautiful oil-painting Technicolor lighting. Richard Todd gives a fine performance in the traditional, anachronistic costume; Glynis Johns (who is still with us as I write this) has never been cuter; Finlay Currie was never more Scottish; and John Robertson Justice, as the Duke of Argyll, plays his role as befitting a man whose name is John Robertson Justice, even though his real middle name was Norval.

keelhaul-80856 I am surprised this has a 6.6 rating.This was a classic I watched again and again as a kid.Plenty of action, rousing patriotism, singing, dancing, light romance, and manly speeches/battles to go around.This is from the era when Disney knew the basic formula for success, family values, and how to deliver a good story with a historical background, even if liberties were taken.Richard Todd is believable; tough and cunning, he also provides some humor as well. He often reminds me of Odysseus, in his protracted journey abroad and home again, using his wiles and determination to defeat his enemies and survive.Todd's version is WAY BETTER than that Liam Neeson reboot that came later. I was excited to see a modern adaptation of Rob Roy, but the Neeson thing just didn't cut it for me. Way too many boring scenes that grew tedious, with no payoff. Neeson himself didn't bring the mischief and energy of the role that Todd was brimming with. A couple of scenes are good from the later one, and I still watch it occasionally, but it really wasn't the amazing remake I hoped for. I felt they wasted a good opportunity to bring this to a new audience, and it fell flat, with little excitement or battles to showcase, nor the intrigue back in England.This was sort of the first version of a Braveheart film, noting the fiery Scottish rebellions against English rule that had gone on for years.The only thing I can really detract from the earlier film, is the fact that it is a little cheesy, and takes liberties, as most movies do. It puts more of a light-hearted spin on certain things(though much of it is nicely dark and tense), and runs wild with history at times.

MARIO GAUCI Walt Disney's follow-up to THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN (1952) is this similar epic about another legendary outlaw (emanating from Scotland this time around). He is once again played by Irishman Richard Todd (who has just passed away at the venerable age of 90) and the film even re-unites the actor with his three co-stars from yet another period outing from the Disney Studios, THE SWORD AND THE ROSE (1953), namely Glynis Johns, James Robertson Justice and Michael Gough. For some reason, the film is fairly maligned (awarded a measly *1/2 by the "Leonard Maltin Film Guide"!) but I rather enjoyed it, while readily admitting to be the least of Disney's three colorful adventures derived from the pages of English history. In traditional Disney fashion, the familiar events were simplified (though by no means rendered juvenile, as would often prove the case later) but there is enough sprawling action and engrossing drama – to say nothing of the beautiful scenery captured in gleaming Technicolor – to please most audiences. Similarly, characterization for this type of larger-than-life fare is pretty much standard but, given careful casting all round, it emerges as forceful rather than clichéd; besides, at a terse 81 minutes, the film has little chance of outstaying its welcome. Incidentally, I had found the flabby, oddly uninvolving and ill-cast 1995 remake (which had garnered critical praise and at least one top Oscar nod back in the day) a major disappointment on my sole viewing so far!

JohnHowardReid Although not based on Sir Walter Scott's novel of the same name, I found "Rob Roy" a most entertaining effort. Splendidly acted throughout, particularly by James Robertson Justice (as the sympathetic Campbell), Michael Gough and Geoffrey Keen (two wonderful villains), and Eric Pohlmann (a truly charismatic performance – one of his best – as King George), "Rob Roy" emerges as a rousing adventure yarn with plenty of swashbuckling excitement, hair's breadth escapes, and even a bit of humor and romance. French has directed in rousing style. He has an eye for both the pictorial and dramatic possibilities of real locations. Supporting technical credits are absolutely first-class, featuring fine scenic photography and a handsomely atmospheric music score.