“Brigadoon”, “Braveheart” and the Scots: Distortions of Scotland in Hollywood Cinema

The films “Brigadoon” and “Braveheart” have an enormous resonance both for Scots throughout the world and the wide audience of non-Scots for whom such films provide general impressions of “Scottishness”. This provocative book discusses the films’ representations of Scotland and the Scots, looking at that cluster of images and stories whereby Scotland is (mis)recognized and yet often comes to be “known”. Colin McArthur explores “Brigadoon” and documents the contempt the film has elicited, particularly from the Scots intelligentsia. He succumbs to “Brigadoon’s” charm, but finds no such mitigating features in “Braveheart”. Tracing the film’s appropriation by political, touristic and sporting figures, he argues that, far from being “about” Scottish history, it is primarily “about” Hollywood and its cinematic traditions. He looks at the way film distorts history and examines “Braveheart’s” sinister appeal to the proto-fascist psyche.

Reviews of “Brigadoon”, “Braveheart” and the Scots: Distortions of Scotland in Hollywood Cinema

The Scotsman: "McArthur traces Brigadoon from genesis to legacy and seems to have come to appreciate its charms in the process". Scottish Studies Review Journal: "the doyen of Scottish film criticism…fascinating" "wealth of anecdotal detail" "reminds by example that scholars can be active participants within popular culture as as Olympian vivisectionists of the same." The Sunday Post: "fascinating new book" "destined to arouse controversy"