Stone of Destiny (film)

Infobox Film
name = Stone of Destiny


image_size =
caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Charles Martin Smith
producer = Andrew Boswell
Rob Merilees
writer = Charles Martin Smith
narrator =
starring = Charlie Cox
Billy Boyd
Robert Carlyle
Kate Mara
Brenda Fricker
music =
cinematography = Glen Winter
editing = Fredrik Thorsen
distributor = Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc.
released = 10 October 2008 (UK)
runtime =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
budget = £6 million
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 1037156

"Stone of Destiny" is a 2008 adventure/comedy film directed by Charles Martin Smith. It stars Charlie Cox, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, Kate Mara and Brenda Fricker. The film tells the story of the theft of the Stone of Scone on Christmas Day, 1950. The stone, supposedly the pillow stone used by Jacob in the Bible and the stone over which Scottish Kings were traditionally crowned at Scone in Perthshire, was stolen by the English King Edward I and placed under the throne at Westminster Abbey. It was removed from Westminster Abbey and returned to Scotland in a daring nationalist plot. The stone was then symbolically placed at Arbroath Abbey, the site of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath and an important site in the Scottish nationalist cause.

Other cast members include Peter Mullan, Rab Affleck, Ciaron Kelly, and Stephen McCole. Filming began in June 2007 in locations around Glasgow and Paisley including Film City studio and Arbroath Abbey. [June 29, 2007 " [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/6253378.stm Stone of Destiny film under way] ". "BBC News". Retrieved on June 29, 2007.] The film was premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Scotland on June 21 2008. [" [http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Destiny-calls-stars-to-premiere.4210264.jp Destiny calls stars to premiere of Scone stone film] ". "Edinburgh Evening News". 21 June 2008. Retrieved on June 21 2008.] The film closed the 33rd Annual Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2008; [Braun, Liz (August 13 2008). " [http://torontosun.com/Entertainment/Movies/2008/08/14/6444681-sun.html Film's Destiny is to close '08 TIFF] ". "Toronto Sun". Retrieved on August 14 2008.] a wider release is set for late-2008. [" [http://icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk/pde/news/tm_headline=stone-me-what-a-premiere&method=full&objectid=21062934&siteid=63858-name_page.html Stone Me...What a Premiere!] ". June 12, 2008. "Paisley Daily Express". Retrieved on June 12, 2008.]

Plot

Ian, the protaganist, is very angry at the political and economic subjugation of Scotland by England, and sad that Scots are somewhat ashamed to be Scottish (symbolised by the description of Scotland as "North Britain" in much material of the time) so he decides to perform a symbolic act to put heart into the marginalised Scottish nationalist movement. He creates a daring scheme with a friend to steal the Stone of Destiny (a.k.a. the Stone of Scone) back from Westminister Abbey in London, where it had resided for centuries following English military victories over the Scots in the Middle Ages. They both research the Abbey and create their scheme, but once his friend realized that Ian was actually serious about stealing the stone, he backed out. So Ian decided he would steal the stone by himself, but before he left, he went to see the head of the university (a prominent campaigner for Scottish Nationalism, played by Robert Carlyle) to ask for funds for basic necessities. He provided, and later, at a party, referred Ian to Kay Matheson, a girl with strong Nationalist ideas, would help him steal the stone.After a variety of rather comic mischances, the group retrieve the stone from Westminster Abbey and return it to Scotland. After repairing damage, they return it to the authorities (having achieved their political aims) and are arrested and charged, but not prosecuted, on charges relating to the case.

Reception

It's played for comedy, but of the "Ha ha, but serious" leaning. The final narration on screen implies a challenge to the next Coronation of a British monarch over whether they'll have the courage to return the Stone to Westminster for use in the coronation.

References

*Pendreigh, Brian (June 17 2007)." [http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=946702007 Romancing the Stone: Scots heist destined for Hollywood] ". "Scotland on Sunday". Retrieved on June 29, 2007.
*" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/6253378.stm Stone of Destiny film under way] ". June 29 2007 "BBC News". Retrieved on June 29 2007.
*" [http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/06/30/newsstory9931008t0.asp Stars in town for Stone of Destiny film] ". June 29 2007 "The Courier". Retrieved on June 29 2007.
*Cairns, Gordon (August 12 2007). " [http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1612306.0.abbey_opens_doors_for_stone_of_destiny_film.php Abbey opens doors for Stone Of Destiny film] ". "Sunday Herald". Retrieved on August 12 2007.

External links

*imdb title|id=1037156|title=Stone of Destiny