A famous flop at the time, this isn't that bad - it's just dull. And it's a shame because it needn't be - the historical story is a very exciting one, there is money to spare, the colour is gorgeous, there's some great Scottish locations, the cast impresses.
And for the first half I didn't mind this that much. David Niven is admittedly disastrously miscast in the title role - as George MacDonald Fraser pointed out, it must have been thought that as a charming Scot he was a natural but he isn't. Because Niven's persona was that of an officer and a gentleman, a decent stick who was brave and good with an anecdote. He's not good at conveying being an adventurer, Italian, full of passion, impetuosity... or anything that would make this role work. Who else could've done it who was a star? Stewart Granger? James Mason? Not John Mills. Maybe it was impossible, in a film where Bonnie Prince was a lead - these sort of erratic ruler roles are best in support parts.
But it has pace because the rebellion shouldn't have even got off the ground, but enjoyed tremendous success. Jack Hawkins is a believable Lord Murray, there's a good Battle of Prestonpans, some romance for the Bonnie Prince. With its heavily accented King George II and Duke of Cumberland, it seems Alex Korda was getting audiences on the side of the Prince.
Then at the retreat from Derby things start to get wonky - long romantic scene with the Prince and Clementine, who then disappears from the story; we aren't shown the Battle of Culloden; then almost half the movie - half! - consists of Charlie's flight from the British. So there's endless trudging over the glens with Margaret Leighton, with endless talk, and I'm never sure what they're getting at - a romance between the two? The rebellion was a good thing? A bad thing? It's all a hopeless muddle. Also, like An Ideal Husband the sets are too rich and opulent at times.
Korda made some classics but also some duds and this is a dud. It's not awful, you don't hate yourself for watching or Korda or cinema, but it's a misfire.
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