FAQ

Leader of a clan in 18th century Scotland, Robert Roy "Rob Roy" MacGregor (Liam Neeson) is branded as an outlaw when he is unable to repay a loan of £1,000 from the Marquis of Montrose (John Hurt) because it was stolen from him by Archibald Cunningham (Tim Roth), one of the Marquis' henchmen. Offered the chance to repay his debt by bearing false witness against the Duke of Argyll (Andrew Keir), MacGregor refuses and goes into hiding. In his absence, Cunningham takes revenge by raping MacGregor's wife Mary (Jessica Lange), burning his property, and slaughtering his cattle.

Rob Roy is based on a screenplay by Scottish-born screenwriter Alan Sharp. Sir Walter Scott's historical novel Rob Roy (1817) is often mentioned along with the movie, but the movie and the novel tell two very different stories.

Yes. Robert Roy MacGregor [1671-1734] was born Raibeart Ruadh at Glengyle, Scotland. His name, which means Robert Red, was anglicized to "Rob Roy". He became an outlaw the likes of Robin Hood for the same reasons put forth in the film...he borrowed money from James Graham, Duke of Montrose, to increase his cattle herd but defaulted when his chief herder failed to return with either money or cattle. The MacGregors were evicted from their home, and Rob Roy waged a feud against Montrose for many years. He was finally pardoned in 1727.

At the dawn of the 1700's, famine, disease and the greed of great Noblemen were changing Scotland forever. With many emigrating to the Americas, the centuries-old Clan system was slowly being extinguished. This story symbolises the attempt of the individual to withstand these processes and, even in defeat, retain respect and honour.

They are referring to Queen Anne (Stuart) [1702-1714]. Anne had seventeen children, all of whom predeceased her, which is what prompts Montrose to say, "I have seen healthier graveyards than that woman's womb."

In the context of the movie, Jacobite refers to a supporter of King James II of England and his descendants in the Stuart claim to the British throne. Queen Anne (Stuart) being on her deathbed with no heir, there was great argument as to who would succeed her. The Jacobites wanted to see James Francis Edward Stuart, son of the deposed James II (of England) and VII (of Scotland), claim the crown as a Stuart. However, James was Catholic, and the law required the monarch to be Protestant. As it were, rule eventually passed to George I of the protestant Hanover House.

Beside the film score, the movie features a traditional Gaelic song called "Ailein Duinn" (Dark-Haired Alan), sung in the movie by Karen Matheson, lead singer of the Scottish folk group Capercaillie. The song was written in the late 18th century. It is a lament written by Annag Chaimbeul (Annie Campbell), from the island of na Hearadh (Harris) in the outer islands of Scotland, written when her betrothed Ailean Moireasdan (Alan Morrison) was lost at sea on his way to their wedding (by some versions of the song). The beauty of its melody and the sadness of its words have made it a very popular choice with céilidh singers. In the context of the movie, the song appears when Cunningham murders MacGregor's friend Alan MacDonald (Eric Stoltz) while he's on his way with the £1,000.

It was the bloated carcass of a shaggy brown cow. He used a sharp stick to open its belly, pulled out the guts, and crawled inside. It was a very effective piece of camouflage for Rob to hide under but more just as important was the stench of the rotting carcass, which kept the soldiers from getting too close.

Many viewers come to that conclusion, and the story strongly suggests (albeit not explicitly) that Archibald Cunningham may, indeed, have been the bastard son of Lord Montrose or, at least, that Archie was somehow related to Montrose. Some clues are: (1) When Archie is introduced to the Duke of Argyll, Argyll asks Montrose whether Archie is "another of your likely lads?" (Montrose doesn't reply), (2) Archie was sent to Montrose by his mother in hopes that the climate might "cool the fever in his blood", evidence that Montrose and Archie's mother know each other, (3) Archie says that his mother has narrowed his paternity to three candidates the Earl of Rutland, a secretary to the Spanish ambassador, and "some young buck" (perhaps Montrose) who raised her skirts at a masked ball, (4) Montrose and Archie sit together for a portrait, and (5) At the end of the movie, Montrose retrieves the necklace bearing a portrait of Archie's mother from around his neck. Some viewers have suggested that, if Archie is not Montrose's son, he might be the son of Montrose's sister or someone else to whom Montrose would agree to favor her son with his assistance. Unfortunately, their relationship cannot be verified, because Archibald Cunningham is a character made up for the movie and has no historical precedents.

The scene in which Rob Roy's wife is being raped is slightly censored in the UK version rated 15. Unfortunately, this master was used for nearly all European DVD releases as well.