THE STONE OF DESTINY

UK/Canada, 2008, 96 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Stephen Mc Cole, Kieran Kelly, Billy Boyd, Robert Carlyle, Peter Mullan, Brenda Fricker.
Directed by Charles Martin Smith.

The kings and queens of England have been crowned at Westminster Abbey, sitting on the throne under which sits the Stone of Scone or the Stone of Destiny. This has happened since the 14th century. Most people take this for granted. But the Scots are not most people. And this is a Scots story, a political story, a patriotic story that will have most (all?) Scots on its side – and a lot of those whom the British considered (and still consider) colonials. This review shares that experience!

Charles Martin Smith seems a strange choice for writer and director of this film. An actor for almost forty years (especially in American Graffiti and Never Cry Wolf) and a director for film and television, he is an American and Smith does not sound particularly Scottish. But, he has written and made the film with Scots zest, a Canadian/British co-production.

This story of stealing the Stone took place in 1950 and is based on a book, written almost immediately afterwards while it was still fresh in his memory, by the planner and executor of the taking of the stone, Ian Hamilton, who became a QC and advised on this production in his 80s.

The film opens with rowdy and enthusiastic speeches about a Covenant for Scotland which had been part of the Union since 1705. The rector of Glasgow university, played with dignity and fierce belief by Robert Carlyle, played a key role in promoting the Covenant which was rejected by Westminster. Several students are incensed and consumed by patriotism, especially Ian Hamilton (played with charm and ego by Charlie Cox).

This was one of those 'robberies', planned by enthusiasts (visits to the Abbey, discovering information about security, drawing maps, practising lifting...) who were not professionals at all. Much of the film is about the stealing of the stone – and all the unforeseen things that make it go wrong. Except, that they really did steal it and brought it back to Scotland. (However, it was back in the Abbey for the coronation event of 1953.)

The film is colourful, has attractive Glasgow and Scots countryside scenery and looks quite authentic in the sequences at Westminster Abbey, both inside and out.

The supporting cast act with enthusiasm and, apart from a Scots and rebel-minded audience, it may just be another caper story (especially for the English?), but it is a pleasantly entertaining recreation of a moment of history.

1. Scots as the niche audience? The response of a British audience? Non-British? Audiences from former British colonies? The British characters – with touch of caricature?

2. The Scottish settings, Edinburgh, Parliament, University, the city itself, the beautiful Scottish countryside?

3. The sequences in London, the interiors of Westminster Abbey (the Abbey actually used)?

4. The musical score and atmosphere, evoking the Scots?

5. The film based on a true story, Ian Hamilton, as a student in the 1950s, his patriotism, his plan, recruiting his friends, the stealing of the Stone, burying it
in a field in Kent? Later to Scotland?

6. The credibility of the plot, despite its being based on a true story? The ambitions about the Stone of Destiny, the planning of the robbery, the execution?

7. John Mc Cormick, the preparation of a Covenant with England? The failure of the Covenant? John and his passion, communicating it? Giving financial
backing to the plan?

8. Ian, his age, character, from Glasgow? From the 1950s? As an undergraduate, the plan, his motivation? The discussions with his friend, Bill, and his agreement to help? His going to London, studying the Abbey, the interiors, the possibilities for retrieving the Stone? Bill and his not wanting to continue? Ian and Kay, her being supportive? Gavin and Alan, their joining in the plan, the car to London?

9. The details of the plan, the maps, the surveillance? The initial attempt, Ian staying in the Abbey after closing, taken by a nightwatchman, considered to be a vagrant and getting away?

10. Regrouping in Glasgow, Kay becoming ill, her continued support of the plan?

11. The execution of the plan, Christmas Day, getting the Stone, its breaking?

12. The media response, public response in Scotland?

13. The hiding of the Stone, the field in Kent, their going back to Scotland, the return for the Stone, the irony of finding it in the possession of Travellers? Alan
and his being able to persuade the Travellers to give it back?

14. The Stone taken to Arbroath Abbey, the police arriving, taking the group?

15. And the Stone returned to London?