Braveheart
Mel Gibson’s muscular, multi Oscar-winning epic sees 13th-century Scots rebel William Wallace lead a war of independence from English colonial rule.
“Gibson marshals his armies of extras, his stunt men and his special effects, and creates a fictional world that is entertaining, and thrilling.”
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times, 1995
This medieval epic marked a personal triumph for Mel Gibson, producing, directing and starring as commoner William Wallace, who inspires and leads an army of his fellow Scots against the tyrannical rule of the English king Edward Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan). With its stunning battle scenes (shot mostly in Ireland rather than Scotland) and liberties with history, it’s a throwback to the lavish period spectacles of the Hollywood studios of the 1950s, although much more violent and brutal than anything permitted then.
Portraying Wallace’s fight against the English – who are generally depicted as mendacious or effete villains – the movie became a rallying point for many Scottish nationalists on its release, and its profile was further raised following the movie’s 1995 Academy Award wins for Best Picture and Best Director.
Gibson’s yen for gruesome period violence was pushed even further in his next two directorial efforts, The Passion of the Christ (2004) and his Mayan human-sacrifice epic Apocalypto (2006).
Cast & credits
Cast
- William Wallace Mel Gibson
- Princess Isabelle Sophie Marceau
- Longshanks, King Edward I Patrick McGoohan
- Hamish Brendan Gleeson
- Stephen David O'Hara
- Campbell James Cosmo
- Robert the Bruce Angus Macfadyen
- Prince Edward Peter Hanly
- Mornay Alun Armstrong
- Murron Catherine McCormack
- the leper Ian Bannen
- Young William James Robinson
- Malcolm Wallace Sean Lawlor
- John Wallace Sandy Nelson
- Elder Stewart Alan Tall
- MacClannough Séan Mcginley
- Mother MacClannough Gerda Stevenson
- young Hamish Andrew Weir
- young Murron Mhairi Calvey
- priest 1 Ralph Riach
- Argyle Wallace Brian Cox
- Phillip Stephen Billington
- King's advisor Barry Mcgovern
- Craig John Kavanagh
- Morrison Tommy Flanagan
- Mrs Morrison Julie Austin
- bride's father Alex Norton
- toothless girl Joanne Bett
- Lord Bottoms Rupert Vansittart
- Smythe Michael Byrne
- priest 2 Robert Paterson
- magistrate Malcolm Tierney
- corporal William Masson
- Madbaker/Flagman Dean Lopata
- MacGregor Tam White
- Stewart Donal Gibson
- Nicolette Jeanne Marine
- Lord Dolecroft Martin Dunne
- leper's caretaker Fred Chiverton
- Faudron Jimmy Chisholm
- Lochlan John Murtagh
- veteran Peter Mullan
- young soldier David Mckay
- Lord Talmadge Martin Murphy
- Balliol Bernard Horsfall
- Cheltham Gerard McSorley
- Governor of York Richard Leaf
- York captain Daniel Coli
- English general Niall O'brien
- Sean Liam Carney
- villager Bill Murdoch
- farmer Phil Kelly
- drinker 1 Martin Dempsey
- drinker 2 Jimmy Keogh
- chief assassin Joe Savino
- royal magistrate David Gant
- jailor Mal Whyte
- English commander Paul Tucker
- [] Stephen Kennedy
Credits
Direction
- Director Mel Gibson
- 2nd Unit Director Mic Rodgers
- 2nd Unit Director Matt Earl Beesley
- Assistant Director (1st) David Tomblin
- Assistant Director (2nd) Patrick Kinney
- Assistant Director (2nd) David Carrigan
- Assistant Director (2nd) Paul Gray
- Assistant Director (2nd) Kate Hazell
- Assistant Director (2nd Unit 1st) Kieron Phipps
- Assistant Director (2nd Unit 2nd) Trevor Puckle
- Assistant Director (2nd Unit 3rd) Peter Agnew
- Assistant Director (2nd Unit 3rd) Paul Barnes
- Assistant Director (2nd Unit 3rd) Charlotte Somers
- Script Supervisor Sally Jones
- Additional Script Supervisor Anna Worley
Production
- © CV B.H. Finance
- Production Company Icon Productions
- Production Company Alan Ladd Enterprises
- Presented by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
- [Production Company] Marquis Films
- Executive Producer Stephen Mceveety
- Producer Mel Gibson
- Producer Alan Ladd Jr
- Producer Bruce Davey
- Associate Producer Dean Lopata
- Associate Producer Elizabeth Robinson
- Unit Manager Kevin de la Noy
- Production Manager Mary Alleguen
- Production Supervisor Ted Morley
- Production Co-ordinator Fiona Traynor
- Production Co-ordinator Marilyn Clarke
- Location Manager Paul Shersby
- Location Manager John McDonnell
- Location Manager Dougal Cousins
- Location Manager Grania O'shannon
- Location Manager Fran Byrne
- Studio Ardmore Studios
Casting
- Casting Patsy Pollock
- Casting (Associate) Julia Duff
- Casting (Associate) Jina Jay
- Casting (Associate) Leo Davis
Writing
- Screenplay Randall Wallace
Photography
- Director of Photography John Toll
- 2nd Unit Director of Photography Eddie Collins
- 2nd Unit Director of Photography John Clothier
- 2nd Unit Director of Photography Raymond Stella
- Camera Operator (A) John Clothier
- Camera Operator (B) Klemens Becker
- Steadicam Operator Klemens Becker
- Steadicam Assistant Sascha Mieke
- Focus Puller (A Camera) Graham Hall
- Focus Puller (B Camera) Sascha Mieke
- Focus Puller (2nd Unit) Alan Butler
- Focus Puller (2nd Unit) Ken Byrne
- Focus Puller (2nd Unit) Ciarán Kavanagh
- Clapper/Loader (A Camera) Adam Biddle
- Clapper/Loader (B Camera) Shaun Evans
- Key Grip Bobby Huber
Special Effects
- Digital Visual Effects R/Greenberg Associates West
- RGA (Executive Producer) Tricia Ashford
- RGA (Supervisor) Michael Fink
- RGA (Producer) Steven T. Puri
- Special Effects Supervisor Nick Allder
Editing
- Editor Steven Rosenblum
Design
- Production Designer Tom Sanders
- Supervising Art Director Daniel T. Dorrance
- Art Director Nathan Crowley
- Art Director Ken Court
- Art Director John Lucas
- Art Director Ned Mcloughlin
- Assistant Art Director Clare Langan
- Assistant Art Director Anna Rackard
- Assistant Art Director Padraig O'neill
- Assistant Art Director Brendan Rankin
- Set Decorator Peter Howitt
- Draughtsman Ken Ferguson
- Production Illustrator Neil Ross
- Storyboard Artist Dan Sweetman
- Sculptures Eddie Butler
Costumes
- Costume Designer Charles Knode
- [Costume] Set Supervisor Gabriel O'brien
- Wardrobe Supervisor Rhona Mcguirke
Make-up
- Chief Make-Up Artist Peter Frampton
- Make-Up Artist Amanda Knight
- Make-Up Artist Beryl Lerman
- Mr Gibson's Make-Up Artist Lois Burwell
- Make-up Supervisor (2nd Unit) Marie O'sullivan
- Chief Hairstylist Paul Pattison
- Hairdresser Francesca Crowder
- Hairdresser Eileen Doyle
- Hairdresser Barry Richardson
- Hairdresser Annie Townsend
- Mr Gibson's Hairstylist Sue Love
- Ms Marceau's Hairstylist Fernandes Mendes
- Hair Supervisor (2nd Unit) Anne Dunne
Titles
- Title Design Kyle Cooper
- Titles R/Greenberg Associates West
Film processing
- Opticals Pacific Title
Music
- Music James Horner
- Music Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
- Music Performed by Choristers of Westminster Abbey
- Musician (Kena/Whistle) Tony Hinnegan
- Musician (Keyboards) James Horner
- Musician (Uilleann Pipes) Eric Rigler
- Musician (Bodhrán Drum/Whistle) Michael Taylor
- Musician (Synth Programming) Ian Underwood
- Orchestrations James Horner
- Music Editor Jim Henrikson
Sound
- Music Mixer/Recordist Shawn Murphy
- Sound Mixer Brian Simmons
- Sound Assistant Barry O'Sullivan
- Boom Operator Gerry Bates
- Sound Re-recording Mixer Andy Nelson
- Sound Re-recording Mixer Scott Millan
- Sound Re-recording Mixer Anna Behlmer
- Supervising Sound Editor Per Hallberg
- Supervising Sound Editor Lon E. Bender
- Sound Effects Editor Peter Michael Sullivan
- Sound Effects Editor Chris Assells
- Sound Effects Editor Randy Kelley
- Sound Effects Editor Joseph Phillips
- Sound Effects Editor Jeff Largent
- Sound Effects Editor Jay Richardson
- Sound Effects Editor Nigel Holland
- Sound Effects Editor Scott Gershin
- Sound Effects Editor Chris Hogan
- Sound Effects Editor Peter J. Lehman
- Sound Effects Editor Craig Harris
- Sound Effects Editor Dan Rich
- Sound Effects Editor Richard Dwan
- Sound Effects Editor Sarah Rothenberg
- Sound Effects Editor Mark Lapointe
- Sound Effects Editor Robert Heffernan
- Sound Effects Editor Beth Bergeron
- Sound Effects Editor Mary Ruth Smith
- Sound Effects Editor Lou Kleinman
- Sound Effects Editor Philip A. Hess
- Sound Effects Editor Stuart Copley
- Sound Effects Editor Hector Gik
- Sound Effects Editor Kim Waugh
- ADR Supervisor Joe Mayer
- Foley Supervisor Craig Jaeger
- Foley Artist John Roesch
- Foley Artist Hilda Hodges
Stunts
- Stunt Co-ordinator Simon Crane
- Stunt Co-ordinator Mic Rodgers
- Stuntman Gary Powell
- Stuntman Tim Lawrence
- Stuntman Sean McCabe
- Stuntman David Cronnelly
- Stuntman Terry Forrestal
- Stuntman Stuart Clark
- Stuntman Dominic Hewitt
- Stuntman Phil Lonergan
- Stuntman Steve Griffin
- Stuntman Jamie Edgell
- Stuntman Julian Spencer
- Stuntman Mark Henson
- Stuntman Paul Jennings
- Stuntman Graeme Crowther
- Stuntman Alan Walsh
- Stuntman Brian Bowes
- Stuntman Gabe Cronnelly
- Stuntman Peter Pedrero
- Stuntman Thomas Delmar
- Stuntman Donal O'Farrell
- Stuntman Luis Gutierez Santos
- Stuntman Paul Heasman
- Stuntman Mark Southworth
- Stuntman Tom Struthers
Consultant
- Dialect Coach Julia Wilson Dixon
- Armourer/Gunsmith Simon Atherton
- Swordmaster Nick Powell
- Horse Master Tony Smart
