Culloden

1964 1h 9m EN

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 58

TV MovieWarHistoryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Culloden, Scottish Highlands, April 16th, 1746. It was one of the most mishandled and brutal battles ever fought in Great Britain. Its aftermath was tragic. The men responsible for such a disaster must be exposed. The men, women and children who suffered because of it must be remembered.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

George McBean
Alexander McDonald (uncredited)
Olivier Espitalier-Noel
Prince Charles Edward Stuart (uncredited)
Tony Cosgrove
Lt. Ward / Field Interviewer (voice) (uncredited)
Robert Oates
Private Alexander Laing (uncredited)
Patrick Watkins
Crying Baby (uncredited)
Don Fairservice
English Officer (uncredited)
Peter Watkins
Field Interviewer (voice) (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Peter Watkins
Writers: Peter Watkins
Languages: Gaelic, English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 69-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

62 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Gaelic, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Peter Watkins, shot by Dick Bush. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Michael Bradsell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

George McBean and Olivier Espitalier-Noel and Tony Cosgrove carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0057982 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Peter Watkins directs. Dick Bush behind the camera. Michael Bradsell cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in Gaelic, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 69-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
262 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Gaelic, English.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Peter Watkins, shot by Dick Bush. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Michael Bradsell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7George McBean and Olivier Espitalier-Noel and Tony Cosgrove carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0057982 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 58 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Classified under 10 themes, including "scotland", "british army", "highlander", "docudrama".

The technical file

Cinematography: Dick Bush
Editing: Michael Bradsell
Production design: Brendon Woods
Makeup / hair: Ann Brodie
Runtime: 69 min · 1h 9m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: Culloden (1964)

Also by

Peter Watkins

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Peter McGinn2023-04-19
★ 6/10
This must be one of the first docudramas around. They interview the battle participants and bystanders as in a documentary, but of course they are all actors since the battle took place in the 1700s. The film must mean more to the British and Scottish viewers than a mere Anglophile like myself, as it involves the last land battle fought on their soil and the final one of this clan uprising under the overrated Bonnie Prince Charlie. The show suggests that the Scottish strategy was deeply flawed to the point that the Prince’s own generals were mystified, and that it led not only to defeat but to practically a massacre, with 1200 deaths compared to 50 British soldiers. The movie also discusses the post-battle hunting down of upper clan survivors and families, leading to a rampage of rape and murder that would have done Hitler proud. Culloden has aged fairly well, retaining some interest even after over 50 years and despite it concerning a relatively minor battle in world history.

Production companies