BRAVEHEART 41
revulsion at scenes like Wallace’s graphically depicted disembowelment, Gibson
and his editor, Steven Rosenblum, cut out the most brutal parts to avoid the
expensive stigma of NC-17 from the Motion Picture Association of Amer i ca
(MPAA); the final version was rated R for “brutal medieval warfare.”
Plot Summary
After the death of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1280, King Edward “Long-
shanks” (Patrick McGoohan) invades and conquers Scotland. Surviving the deaths
of his father and brother, Young William Wallace ( James Robinson) is ferried out of
his home country and taught by his Uncle Argyle (Brian Cox). Years later, Long-
shanks grants his noblemen land and privileges in Scotland. An older Wallace (Mel
Gibson) comes back to Scotland and secretly marries his childhood sweetheart
Murron MacClannough (Catherine McCormack). After Murron is murdered by the
British, Wallace seeks vengeance and leads his clan against the local En glish gar-
rison. Word of Wallace’s actions against the British reaches his fellow Scots, and
clans near and far pledge allegiance to his rebellion. Longshanks then commands
his son, Prince Edward (Peter Hanly), to neutralize Wallace. Wallace proves a vic-
torious leader, winning the Battle of Stirling Bridge and obliterating the city of York,
killing Longshanks’s nephew in the pro cess. Wallace turns to Robert the Bruce
(Angus Macfadyen), the son of nobleman Robert the Elder and in the running for
the crown, for assistance. However, Robert proves to be under his father’s control,
acquiescing to the Elder’s wishes by submitting to the En glish in a play for the
throne. Meanwhile, concerned by the possibility of Wallace’s outright rebellion,
Longshanks enlists the help of his son’s wife, Isabelle of France (Sophie Marceau),
to open negotiations with Wallace. Isabelle sets a meeting with Wallace and becomes
quickly infatuated with him. Unmoved, Wallace begs the Scottish royals to strike
against Isabelle’s forces. Longshanks takes to the battlefield and confronts the Scots
at Falkirk where noblemen Lochlan ( John Murtagh) and Mornay (Alun Armstrong),
betray Wallace and lose the fight for the Scots. Not one to allow betrayal, Wallace
kills Lochlan and Mornay and finds his vengeance in a seven- year war against
En glish forces. Isabelle proves a comrade in arms and a lover with whom Wallace
has an affair. Robert the Younger attempts to open the lines of communication by
setting a meeting with Wallace in Scotland, but he is thwarted by his father, who
has colluded with other royals to apprehend Wallace and deliver him to En glish
forces. Robert is disgusted by his father’s deceit and disowns Robert the Elder. Once
in London, Wallace is accused of high treason and subsequently sentenced to
public torture and death by beheading. Throughout his torture, Wallace does
not acknowledge the En glish king. As the crowds beg for mercy, the magistrate
offers Wallace a deal: if Wallace himself asks for mercy, then he will be gifted
with a swift death. However, not to be manipulated, Wallace shouts “Freedom!”
seconds before his decapitation. Wallace embraces a final comfort of seeing a
vision of Murron’s face within the crowd before he perishes. In 1314, Robert the
Bruce has been named king of Scotland. However, rather than bow to En glish
rule, Bruce shocks the En glish by battling against them and eventually securing
freedom for Scotland.