Plot
The story of Ian Hamilton, a dedicated nationalist who reignited Scottish national pride in the 1950s with his daring raid on the heart of England to bring the Stone of Scone back to Scotland.

Release Year: 2008

Rating: 6.7/10 (1,725 voted)

Director: Charles Martin Smith

Stars: Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Stephen McCole

Storyline
The Stone of Destiny retells the fascinating and true story of four young Glaswegian students who, in 1951, outwitted the British authorities in their successful attempt to take back the Stone of Scone - a beloved symbol of Scottish pride, back to its country of origin.

Writers: Ian Hamilton, Charles Martin Smith

Cast:
Charlie Cox - Ian Hamilton
Kate Mara - Kay Matheson
Stephen McCole - Gavin Vernon
Ciaron Kelly - Alan Stuart
Billy Boyd - Bill Craig
Robert Carlyle - John MacCormick
Peter Mullan - Ian's Father
Brenda Fricker - Mrs. McQuarry
Juliet Cadzow - Ian's Mother
Alex Donald - London Policeman
John Comerford - Pub Landlord
Richard Addison - Tour Guide
Danielle Stewart - Brochure Girl
Suzanne Dance - Church Woman
Pauline King - Jen

Taglines: A heist 600 years in the making

Release Date: 19 December 2008

Filming Locations: Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, UK

Opening Weekend: £48,298 (UK) (10 October 2008) (40 Screens)

Trivia:
Cameo: [Ian Hamilton] sour-faced English businessman who passes Ian Hamilton and Gavin Vernon as they get out of the car shortly before their first attempt to remove the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey (36 minutes).

Goofs:
Continuity: When Bill & Ian are talking at the gates of the park after reading about the Covenant being defeated, a woman in a green coat passes behind Bill twice.

Quotes:
[first lines]
Ian Hamilton: It was only a rock. A big lump of sandstone, you might pass right by it. But to us it was the symbol of our freedom, of our independence. We didn't realize it, of course. We learned as children, how it was the Scottish stone of kings. But they took it from us. And as a nation, I suppose we've forgotten about it. Time does that. It was history.

A gem of a feel-good movie, and that's coming from an Englishman!!!

Rating: 8/10

Since around the 9th century, tradition holds that Scottish monarchs took their place upon the Stone of Scone during their coronation ceremony, until 1296 when it was captured by Edward I and placed in Westminster Abbey under a seat upon which English sovereigns were crowned, thereby showing the English power over the Scots. "Stone of Destiny" tells the true story of Ian Hamilton, a young student and nationalist, who was to attempt to return the Stone to its rightful place in Scotland and thereby right a long-standing injustice by the English.

The cast is strong and features the likes of Robert Carlyle, Brenda Fricker and Billy Boyd (that "fool of a Took"). However, Charlie Cox once again caught my attention following his leading role in Stardust. Given he is not a native Scot, he makes a great effort at the accent, and again manages to portray his character with a great balance of likability, determination and youthful exuberance, and gives us hope that some of the next generation's leading men can combine acting and looking good... Director Charles Martin Smith does wonderfully in conveying the underdog theme brilliantly with a good balance of action, comedy and emotion. It's a definite feel-good movie, with the people around me clapping at the end. 5 stars, a British gem.

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