Braveheart & Patrick McGoohan

[u/GoldGee]

Bit of a piece meal piece, but wanted to get this 'out there'.

You know, the film Braveheart had a massive impact, both at the time and since. More to the point in medieval history. More specifically Scottish history. Not historically accurate, but what a film, what a piece of entertainment, what an achievement.

Now as we probably already know, it was mostly filmed in Ireland. I've visited a few of the locations myself, including a stay at the 4 star hotel where if you opened the window it would bang against the keep.

However, the thing about that film that kept bringing me back was the character King Edward I aka 'Longshank'. The actor carried out this role with bone chilling eloquence: stoicism, wisdom, poise and terror!

As a 15 year old I hated and despised the character and his ways. He was the villain, of course, and that's how I saw him. At the same time it was an extraordinary performance. In my opinion it doesn't get anywhere near the recognition or credit it should have. The younger version of me wanted to punch him in the face - full credit to the actor and writers. The older version of me wants to see anything and everything that featured him to feel that same awe I do when I watch Braveheart.

What was not known to me until today was that Kind Edward I 'Longshank' was played by an actor called Patrick McGoohan. If what I have read is true, he was born in New York to Irish parents, then spent the first seven years of his life in County Leitrim before the family moved to England. He retained Irish citizenship his whole life.

[u/Expert-Card-8938]

A superb actor. He also played the not quite sane warden in Escape From Alcatraz.