History Film / RobRoy

* DeliberateInjuryGambit: One of Rob's special moves, used twice: once to prevent a fight, and once to win a fight. [[spoiler:In the first example, he slices his own hand on Guthrie's blade to declare him the "winner" of their duel. In the final duel, Rob grabs onto Archibald's blade before dealing a death blow.]]

* DidntSeeThatComing: Rob assumes - like everyone before him - Cunningham is just a harmless fop he can power through in a duel with ease. To his surprise, he's at complete mercy of Archibald, unable to even properly parry his attacks, not to mention countering them. By the time their duel is wrapping up, [[spoiler: Rob is badly wounded and winded, while Archie is ''annoyed'' it takes them so long]].

* DragonInChief: Archibald is TheDragon to Montrose, but it's the former who is really the main villain of the story. Their relationship is somewhere between this an a BigBadDuumvirate- Archibald robs Montrose of his money and is easily the worst person of the two, but Montrose is the one with the status and wealth, and he goes along with it to further his own agenda. Archie, though, remains the one driving the plot and carrying out most of the crimes in the movie (and mostly ForTheEvulz), and [[ItsPersonalWithTheDragon it's Archie that Roy regards as his real enemy in the film]].

* ForeShadowing: Before Guthrie and Cunningham fight, Guthrie squeezes Cunningham's upper arm and notes the muscles aren't developed, telling Cunningham he'd be better off using a musket. This comes back in the final duel, when Rob grabs Cunningham's rapier and Cunningham isn't strong enough to pull it free.

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: The real Rob Roy was both a murderer and a cattle thief. The movie Rob Roy turns him into a heroic man of impeccable honor, though strangely it still does make passing mention to cattle-thieving. It's also been suggested that the robbery of the loan that kicks off the plot (the character of Cunningham did not actually exist) was carried out by Rob himself- though, more likely, it was carried out by the treachery of one of his own men. He is known to have been guilty of armed robbery, assault, arson, village raids and other misdeeds, in one case taking over a small church and forcing the congregation to strip before stealing their Bibles for no reason other than ItAmusedMe. Less LovableRogue, more plain rogue. However, he was regarded as a generally trustworthy and honourable man [[IGaveMyWord when it came to his word]], at least.

** Both Archie and and Montrose only care about themselves, with Archie being proactively self-promoting, while Montrose is just so used to getting his own way he seems honestly indignant when things don't go perfectly for him.

* KillItWithWater: [[spoiler:Alasdair drowns Killearn after Mary stabs him in his neck and he runs down to the loch to tend to his wound.]]

** Humorously averted between [=MacGregor=] and a drunken Guthrie in a duel to "the first cut": [[spoiler:Rob cuts his hand on Guthrie's extended sword.]]
** Played straight between the two later when Guthrie stands in [=MacGregor=]'s way to Killearn. [[spoiler:Rob wins.]]

* MightyGlacier: Rob is slower than Cunningham, but larger and stronger than him.

* PreMortemOneLiner: Alasdair delivers one to [[spoiler:Killearn]] before drowning him.

* SingleStrokeBattle: Rob isn't great with extended swordfights, but he's excellent at ambushing foes with a surprise attack. He kills two opponents with a single stroke, then [[spoiler:kills Archie with a surprise attack at the end of their duel]].

* TheSociopath: Archibald Cunningham is a thief, a philanderer, a rapist and a murderer who makes his way in life off of other peoples' money. Superficially charming enough to get most women into bed, but doesn't give a damn about them beyond sex- including if they kill themselves out of shame afterwards. He betrays and robs his own patron, then gets him to frame another man for his own crime. A smug, spoilt, unloved PsychopathicManchild who is used to others covering for his misdeeds, he ultimately gets cut in half for his laundry list of crimes and nobody- including his own ally- mourns for him afterwards.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: For one, the character of Archibald Cunningham never existed and is an invention of the movie; Montrose does exist, but he was a Duke, not Marquess, at the time this film is set, and of course is given a bit of a HistoricalVillainUpgrade for the movie, just as Rob is given a HistoricalHeroUpgrade (the real Rob Roy Macgregor was a cattle thief and a murderer; the former is only vaguely referenced). Incidentally, it has nothing to do with the 1817 novel by Walter Scott, which has a different plot entirely- being based around the Jacobite rebellion (which should have been occurring during the timeline of the movie, but are not mentioned at all)-, not to mention a different ''protagonist'' (Rob Roy is more of a FamedInStory supporting character whom the story revolves around).

* WhosYourDaddy: Mary is pregnant at the end of the film and there’s no indication whether or not it’s Rob’s or [[ChildByRape Cunningham]].

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Played with. Argyll affects elements of Highland dress (the eagle-feather bonnet and tartan sash), as well as retaining a distinctive Scottish burr, to let the audience know that he would be more in sympathy with the Scottish people. Whereas Montrose wears full-on English fashions and sports an English accent to demonstrate the opposite[[note]]Both of their ReaLife counterparts had been native Scots, from families ennobled in [[TheLateMiddleAges the late 15th century]].[[/note]]

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Played with. Argyll affects elements of Highland dress (the eagle-feather bonnet and tartan sash), as well as retaining a distinctive Scottish burr, to let the audience know that he would be more in sympathy with the Scottish people. Whereas Montrose wears full-on English fashions and sports an English accent to demonstrate the opposite.

* EvilSoundsRaspy: Cunningham ends up talking like this after Rob near-strangles him jumping over a bridge while snaring Archie's neck with a rope.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Betty Sturrock.]]

* GoodIsNotNice: Argyll.

* PostRapeTaunt: Archie is only too happy to tell Rob how much he enjoyed raping Mary, and that he doesn't think "all of her" objected to it.

** Cunningham's pride comes out as overconfidence. After soundly defeating Argyll, he turns his back on the man and almost gets backstabbed. He treats Rob as less of a threat than he is and is manhandled by him several times. In the end, he chooses to toy with Rob during their duel rather than finish him quickly.

* ShowingTheirWork: The swords used in the film are quite period-appropriate, with the English aristocrats favoring gentlemanly dueling short swords and the Scottish men using the basket-hilted heavy claymores of the period.

-->'''Montrose:''' John, you have the look of a man who means to play hard.
-->'''Argyll:''' Do not presume to speak above your station, sir. I will have my rank from you!
-->'''*soon after Argyll departs*'''
-->'''Montrose:''' What pride, to use a fellow peer in public so! Damn his pride! ''(controlling himself, to his friends)'' My pardon. Damn ''His Grace's'' pride!

Montrose agrees to forgive the debt if [=MacGregor=] frames his enemy, the Duke of Argyll. He refuses, [[ItsPersonal has his farm burnt and his wife raped]], and is forced to go into hiding. He must find a way to clear his name in court, or failing that, war against those who come after him.

* ChildByRape: Quite possibly the case with Mary's baby, although she can't say for sure whether Rob or her rapist is the father. [[note]] Possibly a {{Historical In Joke}} - Rob Roy's youngest son, Robin Oig Macgregor, was hanged for raping. [[/note]]

* ChildByRape: Quite possibly the case with Mary's baby, although she can't say for sure whether Rob or her rapist is the father.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: For one, the character of Archibald Cunningham never existed and is an invention of the movie; Montrose does exist, but he was a Duke, not Marquess, at the time this film is set, and of course is given a bit of a HistoricalVillainUpgrade for the movie, just as Roy is given a HistoricalHeroUpgrade (the real Roy was a cattle thief and a murderer; the former is only vaguely referenced). Incidentally, it has nothing to do with the 1817 novel by Walter Scott, which has a different plot entirely- being based around the Jacobite rebellion (which should have been occurring during the timeline of the movie, but are not mentioned at all)-, not to mention a different ''protagonist'' (Rob Roy is more of a FamedInStory supporting character whom the story revolves around).

** Cunningham's pride comes out as overconfidence. After soundly defeating Argylle, he turns his back on the man and almost gets backstabbed. He treats Rob as less of a threat than he is and is manhandled by him several times. In the end, he chooses to toy with Rob during their duel rather than finish him quickly.

* {{Flynning}}: Thoroughly averted in the final duel between Roy and Cunningham. The fight is extremely realistic, notably in that Cunningham (who is wielding a small-sword) stays far from Roy, (who wields a basket-hilted claymore) and is wary of Roy's superior strength, longer reach, and heavier blade. He attempts to do Roy in by DeathOfAThousandCuts, with the goal being to weaken Roy before finishing him off when Roy is too weak to resist. That is a very valid strategy in sword fighting, particularly with such a light weapon, and several recorded duels were fought and won using exactly that method.
* ForeShadowing: Before Guthrie and Cunningham fight, Guthrie squeezes Cunningham's upper arm and notes the muscles aren't developed, telling Cunningham he'd be better off using a musket. This comes back in the final duel, when Roy grabs Cunningham's rapier and Cunningham isn't strong enough to pull it free.
* FragileSpeedster: Cunningham is easily knocked around when his enemies get a hold of him, but is incredibly quick and skilled with a rapier.

** The Marquess of Montrose (Duke at the time the film is set). Archibald Cunningham did not exist, so obviously the real Montrose was not complicit in any of his crimes since they never actually happened. He never did find out who robbed him and he certainly didn't cover it up and frame an innocent man (insofar as the historic Roy was "innocent").
** Unlike Cunningham, the character of Grahame of Killearn did exist, and did indeed once find Mary and hold her captive- the rape committed by Cunningham is attributed to a legend that Grahame himself was the culprit, and in the film he is at least an accomplice to the deed. However, this rape probably did not occur (and if it did, she definitely never got pregnant by it); Grahame ended up being held captive by Roy at one point later, who treated him courteously- unlikely to happen if he really thought this guy raped his wife.

* InTheBack: After being humiliated in his duel with Archie, Guthrie moves to stab him in the back, only for Argylle to stop and shame him. This serves as an EstablishingCharacterMoment for both men.

* DidntSeeThatComing: Rob assumes - like everyone before him - Cunningham is just a harmless fop he can power through in a duel with ease. To his surprise, he's at complete mercy of Archibald, unable to even properly parry his attacks, not to mention countering them. By the time their duel is wrapping up, [[spoiler: Rob is badly wounded and winded-up, while Archie is ''annoyed'' it takes them so long]].

* BarehandedBladeBlock: Rob delivers one [[spoiler:in the final duel, seriously slicing open his hand, but winning the fight nonetheless]].

* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Archie is a variation; the audience find out [[EstablishingCharacterMoment in his very first scene]] that being TheDandy does not stop him being a MasterSwordsman, while Rob himself goes into the climactic duel having never seen him in a fair fight before, and (despite warnings from those who have,) badly underestimates his skill.

* ArtisticLicenseMedicine: When Rob escapes by wrapping the rope around Archie neck and jumping off the bridge, Archie is strangling, but upon being cut loose suffers no more some pain and a raspy voice. In reality, Rob would have been falling at about 25 miles per hour after falling that distance (roughly twenty feet) before the rope snapped taut around Archie's neck, arresting his fall. Considering Rob's weight, the rope would have crushed Archie windpipe completely. Cutting him lose would have made no difference in the end, he would have suffocated in minutes either way.

* Foreshadowing: Before Guthrie and Cunningham fight, Guthrie squeezes Cunningham's upper arm and notes the muscles aren't developed, telling Cunningham he'd be better off using a musket. This comes back in the final duel, when Roy grabs Cunningham's rapier and Cunningham isn't strong enough to pull it free.

** Montrose notes "the healing power of hate" when the injured Archie manages his rasp his assent to the final duel.

* ButYouScrewOneGoat: The Highlanders are frequently the subject of "sheep-shagger" jokes. Mary herself makes a rather bitter one when Rob has to go on the run.

* DragonInChief: Archibald is TheDragon to Montrose, but it's the former who is really the main villain of the story. Their relationship is somewhere between this an a BigBadDuumvirate- Archibald robs Montrose of his money and is easily the worst person of the two, but Montrose is the one with the status and wealth, and he goes along with it to further his own agenda. Archie, though, remains the one driving the plot and carrying out most of the crimes in the movie (and mostly ForTheEvulz), and it's Archie that Roy regards as his real enemy in the film.

* SwordOverHead: Rob finishes the final duel with an epic downward slash.

* BastardBastard: Archibald is the bastard of a wealthy noblewoman, implied to be Montrose. He's accustomed to living in court, but has no money or inheritance to support himself.

* TheBrute: Guthrie.

* CharacterTitle

* DefiledForever: {{Averted}}. Rob is plenty angry about Mary getting raped, but it's all directed at the rapist; toward Mary he is, if anything, more loving than before.

* DragonInChief: Archibald is TheDragon to Montrose, but it's the former who is really the main villain of the story. Their relationship is somewhere between this an a BigBadDuumvirate- Archibald robs Montrose of his money and is easily the worst person of the two, but Montrose is the one with the status and wealth and he knows or at least suspects what Archibald has done and reluctantly goes along with it to further his own agenda. Archie, though, remains the one driving the plot and carrying out most of the crimes in the movie (and mostly ForTheEvulz), and it's Archie that Roy regards as his real enemy in the film.

* FatalFlaw: Pride, for both Roy and Cunningham; Mary points out that his "honorable" refusal to support Montrose against Argyll (a man he doesn't know and to whom he owes nothing) is a case of pride in his own personal honor over the wellbeing of his family and clan. Cunningham's pride in his superb swordsmanship is his undoing when he passes up many opportunities to kill Rob cleanly.

* MasterSwordsman: Cunningham.
* MightyGlacier: Rob is slower than Cunningham, but [[spoiler: only needs a single blow to to kill him.]]

* OhCrap: Rob gets a gradually increasing one during the final duel, where he begins to see that, despite seeming like a fop and a coward who will only fight with an army at his back, Cunningham is a superb swordsman. The {{Oh Crap}}ness increases when he realises that Argyll was not exaggerating Cunningham's prowess with a sword, and that he is totally outmatched in skill.
* OlderHeroVSYoungerVillain: Rob is the hero and Cunnigham is the villain.

** Name-dropped when Archie musters up the voice to agree to the duel after being badly choked.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Argyll.

* SwordOverHead
* TheCoatsAreOff: Before the final duel, Roy removes his heavy jacket and Cunningham his opulent frock coat and to show he's taking this fight much more seriously than his earlier ones he also removes his heavy wig, forgoing vanity for not being encumbered by the hot and heavy item.

* {{BFS}}: The basket-hilted sword Rob wields is a downplayed example. He can use it with one hand and it has a subtle design, but it is still thicker and longer than the typical small swords.
** Guthrie uses one as well, which Archie compares to a cleaver.

* TheDandy: Cunningham, by appearance. Those opposing him in a swordfight quickly learn he's more AgentPeacock.

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: The Marquess of Montrose (Duke at the time the film is set). Archibald Cunningham did not exist, so obviously the real Montrose was not complicit in any of his crimes since they never actually happened. He never did find out who robbed him and he certainly didn't cover it up and frame an innocent man (insofar as the historic Roy was "innocent").

* ItsAllAboutMe: Both Archie and and Montrose only care about themselves, with Archie being proactively self-promoting, while Montrose is just so used to getting his own way he seems honestly indignant when things don't go perfectly for him.

* KarmaHoudini: Montrose. At least his plans are foiled.

* SingleStrokeBattle: {{Played with}} - the final duel is prolonged with many exchanges of attacks and parries, Roy being wounded several times. However it only takes a single blow of his to connect and kill Cunningham - which is understandable since Roy's much heavier and broader blade cuts Cunningham almost in two from his shoulder to halfway down his torso.

* DuelToTheDeath: The final duel, with seconds and a referee.

* {{Flynning}}: Thoroughly averted in the final duel between Roy and Cunningham. The fight is extremely realistic, notably in that Cunningham (who is wielding a rapier) stays far from Roy, (who wields a basket-hilted claymore) and is wary of Roy's superior strength, longer reach, and heavier blade. He attempts to do Roy in by DeathOfAThousandCuts, with the goal being to weaken Roy before finishing him off when Roy is too weak to resist. That is a very valid strategy in sword fighting, particularly with a rapier, and several recorded duels were fought and won using exactly that method.

** Cunningham attempted to provoke Rob into doing this as well.

* RapeAsDrama

* VillainousValour: Cunningham tells a man pointing a gun at him that [[YouWouldntShootMe he doesn't have it in him to kill him]], and doesn't even flinch when the gun actually goes off. He may be a fop, but he's certainly no coward.

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Or rather, [[TheDandy obfuscating foppery.]] Archibald Cunningham likes to give the impression he's a harmless dandy through his fixation on fashion and courtly manners. Montrose makes use of this to swindle money, placing bets on Cunningham in sword fights, where Cunningham's oblivious opponents quickly discover he's [[MasterSwordsman a ruthless and extremely skilled swordsmans.]]

* TheDandy: Cunningham.