Medieval life goes to the movies....
Check out Heather Welford's account of some of the films to watch, to get a spectacular insight into just some of the history witnessed by our castle.
“They may take our lives, but they will never take.....OUR FREEDOM!”
....yes, easy points in a 'where is this movie quote from?' Quiz session, we know.
It's from Braveheart, of course, the 1995 film classic starring (and directed by) Mel Gibson, as Scots warrior William Wallace.
While only some of the film is true to the events, it's well worth watching or re-watching for the intensity and passion that fuelled the Scots-English conflicts of the 13thand 14th centuries, and which dramatically affected the life and surroundings of Newcastle Castle.
The castle doesn't feature in the movie, but in real life, Wallace came pretty close to invading it, after his merciless rampages through Northumberland. Records show Wallace got to just beyond Wylam (about 10 miles up the Tyne) in 1298.
A takeover of the royal castle would have been a major prize for the Scots.
But the castle was strong and secure, its defences supplemented by the tall, robustly-built walls encircling the town. And even better, in preparation for Wallace, King Edward I had already sent up huge numbers of troops, horses and equipment, plus expert crossbow men and archers, to wait at the castle and the town.
Result? Wallace turned back, rather than face an almost certain bloody defeat.
Later, in 1305, having been captured, tried and found guilty of treason, Wallace was (as in the film) brutally killed by hanging, drawing and quartering.
Newcastle Castle was sent a gift by the King – one of Wallace's severed limbs (some sources say his right arm). It was displayed on a pole, on top of the castle keep.
Another helping of blood and gore, but a century or more earlier, is seen in 1964 movie Becket (directed by Peter Glenville), which opens with a pain-wracked Peter O'Toole as Henry II .
It’s 1173 and Henry's getting whipped, over and over, on his back, by monks, as a self-ordered punishment. He’s atoning for the killing of Thomas Becket (Richard Burton).
The story's well-known: Henry – who built our castle in 1160s-70s – makes his good pal Thomas head of the English Church, as Archbishop of Canterbury. But to Henry's dismay, Thomas sides with the Church and the Pope in disputes around taxes and money, justice and power.
Henry wonders loudly and angrily, 'will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?' (another quote for the movie quiz). Four knights decide to oblige him by taking up the challenge, and Becket is murdered while at prayer in Canterbury cathedral.
As a portrait of medieval monarchy and the power struggles that came with it, it's long but pretty accurate. There are no views of Newcastle, but watch out for the famous scene on Bamburgh beach, Northumberland, where O'Toole and Burton confront each other on horseback, with Bamburgh castle looming in the background.
Peter O'Toole turns in another Henry II performance in 1968's The Lion in Winter (director Anthony Goldman), opposite Katharine Hepburn as his wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Set in one of Henry's French castles at Christmas 1183, it shows the two monarchs arguing over the future of their three living sons – one of them a very young Anthony Hopkins as Prince Richard, in later (real) life, King Richard the Lionheart. The dialogue crackles, the chemistry between Eleanor and Henry is red hot, and while there's no historical backing for the events of the movie, the rivalry between the brothers and the disputes over Henry's succession are true. There's a US made for TV version from 2003, starring Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close.
More glimpses of medieval life, on the big and small screens:
Edward II (1991): director Derek Jarman's version of the 15th century Marlowe play. Depicts Edward as gay (which he might have been). With Tilda Swinton as his scheming wife Isabella.
Robin Hood, Price of Thieves (1991): stars Kevin Costner, and made the doomed sycamore gap tree famous.
The Bruce (1996): follows Robert Bruce's rise towards the famous Scottish victory at Bannockburn in 1314.
The Reckoning (2004): mystery tale set in England, 1380, about a murder in a travelling troupe of actors. Excellent cast, including Willem Dafoe, Brian Cox, Gina McKee.
Black Death (2010): a brooding Sean Penn and a fresh-faced Eddie Redmayne against a backdrop of plague in 14th century England.
Pillars of the Earth (2010): TV series from Ken Follett's book about the building of a cathedral in the 12th century. 8 episodes.
Robin Hood (2010): Ridley Scott's account of the 12th-century mythical Robin, with Russell Crowe wielding the bow and arrow.
The Outlaw King (2018): Chris Pine glowers darkly as Robert Bruce in some stunning Scottish scenery.