DVD Review: Stone of Destiny - In Stores June 30th

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PDT

By: Marina Antunes
Row Three

Stone of Destiny is a solid little film featuring strong direction, good acting and an a great “true” story all rolled into an entertaining package. Though some of the comedic moments feel a bit put-on (though in a Q &A with the director we were assured that the comedic moments are true to how events unfolded) , the film’s emotional center stays intact throughout and one can’t help but sit up and pound the fist a little when the Scots flow into the streets with joy at the news that the stone had been taken.

Martin Smith has once again succeeded in taking what could have been a too sweet Hollywood film and created a beautiful film which earns the emotions it pulls from the audience. I look forward to see what he has for us next.

Stone of Destiny makes its way onto DVD on Tuesday, June 30th. Not too many extras on the DVD release but the 25 minute making of documentary features some fun interviews and video footage from the TV newscasts which aired shortly after the theft.

Read the full review here.

Q&A with Stone of Destiny director Charles Martin Smith and producer Rob Merilees

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 PST

By:Marina Antunes
Row Three

Check out this special Row Three podcast featuring Q&A with Stone of Destiny director Charles Martin Smith and producer Rob Merilees and as an added bonus, a video interview with the director!

Hear the podcast here.

Director drew on 'American Graffiti' experience when helming 'Stone of Destiny'

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 PST

TORONTO — When Charles Martin Smith starred in "American Graffiti" more than 35 years ago, he was impressed with the way director George Lucas handled a young cast that also included Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and Harrison Ford.

As director of "Stone of Destiny," which opens Friday, Smith wanted to deal with his actors in a similar fashion.

"That was such a great experience when we did 'American Graffiti,"' recalls Smith, who played Terry (The Toad) Fields in the 1973 classic.

"I was 18 at the time ... it was a bunch of young kids. And the way George Lucas directed us was largely to leave us alone and to let us just be ourselves. I really wanted to take that same approach in 'Stone of Destiny' - get a bunch of really good, young actors and just kind of let them do what they do, don't get in their way too much."

A sense of youthful idealism and purpose pervades Smith's film, which tells the true story of four Glasgow university students who broke into Westminster Abbey on Christmas Eve 1950 and successfully stole the Stone of Destiny - a symbol of Scottish nationhood - from beneath the coronation chair.

At the heart of the fresh-faced cast is British actor Charlie Cox, who plays Ian Hamilton, the real-life instigator of the theft. Hamilton's book, "The Taking of the Stone of Destiny," formed the basis for the film and he acted as an adviser throughout the project.

"When we were filming the movie he was 82," Smith says of Hamilton. "Still an anarchist, still a rebel, still full of fire. To have him on set the whole time and to be kind of leading us through what really happened was terrific."

Smith, 55, took pains to film at locations where the actual events took place, including Westminster Abbey - the first time in some five decades that filmmakers had been allowed to shoot there.

Before attempting to get permission, Smith sought advice from "Graffiti" co-star Howard, who was turned down when he wanted to shoot scenes for his 2006 blockbuster, "The Da Vinci Code," at the historic London church.

"In the end, they declined to allow permission to shoot in there and that was really for religious reasons ... and Ron understood it completely," says Smith. "My film doesn't have any religious overtones in it at all ... This crazy heist actually did happen and that was the attitude that Westminster Abbey took - that as long as I told the story the way it really happened ... they really had no grounds to object."

The students, who were arrested but never prosecuted, were ultimately forced to return the stone to authorities, but in 1996 it was returned to Scotland where it is on loan until the next coronation. Rumours persist, however, that the stone returned to police is a copy of the original.

Smith might seem like an unlikely candidate to take on the historic Scottish tale. After "American Graffiti," he went on to roles in "The Buddy Holly Story" and "Herbie Goes Bananas." The California-born filmmaker fell in love with Vancouver when making the 1983 film "Never Cry Wolf" and moved there soon afterwards, becoming involved in the local theatre scene and eventually turning his talents to directing.

Smith says he was simply captivated by the story of the Scottish caper. And he's been gratified by the response so far.

"The Scottish audiences have been so terrific and so supportive," he says. "I have so many Scots thank me for making the movie, and that means a lot. Because, really, they all know the story."

"Stone of Destiny" opens Friday in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax. It will go wider in the coming weeks.

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DVD Review: Stone of Destiny - In Stores June 30th

Q&A with Stone of Destiny director Charles Martin Smith and producer Rob Merilees

Director drew on 'American Graffiti' experience when helming 'Stone of Destiny'

TORONTO — When Charles Martin Smith starred in "American Graffiti" more than 35 years ago, he was impressed with the way director George Lucas handled a young cast that also included Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and Harrison Ford.