Braveheart is a 1995 historical action-drama movie
produced and
directed by
Mel Gibson, who also starred in the title role. The film was written for screen and then novelized by
Randall Wallace. Gibson portrays a legendary
Scot,
William Wallace, who gained recognition when he came to the forefront of the
First War of Scottish Independence by opposing
Edward I of England (portrayed by
Patrick McGoohan) and subsequently abetted by Edward's daughter-in-law
Princess Isabelle (played by
Sophie Marceau) and a claimant to the
Scottish throne,
Robert the Bruce (played by
Angus Macfadyen).
The film won five
Academy Awards at the
68th Academy Awards, including the
Academy Award for Best Picture and
Best Director, and had been nominated for an additional five. Produced by
Icon Productions for
Paramount Pictures and
20th Century Fox, the film's success helped revive the historical epic genre, with subsequent films such as "
Gladiator", "
The Patriot", "
Alexander", "
Troy", "
Kingdom of Heaven", "
300" and "
Mongol".
