Stone of Destiny

The eponymous rock is no more than a heavy lump of sandstone but to the Scots it represents a symbol of their independence. On Christmas morning, 1950, four otherwise law-abiding Scottish students, led by Charlie Cox’s lawyer Hamilton, broke into Westminster Abbey, removed the stone and drove it northwards, to popular acclaim at home. Written and directed by an American, the film nevertheless feels closer to the ‘British’ spirit of the old Ealing comedies, something emphasised by its old-fashioned ambience and its charming evocation of the period. The break-in itself is tautly, comically mounted, though the accuracy of its portrayal is open to debate. As a slice of recent history, this is heartwarming and enjoyable but too conventional and small scale.