Development In April 1936
Leslie Howard announced he wanted to make a film about Bonnie Prince Charlie. Two years later he said he would make it with
Alexander Korda after his films of
Lawrence of Arabia and
Lord Nelson. "I am so in love with the story of Charles Edward that I would not undertake it unless I had time to adequately prepare and complete it", said Howard. Plans to make the film were delayed by World War II, in which Howard was killed. After the war
Alexander Korda announced a Bonnie Prince Charlie project.
Michael Powell was originally named as the director. Then in April it was announced that
Leslie Arliss would direct and
Ted Black would be borrowed from MGM to produce. No star was cast in the lead; the only person cast at all was
Kieron Moore who would play Charlie's Irish adjutant.
David Niven became a front runner to play the part. He was a friend of Howard's before the latter's death. David Niven's casting was formally announced in May. At the time, David Niven said that he was keen to make the film as it gave him the chance to return to England, and he did not enjoy being in Hollywood after the death of his first wife. He was so enthusiastic he did a screen test in costume to persuade
Samuel Goldwyn, who had Niven under contract, to loan him out to
Alexander Korda, who was producing the film. Later on, however, Niven alleged he had been forced by Goldwyn to take the role. It was one of the few roles Niven played in his career without his moustache. He says Goldwyn received $150,000 from Korda for his services, although Niven only got a fraction of that.
Norman Ginsbury and Elizabeth Montgomery wrote the original script.
Location shooting Filming took place on location in Scotland and at
Shepperton Studios in London. Second unit filming began in August 1946 near
Fort William. Doubles for the main cast were used as David Niven was unavailable until the spring. The budget was reported then as being £500,000. Doubles and extra were filmed raising the standard at Glenfinnan. Soldiers in the British Army were hired as extras, but complained they were not paid. In March 1947 it was announced
Robert Stevenson would be directing. Niven did not arrive in London until July 1947. Korda's original choice to play Flora MacDonald was
Deborah Kerr, but she had accepted a Hollywood contract and was unavailable for filming. Stage actress
Margaret Leighton was cast instead.
C. Aubrey Smith was meant to be in a supporting role but filming took so long to start he ended up returning to Hollywood.
Shooting Filming finally began in August 1947. By now the script was by
Clemence Dane and was to be in two parts,
The Story about the '45, and
The Legend about Charlie fleeing from the British. Filming took over nine months. By October Stevenson had been replaced as director by
Anthony Kimmins, the official reason being a contractual obligation owed by Stevenson. Kimmins was still on the film in December 1947. Kimmins also quit the film and was replaced by Korda himself. In November 1947 Ted Black reportedly walked off the film. However he is credited as sole producer on the movie.
Will Fyffe collapsed during filming and was taken hospital; his scenes had to be re-shot with Morland Graham playing his part at an estimated cost of $100,000. Fyffe later died. Niven later recalled the film without affection:
Bonnie Prince Charlie was one of those huge, florid extravaganzas that reek of disaster from the start. There was never a completed screenplay, and never during the eight months we were shooting were the writers more than two days ahead of the actors. In confusion we suffered three changes of directors, with Korda himself desperately taking over, and at one point I cabled Goldwyn: "I have now worked every day for five months on this picture and nobody can tell me how story ends. Advise." He didn't. He didn't even bother to answer. I loved Alex Korda, a brilliant, generous creature, but with this film he was wallowing in confusion. I felt sorry for him, but sorrier for myself as the Bonnie Prince who would assuredly bear the blame for the impending debacle.
Variety gave the budget as US$4 million. The exact figure was £760,000 which made it one of the most expensive British films of all time.
Post-production According to Emeric Pressburger's biographer, Pressburger and Michael Powell were asked by Korda to look at the film as a favor "to try and salvage it. It is difficult to say if they actually rewrote or reshot anything. More likely, Korda just wanted to take advantage of Emetic’s well-known incisiveness in structure and story in the editing room, hut after a fortnight’s work, Emeric gave up in disgust."{{cite book|page=301|title= Emeric Pressburger|first=Kevin|last= Macdonald ==Reception==