THE PRODUCERS of a new film recounting the events surrounding the ‘theft’ of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1950—and its subsequent reappearance below the high altar at Arbroath Abbey—brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the Angus town yesterday.

Stone of Destiny is shooting for seven weeks at locations in Arbroath, Glasgow and London and yesterday the closing stages of the true-life adventure story were filmed in and around Arbroath Abbey—with the grey and showery weather accurately reflecting that of April 1951, when the symbol of Scottish nationhood was left in the abbey swathed in a Saltire.

Written and directed by Charles Martin Smith—whose previous credits include Air Bud and The Snow Walker—the film tells the story of Ian Hamilton—a dedicated nationalist who reignited Scottish national pride with his daring raid on what he saw as the heart of English colonialism to bring the Stone back home.

The screenplay is based on Hamilton’sbook The Taking Of The Stone Of Destiny.

The star-studded cast—most of whom were in Arbroath yesterday— includes Casanova co-star Charlie Cox, Kate Mara (Shooter, Brokeback Mountain), Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings), Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting, 28 Weeks Later) and Oscar winner Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot).

The area around the abbey was cordoned off yesterday to allow the scenes to be shot but passers-by were able to catch a glimpse of some of the stars as well as see some of the action, much of it involving period-uniformed police officers in vintage vehicles, taking place.

The joint Canada-UK production is financed by Telefilm Canada, Paradigm London, Scottish Screen, Astral Media, The Harold Greenburg Fund, Glasgow Film Office, The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, Film Incentive BC, the UK Tax Credit and Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution.

Scottish Screen has invested £500,000 for production of the film.

Scottish Screen head of talent and creativity Carole Sheridan said, “Stone of Destiny tells a very Scottish story—one that is crucial to our history yet still completely relevant to Scotland right now.

“We have worked closely with the production team and are delighted to have the opportunity to invest in the production and to see it shot in Scotland.”