In 1986, the film "Highlander" was released. Despite its unpretentious name, it instantly gained popularity around the world. The phrase: âOnly one will remainâ - became winged and sounded in many languages. In the wake of success, several sequels were filmed, and after the television series of the same name was launched.
What attracted the audience in this film? Certainly interesting plot, breathtaking landscapes of Scotland, great music written specially for the Highlander by Queen and the main character Connor MacLeod, performed by Christopher Lambert.
Epic "Highlander"
Starting shooting the film "Highlander", few people would have thought how much the audience would like the story of the immortal knights who have been fighting each other for centuries. Moreover, the plot of the first picture looks completely completed, and therefore there was a lot to explain in the sequels, and therefore some things look far-fetched.
There are five films in this series: Highlander, Highlander 2: Revitalization, Highlander 3: The Last Dimension, Highlander: The End of the Game and Highlander: The Source. The character Connor MacLeod is present in only four of them. In the film âHighlander: The End of the Gameâ, he dies at the hands of his distant relative and friend, who then becomes the central hero of the epic, as well as the television series. Thus, the place of the main immortal hero of the series takes Duncan MacLeod.
A remarkable fact is that the events of the second movie are quite controversial. They are ignored in subsequent sequels.
The plot of the films "Highlander", "Highlander-2"
According to the plot, immortal creatures have lived among people throughout centuries. Most of them were unaware of their gift, which could manifest itself only if its carrier died a violent death. You can kill such creatures in only one way - by chopping off your head. All of them must fight each other for the so-called "prize", which will go to the last surviving immortal.
The first film tells how Connor MacLeod, a Highlander from Scotland, became immortal.
Dying from the sword on the battlefield, after he came to life and returned to his family.
But the native clan did not accept him, declaring him a sorcerer. Exiled from home, Connor got a job as a blacksmith and married one girl named Heder.
Once he met a stranger named Ramirez. He revealed the truth to the guy, taught him to fight and use his abilities.
However, Ramirez was soon killed by another immortal named Kurgan, he also hunted for Connor, but did not find him.
After the incident, Connor MacLeod, together with Heder, lived all her life, and then left her native land.
Over a centuries-old life, I have seen and experienced a lot from. He killed some immortals, made friends with some. In the twentieth century, he settled in London, having opened a small antique shop here and changed his name.
Once, after another victory over another immortal, the police became interested in the hero, in particular, the young criminalist Brenda White. Soon, the girl managed to find out the secret of Connor, but she kept it, as she fell in love with the hero.
Meanwhile, the Barrow is gradually killing all immortals, and only Connor MacLeod remains alive. To lure him, a villain kidnaps Brenda. In order to save his beloved, the mountaineer comes to fight and defeats the enemy in a difficult battle, and also becomes the owner of the mythical âprizeâ.
In the film "Highlander 2" shows the future, in twenty-five years. During this time, the hero grew old and weak. Due to problems with the ozone ball, the planet is in danger. Connor, together with other scientists, is developing an artificial energy shield that protects the planet.
It turns out that all immortals are not from Earth. They were rebels on their home planet against the brutal regime of General Katana. Unfortunately, they were captured and sent to Earth.
Years passed and Connor MacLeod remained the only survivor and General Katana decides to kill him. To do this, he sends mercenaries, but the hero defeats them and again becomes young and immortal. He also gets the opportunity to return to life Ramirez. Together they remember the old days and have fun with might and main.
But when Katana arrives on Earth to deal with them himself, Ramirez sacrifices himself to save Connor. In the final battle, Connor defeats his enemy and turns off the shield he once created, since the ozone layer has recovered over all these years.
Connor MacLeod of the MacLeod Clan
This character was born in the early sixteenth century in the village of Glenfinnan in Scotland. At the age of eighteen he was first killed during the clan war, and after the resurrection he was expelled from the village.
For about three years he traveled until he met his Heather, whom he married.
He loved his wife very much and remained faithful to her all her life. The wife died when Connor was 69 years old, but he looked young.
After the death of his beloved, the highlander went to study in Edinburgh. Here he acquired the profession of a sailor and secular manners.
At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Connor MacLeod has been traveling in Africa for almost twenty years.
In the middle of the seventeenth century, the hero goes to Japan and finds the immortal teacher of his friend Ramirez - Nakano. He has been studying the secrets of mastery for several years, until one day another immortal sorcerer kills Nakano.
Until the seventies of the twentieth century, Connor traveled around the world, participated in many wars and revolutions. He fell in love and made novels several times, but all of them ended sadly.
Disappointed with politics, he returns to London, where he opens a small shop of antiques and takes the name Russell Nash. Here he manages to kill his main opponent Kurgan. However, over the next ten years, almost all of his relatives die.
Tired of the constant struggle, he gives Duncan the opportunity to kill himself so that he gains enough power and destroys Jacob Kellom - another immortal who brings evil.
Conor MacLeod's Weapon
Throughout the life of the mountaineer, he had different weapons. However, the most important role was played by two swords.
Connor MacLeod's first sword - was a heavy two-handed claymore. Most of his kinsmen in the sixteenth century used similar weapons. This sword was Connor's main weapon until the death of his wife, Heder. After he left claymore on her grave, as his hilt resembled a cross.
Subsequently, Connor used the sword of his dead friend Ramirez - a katana. He was forged a long time ago by the legendary Japanese gunsmith Masamune, especially for Ramirez, who was married to his daughter. After the death of Ramirez, Connor used only him in memory of his teacher. In the third movie, Connor's katana was broken, but the hero repaired it using a bar of metal left to him by Nakano.
Beloved women of Conor MacLeod
Throughout all 482 years of the heroâs life (if you do not take into account the events of the film âHighlander 2â) he often fell in love.
His first girlfriend was from the MacLeod clan, after his resurrection, she rejected him along with everyone.
Having met the Scottish Heder, Connor married her and lived until her death.
In addition, he recalled her all his life. We can say that she was his greatest love.
At the end of the eighteenth century, Connor began a serious romance with the noblewoman Sarah Barrington. However, because of the Revolution in France, lovers had to leave. Although the hero remembered her for a long time.
During World War II, MacLeod fought on the side of the Allies and once saved the tiny Jewish girl Rachel Ellenstein. He later adopted her and cared for his whole life. Rachel became his close friend for many years.
In the second half of the eighties (the events of the film "Highlander") Connor met Brenda White. However, she soon dies in a car accident.
In the nineties, the case brings the mountaineer with the archaeologist Alex. It turns out to be an almost exact copy of Connor Sarah Barrington's former lover. Between them a relationship is struck, but not for long.
Friends of Conor
Except for Rachel, who was Connor's loyal friend throughout her life, almost all of his other friends were immortal.
The first friend and teacher was the Egyptian Juan Ramirez. He taught MacLeod a lot and saved his life, at the cost of his own.
Another friend of Connor becomes the Japanese master Nakano. He not only teaches him the secrets of the immortals, but also helps MacLeod become a more skilled blacksmith. Subsequently, the master dies, saving the mountaineer.
Sunda Castagir is yet another immortal friend of Connor. They had a great relationship and they often loved to have a meal. But the Mound kills Castagir in a duel (Highlander).
And, of course, Connor's closest friend was his distant relative - Duncan.
Duncan MacLeod
When the Highlander series began filming in 1992, starring Adrian Paul persuaded screenwriters and a director to introduce his character as a separate hero, not Connor MacLeod. So appeared - Duncan MacLeod.
This hero came from a neighboring branch of the MacLeod clan. Like Connor, after the resurrection, he was expelled from his home.
When he was thirty-three, Connor found him and made him a disciple. Subsequently, the MacLeods often spent time together.
Only an urgent need forced these friends to hold a duel in which Duncan won. This was done with the aim of combining their forces into one and defeating a fierce opponent.
In 2007, a fifth of the epic was released, where only Duncan was the main character.
Christopher Lambert, an actor who played Conor MacLeod
The filmography of this actor has more than seventy works.
The future highlander was born in New York, but because of his fatherâs work, Christopherâs childhood passed in Switzerland and France.
Professionally involved in music and dancing. He made his film debut at the very end of the seventies in the French film "Ciao, les mecs".
Until the mid-eighties he starred mainly in French films, which did not bring him much fame.
A career breakthrough occurred after filming in Luke Besson's Underground movie. Here, Christopher's partners in the film were the future movie stars Isabelle Adjani and Jean Reno.
Flashing in Bessonâs work, the following year, Lambert was invited by Russell Malkhey to play an immortal highlander named Connor MacLeod. The actor agreed, not even suspecting that this role would become his hallmark.
Between the first and second films about MacLeod, Christopher Lambert starred in several English-language films, but they did not have much success.
In 1991, the actor was invited to star in the sequel to The Highlander, he agreed with pleasure, making it a condition that Sean Connery, with whom they made friends in the first film, participated in this film.
After Highlander 2, Lambertâs career went uphill. He began to be actively invited to shoot in all kinds of action films around the world. It was at this time that such famous films as âFortressâ, âSteep Trunksâ and âMortal Kombatâ appeared.
In 1994 and 2000, he again returned to the role of highlander until his character was killed.
Also starred in one of the episodes of the television series "Highlander".
With the advent of two thousandth Christopher Lambert, they continued to often shoot in films, but he became less popular.
Today, the artist continues to act in both American and French cinema. In 2016, with his participation, the film âLong Live Caesar!â Was released.
Since the first "Highlander" was released, thirty years have passed. All these years, viewers watched with bated breath over all the sequels, dreaming of learning how the fate of their favorite named Connor McCloud would turn out.
The film "Highlander" has long been a classic of world cinema. It is unfortunate that all attempts to remove a decent continuation were not successful. The series is a separate project with a completely different character. Several years ago, there were rumors that a remake of The Highlander would be filmed. In any case, no matter how many sequels or remakes were shot, in the memory of all fans of this epic there will be only one image of Connor MacLeod - performed by Christopher Lambert.