The setting of Rob Roy, by Sir Walter Scott, is Scotland during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, which aimed to restore the Stuart monarchy in the person of James Edward, the ‘Old Pretender’, son of the deposed James II. The story is told by a young Englishman, Francis (‘Frank’) Osbaldistone, who would like to become a poet and is sent by his father to stay with his Jacobite uncle, Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone, in Northumbria . His place in the family business is taken by Sir Hildebrand’s son Rashleigh. Frank falls in love with Sir Hildebrand’s niece, Diana Vernon. Also Sir Frederick, her father, lives in Osbaldistone Hall, disguised (= travestito) as a monk Father Vaughan because he is a Jacobite supporter. Diana is destined to go to a convent unless she marries one of the six Osbaldistone’s sons. However, Diana assists Frank in his attempt to help his father to get his honour when Rashley runs to Scotland with important documents. Frank calls Bailie Nicol Jarvie, a Glasgow business correspondent of his father, to help him and both go to the Highlands to ask Rob Roy, a political dependent of the Vernons, to intervene. Rashleigh must restore the documents, and Frank returns to England to his father. The Jacobite rebellion breaks out (= scoppia) : Sir Hildebrand’s sonsdie in the battle and he dies of grief (= dolore). Rashleigh, who is an informer, is killed by Rob Roy while trying to kill Frank; Sir Frederick escapes to France and Diana and Frank can marry and live in Osbaldistone Hall.
Rob Roy is a 1995 film directed by Michael Caton-Jones. Other previous adaptations were shot during the silent period: an English version was directed by Arthur Vivian in 1911 and and American remake was directed by Henry J. Vernot in 1913.