In Italy, James, the Old Pretender, wants to make another attempt at regaining the throne of Great Britain (Scotland and England) and Ireland for the House of Stuart from the Hanoverian King George II, but, thinking that he is now too old, he has decided to send his son, Charles Edward, the Young Pretender.

Charles tries to persuade the nobles to fight for him and most agree, except for Lord MacDonald, who is concerned about the absence of the French support which had been promised.

General Cope arrives with government troops and Lord Murray does not want to tell Charles about it, thinking little of his military ability, but the prince finds out.

At Derby, only 127 miles from London, Lord Murray and the army council recommend a retreat, as further support has failed to materialise.

Charles is upset and seeks solace with Clementina, who encourages him to leave for France with her, but he elects to stay with his men.

MacDonald helps him evade the government troops looking for him, including taking him with her to Skye disguised as a woman servant.

"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.

[9] 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.

[21][22] Korda's original choice to play Flora MacDonald was Deborah Kerr, but she had accepted a Hollywood contract and was unavailable for filming.

C. Aubrey Smith was meant to be in a supporting role but filming took so long to start he ended up returning to Hollywood.

[29] 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.

Niven later recalled the film without affection: Bonnie Prince Charlie was one of those huge, florid extravaganzas that reek of disaster from the start.

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.

[33][34] it was poorly received by London film critics, most criticising it as dull and suggesting that David Niven was miscast.

[39] However the US release was delayed, along with other Korda productions, out of fear of anti-British protests from American-Jewish groups opposed to British policy in Palestine.

The New York Times said "what a paucity of drama and of genuine excitement there is in the midst of this pretty lot of scenery and stilted pageantry!