1783–A Very Good Year (Highlander Ref)

I love the movie Highlander.  I remember reading a review for it in White Dwarf Magazine in 1986, but movies like that never made it to Marion Indiana back in the day. 

I finally got to watch it while stationed in Germany – and I have been consumed with it ever since.

Even with this being in the Top 25 movies of all time for me (nobody said anything about QUALITY), every now and then I notice a little tidbit that I hadn’t before.

This time, it’s 1783.

We are first introduced to 1783 when Conner McLeod visits Brenda’s apartment and breaks out a very old bottle of Brandy.  Sadly, I cannot find a video clip of this scene, so I have to resort to an Audio Clip and Transcript -

1783 Was A Very Good Year

Connor: Brandy. Bottled in 1783.

Brenda: Wow. That's old.

Connor: 1783 was a very good year. Mozart wrote his great mass. The Montgolfier brothers went up in their first balloon. And England recognized the independence of the united states.

Now I have always loved that scene – including the lead up where he is admiring the view.  I’ve even quoted it with MikeC at Sgt Prestons of the North in Lafayette IN more times than I can remember (sober).

What I never noticed was that the following scene – when McLeod meets his fellow immortal friend (Kastigir) and share a drink of Boom Boom in Central Park – they segway into the Duel on Boston Common Flashback – that also took place in 1783. (again, no clip available)

This makes me wonder – Did McLeod put back a stock of Brandy after surviving a duel where he didn’t lose his head?  Did this brush with mortality cause him to reflect, and thus recall all the details of that year?  I like to think so.

Finally, for your listening pleasure -