Kidnapped

One gets a fuller and more rounded picture of the times that the famous Robert Louis Stevenson novel Kidnapped is set in with this version of Kidnapped. Not only is the famous Stevenson novel taken to David Balfour's return and vindication, but we go a bit farther with the story based on Stevenson's successor novel Catriona and we get the Kidnapped story firmly entrenched in the times it happened.

Those times being the days after the Battle Of Culloden where the Scottish people chose between the returning French speaking Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Hanover monarchy of George II in 1745. At Culloden the Stuart forces were destroyed and the Hanoverians firmly in control after that. Those were bad times to be a Highlander and a supporter of the Stuarts.

Lawrence Douglas plays young David Balfour and Michael Caine is Alan Breck his friend and rescuer during the kidnapping of young Balfour by Captain Jack Hawkins at the behest of Balfour's uncle Donald Pleasance.

I'll not say more as the story of Kidnapped is well known. As for the continuing material from Catriona, the differences between Alan Breck and David Balfour are brought out. Lawrence Douglas is a Hanoverian supporter and Breck a soldier in the army of Prince Charles. However Douglas is an honest young man and goes to bat for a Stuart accused of a crime he did not commit. That sets the rival Campbell clan against him and puts Advocate General Trevor Howard in a delicate position.

Howard's character is not in the first novel and he's a decent man in an impossible political position. It's Alan Breck however who sets things right in the end for all concerned.

Previous versions with Warner Baxter and Freddie Bartholomew and Peter Finch and James MacArthur only concentrated on the Kidnapped story. The Finch/MacArthur version was from Disney and marketed for kids. This film is more adult and firmly set in the politics of the time with a good ensemble cast. I'd check this out especially if I liked the work of Robert Louis Stevenson.

The story begins just following the Scottish Jacobite loss to the mostly English forces at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. This battle, if you care, was the final conflict between the two nations and as a result, Scotland was forced into the new United Kingdom. To the Scots, it's among their most important event in their long history and it's not surprising that Robert Louis Stevenson placed his story following it, as he himself was Scottish.

One reviewer wrote all about how the battle was between Scottish and English (they were offended by the use of the word 'British' by some reviewers), but that isn't exactly correct. Some Scottish troops fought with the English and there would have also likely been Welsh and Irish troops fighting with them as well (nations the English had long before subjugated). As for the Jacobite Scottish, they apparently had a few English and Irish with them...very few and they were mostly Catholics who did not want Anglicanism imposed on them by the Church of England. The odds were definitely stacked against the Jacobites...and the loss seems, in hindsight, rather inevitable. Today, many in Scotland STILL mourn the loss at Culloden....but on to my actual review!!

The story begins just after this climactic battle, with a rather naive David Balfour arriving at his uncle's home in the border country to claim his inheritance. It' pretty obvious the uncle isn't a kind man and, in fact, he tries to arrange for David's 'accidental' death....though the young man manages to survive. Now you'd THINK David would throttle the elderly uncle or he'd leave the home and seek the law, but instead he foolishly stays the night. Not surprisingly, when morning arrives, the uncle has arranged for David to he 'shanghaied' aboard a sailing vessel headed for the Carolinas. But before he can be forced there, the ship stops to pick up a Scottish patriot, Alan Breck (Michael Caine)...and they plan on also robbing him and taking him to the American colonies. Fortunately, Breck and Balfour are able to prevent this and they escape from the ship and head back to Scotland. What's next? See the film...or just read the book...as the book is among Stevenson's best works (I actually like it better than his more famous "Treasure Island").

While Michael Caine seems okay in the lead, you do wonder why the story wasn't done with a Scottish actor. While most Americans, like me, probably wouldn't notice, I am pretty sure Brits noticed this casting decision.

So apart from the casting of Caine (which is NOT a serious issue for me), is the film any good? Well, considering the Stevenson source material is so good, it's hard to dislike the movie. Plus, it actually was filmed in Scotland unlike some versions of the story. I liked the lovely music as well...very moving and fitting to the story. All in all, a very good version of the story...along with some of its sequel tossed in as well.

This rendition is exceptional and belongs in the movie Library of anyone who loves the classics. Michael Caine makes the movie. As Allen Breck he made the character everything I felt when I read the book. He looks and talks just as I pictured in my mind. Splendid indeed. David Balfou was drab and shy in the story and I found Lawrence Douglas to be just that. I love that this version follows the true chronicle, especially in the beginning and I felt like I was truly along with the characters in every scene. Donald Pleasence played Ebenezer Balfour brilliantly and his scenes with David are true to the original story. No other movie of Kidnapped was the same for me. Captivating as only Robert Louis Stevenson can be.

This is an adaption of the famous Robert Louis Stevenson novel. I haven't read it myself but hear that this film is pretty faithful to the book. Set in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden in 18th century Scotland, a young man is sold into slavery by his unscrupulous uncle. He is soon rescued by a Jacobite rebel who is presently an outlaw wanted by the British government. The two men form an alliance of sorts and subsequently become involved in an incident that creates various complications.

The first thing that stands out from the outset here is that the cockney actor Michael Caine is starring in the role of Alan Breck, the Jacobite rebel. It seems like it must be a bit of miscasting, as it is difficult imagining Caine in such a role, however, pleasingly he is very good here and his film star charisma is used to very good effect for this particular character. The film also benefits a lot from plenty of nice on-location photography from around Scotland. It gives the whole production more of an authentic feel. The story-line is compelling and the direction is well-paced, while the events depicted are less over-the-top than in later Scottish adventures set in historical times such as Braveheart (1995) and this for me is a good thing. The story-line eventually dove-tails to a very bittersweet ending that seems like the only appropriate way to round things off.

It is actually a bit of a testament to Michael Caine's charisma, that I didn't give this one star. As a Scot, I ought to have hated it. Oddly enough, though, it's not awful. Sure, his accent is all over the place but somehow the thrust of the story is reasonably handled. It all starts with "David Balfour" (Lawrence Douglas) trekking to his uncle "Ebenezer" (Donald Pleasance) to tell him his father has passed away. The venal old gent has no intention of sharing his meagre fortune and soon "Davie" in underway across the sea under the guidance of "Capt. Hoseason" (Jack Hawkins). That ship hits a smaller one which introduces us to the Jacobite, tartan-clad, Caine ("Alan Breck Stewart") who is on the run from King George's red coats. After literally having to fight their way off the brig they have some adventures, get caught up in an high level assassination and end up with both trying to achieve their objectives against the odds. The production is pleasing to look like, and the score sets up some lovely Scottish location photography. The cast? Well, Hawkins looks like he has had way too much port; Trevor Howard is quite effective as the duplicitous Lord Advocate and the young Douglas does fine as the naive but decent young "Balfour". It is all about Michael Caine, though - and for all it's many flaws, there is no denying that the solid underpinning adventure story serves as a strong enough bedrock for this not to end up the laughable nonsense it could have been. Not a patch on the Disney version from 1959, but I didn't hate it...