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Kidnapped

  • TV Mini Series
  • 1978
  • 6h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
257
YOUR RATING
Kidnapped (1978)
AdventureDramaHistoryRomance

When young David Balfour arrives at his uncle's to claim his inheritance, his relative tries to murder him, then has him shipped off to be sold as a slave in the colonies. Luckily for the la... Read allWhen young David Balfour arrives at his uncle's to claim his inheritance, his relative tries to murder him, then has him shipped off to be sold as a slave in the colonies. Luckily for the lad, he strikes up a friendship.When young David Balfour arrives at his uncle's to claim his inheritance, his relative tries to murder him, then has him shipped off to be sold as a slave in the colonies. Luckily for the lad, he strikes up a friendship.

  • Stars
    • David McCallum
    • Ekkehardt Belle
    • Aude Landry
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    257
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • David McCallum
      • Ekkehardt Belle
      • Aude Landry
    • 11User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes13

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    Top cast54

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    David McCallum
    David McCallum
    • Alan Breck Stewart
    • 1978
    Ekkehardt Belle
    Ekkehardt Belle
    • David Balfour
    • 1978
    Aude Landry
    Aude Landry
    • Catriona…
    • 1978
    Bill Simpson
    • James of the Glens
    • 1978
    John Carson
    John Carson
    • More…
    • 1978
    John Carlisle
    • Mungo Campbell
    • 1978
    Joseph Brady
    Joseph Brady
    • Neil
    • 1978
    Patrick Allen
    Patrick Allen
    • Prestongrange
    • 1978
    Patrick Magee
    Patrick Magee
    • Ebenezer Balfour
    • 1978
    Frank Windsor
    Frank Windsor
    • Colin Roy 'Red Fox' Campbell
    • 1978
    Bernhard Wicki
    Bernhard Wicki
    • Captain Hoseason
    • 1978
    Jutta Speidel
    Jutta Speidel
    • Barbara Grant
    • 1978
    Leonard Maguire
    • Charles Stewart
    • 1978
    Wolfe Morris
    Wolfe Morris
    • Fraser
    • 1978
    Patricia Driscoll
    Patricia Driscoll
    • Margaret…
    • 1978
    Christopher Biggins
    Christopher Biggins
    • Prince Charlie
    • 1978
    Arthur Brauss
    Arthur Brauss
    • Riarch
    • 1978
    Ewen Solon
    Ewen Solon
    • Argyll
    • 1978
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    7.5257
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    Featured reviews

    10savbard

    Great Movie

    This is a great movie, with only one problem: you cannot buy a copy and it was only shown on TV in the USA once that I know of, in the early 1980's. I hope someone will get the idea to show it again, and make it available for purchase on DVD or VHS. I have never seen a better version of this movie. It really captures the spirit of Scotland at the time. I would put it up against Braveheart or any of the Lord Of The Rings movies. The music alone stirs the blood of anyone with Celtic blood, or a Celtic spirit. The fight scenes are most excellent. I hope someone who has the power to get this movie out for everyone to see it again will do so. If someone knows if there is a DVD or VHS copy out please post a message on here.
    10andrewsconsulting

    An Excellent Production

    This version of Kidnapped was well acted and beautifully produced. I was pleased to find that other viewers enjoyed the production as much as I did. It has been a disappointment that it was never re-run. If I recall correctly it was broadcast in the United States by Turner Productions. It is also unfortunate that it was not released on video.
    10DreamCatcher7

    Wonderful series from the 70s

    I remember this TV-series vividly. I was 8, perhaps 9, and the music David's Theme stayed with me to this very day. Wonderful, beautiful, sad.

    As far as I recall the acting was great but then again I was 9. I have been wanting to see it again for somewhat 30 years now - who knows what I will think of it now? Silly? Poorly made?

    Well, I can easily imagine myself being back in the late 70s completely enthralled by the story and the music. And I so want to show it to my kids. I know, back then, this series changed my little universe a bit.

    I discovered that this particular version is available again on http://www.networkdvd.net/product_info.php?products_id=549 I will definitely buy it. Hope it's the right one!!! Don't shoot me if I'm wrong.
    unicornis

    Well done, good family entertainment

    The intriguing story of a young man in search of his home through Scotland during English occupation. Young David Balfour travels through the Highlands to get back what's his, all the time hiding from the English and meeting all kinds of people. The series includes a remarkable piping contest - quite funny - which leads me to the musical score: The title melody is hauntingly beautiful. It reminds you of great Celtic folklore, songs like Amazing Grace or Danny Boy. If you get the chance: watch it, it's truly worthwhile.

    If you like it, I'll recommend "Matt and Jenny" from about the same time. A Canadian TV production about two children in search for their parents through Canada.
    10pantrax-1

    Best adaptation ever

    I remember being glued to this miniseries when it was shown on TBS (Turner) in '78. It was wonderfully done, following the novel very faithfully and not trying to guild the lily the way so many other productions have done. More than that, it covered not only "Kidnapped" itself, but also that novel's sequel, "Catriona: (released as "David Balfour" in the United States) which I until then did not know even existed. It was an excellent idea, since it resolved all the hanging threads of the plot as Stevenson had intended.

    What I recall most were all the on-location shots (I assumed they were such, anyway) and the beauty of the Scottish countryside as well as that of the Netherlands. David McCallum gave an excellent portrayal of the brash Alan Breck. I know some have accused the actor who portrayed David Balfour's performance wooden, but frankly, Stevenson writes the character that way—he saves all the panache for Alan, and so it is in this film, as well.

    I particularly remember the haunting opening credits theme—I wish I could find a recording of it, as it, too, was excellent.

    It's a great shame this is not shown more often. I understand it's been released on DVD, but so far I've not been able to find it, so I'm guess this was not done in the U.S., which is a shame. Perhaps someday

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    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
    History
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The series is based on two novels of Robert Louis Stevenson: "Kidnapped" and its sequel "Catriona". Most of the other "Kidnapped" TV and movie adaptations are based only on the first novel.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Worst Movies of All Time: Angel's Höllenkommando (2021)

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 7, 1979 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • West Germany
      • France
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Abenteuer des David Balfour
    • Production companies
      • Harlech Television (HTV)
      • Technisonor
      • Tele München Fernseh Produktionsgesellschaft (TMG)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 6h 30m(390 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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