Kidnapped

A pro-peace film, typical of the Munich spirit in 1938. The movie, turn in 1938, is as far from Stevenson that Stevenson himself is -intentionally-from Walter Scott "Rob Roy" for instance.The end, with its pro-peace sentence with"love of country"etc.sounds particularly anachronistic. The plot also neglects the tower scene, which is shorted. We think of what Hitchcock could have done. The novel is such a good plot that something of it does remains in the film. But think of adding a romance in "Treasure Island"for instance..! The casting is good, particularly Freddie Bartholomew and of course Warner Baxter, although not Scottish at all. I appreciate also to find in a second-part John Carradine with his long thin face which could be so impressive in western films and also as the abominable Nazi Heydrich in "Hitler's Madman", some five years later, when the Second World War was at its climax.

Years ago, I read Stevenson's story, KIDNAPPED. When I watched this 1938 version of the story, I couldn't help but wonder if I was losing my mind, as so much of it seemed like it wasn't in the book--particularly the romantic subplot and quite a bit of the action. Well, when I later checked, I found that for once I wasn't losing my mind--the story was heavily re-worked and in many places it bore little similarity to the novel. Additionally, I was surprised that despite the story being set in Scotland, none of the characters sounded like Scots--having mostly American and a few English accents. In particular, I have always liked Warner Baxter as an actor, but here he sounds exactly the same as he did in practically all his films--like a nice but not particularly rugged American.

Yet despite all this, the story still was rather enjoyable and kept my attention throughout. Very nice looking sets and a basic story that is hard to screw up, it isn't surprising that the story still delivers. It's well worth a look, but considering that KIDNAPPED is such an easy read, I still recommend the book over this film.

For such a classic story, I've never seen a Kidnapped film adaptation that's really riveting. Of all the ones I've seen, though, I like the 1938 version the best. Freddie Bartholomew is adorable, and it's one of the last movies you can catch him in before he's all grown up. It's also one of the last swashbuckling roles you can see Warner Baxter in. He got replaced by Errol Flynn; but who's really complaining?

In this old black-and-white version, you'll see the very creepy introduction of Freddie to his uncle, Miles Mander. Freddie has just come into an inheritance, and Miles is desperate to take it away from him. "Your room is just up the stairs," he says, waiting down below for Freddie to fall to his death. But since the sweet little boy took first billing, it's a safe bet that he doesn't open the door and fall to his death.

If you like the famous book, or you've seen enough bad versions and are looking for a better one, check out the 1938 adaptation. It's not all bad, and there are some exciting sequences.

There are a number of screen adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale and a couple of very good ones. Sadly, this is not one of them which is a shame as with this quality cast I had been excited to see it and had been trying to track it down for some time. The trouble starts at the top of the cast list with the three stars Warner Baxter, Freddie Batholomew and Arleen Whelan, none of whom even attempt a Scots accent, which takes you out of the action more than somewhat. Baxter and Whelan are both miscast anyway with the former lacking charisma here and the latter guilty of demonstrating and posing rather than trying to inhabit her character. The adaptation also gives them a romantic subplot which does not exist in the original story and due to their shortcomings, is pointless anyway. The supporting cast, luckily, has a host of well known names and/or faces of the time; C Aubrey Smith brings gravitas as the Duke of Argyle, Reginald Owen is broad but enjoyable as a villainous ship's captain and Miles Mander is fun as the wretched and weaselly Ebenezer Balfour whose miserly ways and thunder stricken, tumble down castle are a highlight of the film. It is great to see Nigel Bruce and Mary Gordon, later to play in a number of films together as Dr Watson and Mrs Hudson in the Fox and Universal Sherlock Holmes series, as man and wife in this, though like John Carradine, they are criminally underused. Bruce, my main reason for tuning in, was in a number of classic novel to screen adaptations and fared a lot better in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) and Rebecca (1940).

In 1747 Scotland, rebellious Warner Baxter (as Alan Breck) leads his men against British rule and becomes an outlawed traitor. Meanwhile, young teenager Freddie Bartholomew (a David Balfour) is at school when he learns his long-absent father has died and left him a letter to deliver to wealthy uncle Miles Mander (as Ebenezer Balfour). On the way to his castle, young Bartholomew witnesses an assassination. Because he knows the assassin's identity, Bartholomew is kidnapped by Mr. Baxter. For another reason, Bartholomew is pursued by Mr. Mander. Danger and adventure continue in earnest...

Based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson, but significantly altered to play up Baxter's character and his romance with pretty newcomer Arleen Whelan (as Jean MacDonald). Although it's not the first or last time an older star was paired with a much younger mate, it appears ill-fitting here. The script helps, a least, by acknowledging Ms. Whelan's youthful appearance, when she pretends to be Bartholomew's mother. Otherwise, this is an excellently produced adventure story. The scenes involving Bartholomew and Mander are especially well staged. "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond" will have you humming.

******* Kidnapped, The Adventures of David Balfour (5/27/38) Alfred L. Werker ~ Freddie Bartholomew, Warner Baxter, Arleen Whelan, Miles Mander