| Kidnapped | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ivan Passer |
| Produced by | John Davis |
| Screenplay by | John Goldsmith Michael Barlow |
| Story by | Robert Louis Stevenson Rob Hedden |
| Starring | Armand Assante Brian McCardie Michael Kitchen Brian Blessed Patrick Malahide Brendan Gleeson |
| Music by | Stanislaw Syrewicz |
| Cinematography | Floyd Crosby, ASC |
| Editing by | Bernard Gribble |
| Studio | Ardmore Studios Dublin |
| Running time | 175 minutes |
| Country | 1995 |
| Language | English |
Kidnapped ("A timeless tale of honor, bravery and adventure") is a 1995 TV adventure film directed by Ivan Passer and starring Armand Assante as Highlander Alan Breck and Brian McCardie as Lowlander David Balfour. Among the supporting actors are Michael Kitchen and Brian Blessed. The film was based on the book titled Kidnapped by author Robert Louis Stevenson. Christopher Reeve had originally been cast as Breck prior to the spinal cord injury which left him a quadriplegic on May 27, 1995.
It was filmed on location in Ireland.
After the death of his father, David Balfour is given a letter from an old acquaintance; he informs David that this letter was included in his father Alexander´s last will and testament, and should now be entrusted to David himself, as the letter concerns his inheritance. David is asked to bring the letter to the House of Shaws, to a man named Ebenezer. When David arrives, he learns that Ebenezer is his born uncle. David resolves to stay with him for a while, but notices he is not welcome. After that, Ebenezer tries to lead David into a deadly trap, but he fails. The next day Ebenezer takes David to visit Captain Hoseason. Ebenezer secretely asks Hoseason to kidnap David and have him sold into slavery. The captain succeeds in kidnapping him, and takes him onto his ship. Hereby David, who calls himself "a loyal subject of King George", happens to meet the Jacobite Alan Breck Stuart who has come from France to collect money for Bonnie Prince Charlie. Together they break free from the felonious seamen who intend to sell David as a slave and to kill Alan Breck for the gold he has on him. Back on the mainland Alan Breck Stuart seeks to fulfil his mission while David Balfour simply tries to regain confidence and a peaceful life. Both of them become entangled in current politics and turmoils, including a plot involving the murder of King George´s factor Colin Roy Campbell, called the Red Fox. Eventually Alan Breck Stuart leaves Scotland forever "to have a distinguished career in the French Army", while the protagonist stays and marries a lady from the Highlands. The film closes by telling us they had sons who "were neither Highlanders nor Lowlanders. They were Scots."