Kidnapped (1971 film)

Kidnapped
Original British quad film poster
Directed by	Delbert Mann
Produced by	Frederick H. Brogger
Screenplay by	Jack Pulman
Based on	Kidnapped and Catriona  by Robert Louis Stevenson
Starring	Michael Caine Trevor Howard Jack Hawkins Donald Pleasence
Music by	Roy Budd
Cinematography	Paul Beeson
Editing by	Peter Boita
Studio	Omnibus Productions Ltd[1]
Distributed by	British Lion Films (UK) AIP (US)
Release dates	22 December 1971 (1971-12-22) (US) 4 May 1972 (1972-05-04) (UK)
Running time	107 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Kidnapped is a 1971 British adventure film, directed by Delbert Mann and starring Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Jack Hawkins and Donald Pleasence, as well as a number of well known British character actors. The film is based on the novel Kidnapped and the first half of the sequel Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Plot

Young David Balfour arrives at a bleak Scottish house, the House of Shaws to claim his inheritance after his father. The house and land have been under the custodianship of his father's brother, Ebeneezer Balfour, but on reaching adulthood, the land and property become David's. Ebeneezer is having none of it, however, so he first tries to murder him, then has him kidnapped by sea captain Hoseason, with whom he has, "a venture for trade in the West Indies". David is shipped off to be sold as a slave in the Carolinas'. Fortunately for the lad, he strikes up a friendship with Alan Breck, escaping from Prince Charles Edward Stuart's defeat at Culloden. Breck is in a cobble which is run down in the fog by Hoseason's ship and once aboard, asks Hoseason to take him to France. When Hoseason refuses, Breck offers him 60 guineas to put him down on Loch Linnhe.

On discovering that Breck has a money belt full of Jacobite gold, Hoseason and his crew try to kill Breck, but he is forewarned by David and the two kill half a dozen of the crew before the others retreat. Hoseason offers terms to end the fighting, but the ship runs aground. Only Breck and Balfour appear to survive and they manage to get to land. They set out for Edinburgh, dodging the ruthless Redcoats. Numerous adventures follow as they meet up with Brecks' family, friends and foes alike. These include Breck's cousin, James Stewart, and his daughter Catriona, with whom David falls in love.

Main cast

Filming locations

Kidnapped was shot almost entirely on location in Scotland. Places include Argyll, Mull, Culross and Stirling Castle. Pinewood Studios was used for some interior scenes.^[2]

Music

The soundtrack was composed and conducted by Roy Budd. The end title song, "For All My Days", was sung by Mary Hopkin.

Trivia

Although a very enjoyable family romp, the film was a commercial failure. In interviews over the years, Caine insists that he knew it was going to be a flop and that it is the only film he made that he was never paid his fee. Lawrence Douglas and Vivien Heilbron, both newcomers to films, disappeared into obscurity. Jack Hawkins had his speaking parts voiced over by Charles Gray as he was unable to speak following removal of his larynx due to throat cancer some years earlier.

External links

• Kidnapped in the British Film Institute's "Explore film..." database
• Kidnapped at the Internet Movie Database
• Kidnapped - Photos

References