Entführt

The BBC broadcast an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's KIDNAPPED a couple of months ago ( I really must get round to reviewing that sometime )so I found myself comparing it with this version and unfortunately this is very much inferior

The problem lies in that the movie has very little in the way of action . There's a set piece on a boat that is skimmed over far too quickly , there's a sniper attack and Alan Breck killing a couple of redcoats and that's basically it as far as action scenes go with much of the running time taken up with Breck telling everyone what a wonderful patriot he is . I guess the dialogue scenes taking precedent over sword fights and battles is caused by the producers hiring the services of some fine actors and wanting them to appear on screen as long as possible . It's fairly well acted , though I'm afraid Caine is rather miscast and he makes Alan Breck boorish and unlikable

There is one thing that puzzles me in this movie and it happens fairly often , and that is people recognise Breck as soon as they seem him even though they've not met him before but why should this be ? There was no mass media in the mid 18th Century so they'd be no TV cameras or photography and I doubt if a " Wanted " poster for Breck would capture his likeness and yet nearly every time Breck is spotted someone always gasps " It's Alan Breck ! "

Oh and can I just add something about the English / British debate that the redcoats are the Hanoverian British army while the Highlanders are Jacobites , they're Highlanders supporting the Jacobite heir Bonnie Prince Charlie and it's unlikely they considered themselves to be all that Scottish never mind British

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 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.

Actually, comparing with the many filmed interpretations it is a fair representation of Robert Louis Stevenson's grand story. At least it was filmed for the most part in Scotland and the lovely scenic shots add to the authenticity.

I think there have been some unfair comments made on this particular interpretation but in general I would say it deserves a far better reception than some have given.

I have no problem with the English actors playing Scottish characters, Caine here is a passable lowland Scots as Allan Breck. Actors after all are judged by their skills and interpretation of the character and that's all that matters, it would be a sad day if we have to be Scottish solely to play a Scottish character. However, I'm not sure that Caine's costume would be one anyone would be seen dead in, it was clearly awful, and hardly the sort of attire a rebel would be running around in.

What matters is, that it is a fine interpretation of Stevenson's story.

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.