Les kidnappers

A cut-out of this popular children's film was included in my Dad's book of posters dating back from his teenage years and which I used to pore over in my own childhood days; being also aware that Leonard Maltin had granted it (in hindsight) an overly generous ***1/2 rating in his film guide (under its U.S. title of THE LITTLE KIDNAPPERS) and that its two child stars, Jon Whiteley and Vincent Winter, were both awarded a Special Academy Award for Best Juvenile Performance has made me include it in my current Oscar marathon...a day after the long-retired Whitely celebrated his 69th birthday. Incidentally, the film also has the unwieldy subtitle of "A Story Of A Scotch Settlement In The Canadian Province Of Nova Scotia"!

The narrative begins with the two Scotch-Canadian little protagonists, newly-orphaned, being dumped on the doorstep of their forbidding Scottish grandfather Duncan Macrae, their kind grandmother and rebellious aunt Adrienne Corri; the old man holds a grudge against the Dutch immigrants coming to live around his Nova Scotia farm since his son, the boys' father, was killed by them in the Boer War. Typically for this kind of moralistic theme and remote setting, there is a Romeo-and-Juliet-type of subplot going on underneath between Corri and friendly Dutch country doctor Theodore Bikel.

The plot proper is kickstarted by the grandfather's refusal to grant the boys' wish of getting themselves a puppy – which the effortlessly scene-stealing Winter (the younger of the two children) rigorously wants to name "Rover"; when Whiteley finds a baby abandoned in a cabin in the woods, they decide to keep it as their pet! When Whiteley skips school for two days to take care of it, he is locked in the woodshed by Macrae as punishment for his truancy; a panicking Winters wakes up at night to alert his grandfather to the baby's presence and needs. This is where the plot thickens: Corri had just fallen out with her father for his mistreatment of Whitely; Bikel has quarreled with the old man for his mistreatment of Corri; the baby's grandfather, another Dutchman (who had been combing the area for it with a posse) comes to apprehend Whiteley and bring him to justice; and the fleeing Corri is trampled by one of the search party's horses!!

Unsurprisingly but not unsatisfactorily, things all turn out nicely in the end at Whiteley's trial: the fact that the latter does not even understand the seriousness of the charges leveled against him by the prosecutor is proof enough of his innocent abduction of the abandoned baby; the baby's grandfather admits that his own daughter's carelessness was to blame for the loss; Macrae tongue-lashes the prosecutor (who wants to send Whiteley to a reform school) and swallows his own pride by thanking the Dutchman for standing up for his grandson. As the old man and his young kin return home from the courthouse, he immediately sets about acquiring for them their much-desired "Rover". The stark rural setting and pleasantly naturalistic performances are the film's trump cards; for the record, director Leacock was later responsible for another superior children's film INNOCENT SINNERS (1957) and Whitely had a short but notable film career as a child star, appearing in such solid fare as Charles Crichton's HUNTED (1952) and Leacock's own THE Spanish GARDENER (1956; both co-starring Dirk Bogarde) and Fritz Lang's period adventure MOONFLEET (1955; with Stewart Granger).

An absolutely superb family film, free of gimmicks and superstars. every child and adult should grow up seeing this gem. It is one to be liked by all ages. The British Film industry is always credited with third rate pictures, but here we see a film that, although shot in black and white, shows they could churn out films that were the equal of any films that were made in Hollywood. Its also a credit that the actors, especially the youngsters, not forgetting Duncan MacCrae went on to make their mark in similar genre throughout their acting careers. The scenery, spoiled, of course due to lack of colour film being used, showed the ruggedness of the countryside, filming was superb and getting down to basics, how often are there children the stars of a feature length film?

I saw this movie on television when I was a child and thought it was wonderful. There must be a copy of this poignant film out there somewhere that can be reproduced for public consumption. I'd love to add it to our video collection. The children were outstanding little actors. I believe that one of the children also played in the British version of Lord of the Flies. The harsh environment of the children and the eventual softening of the heart of the grandfather when he allows them to have a dog was incredibly touching. It reminded me, in a way of my step-father who was a wonderful hardworking man who found it difficult to show affection but when it really counted was always there for you.

I don't think "The Kidnappers" could be made now. Audiences today have attention spans like gnats on heroin and this picture requires too much thought. Additionally, the pacing is quite slow and deliberate and attuned to the times in which it is set. So, in the wilds of turn-of-the-20th-century Nova Scotia, it can be said that not much of great import ever happened, apart from feuds between neighbors living far apart.

But I'm an old-fashioned guy. I liked it and I thought the acting was exceptional, especially the youngest boy and that of Grandma McKenzie, played by Jean Anderson. Loved the setting as I am a Scotlandphile, a new word to describe my deep appreciation for land north of England, even though it is standing in for Nova Scotia.

The story, such as it was, took time to develop. Two boys arrive at their Grandparents farm, their parents having passed away. There are some trials, tribulations and tedium, all of which give the viewer a taste of life in the bleak, sparsely populated wilderness. Grandpa and the two boys are the whole show, which is a good watch if, like me, you have patience and a good attention span.

This film means a lot to me and my family. Duncan MacRae (Grandaddie) is a relative on my mother's side. It is lovely to hear these nice comments about this film from people as I think it is a great film. The two wee boys are such fantastic actors and make the film what it is. I have a cousin who was the spitting image of Davy. We used to make him run around yelling 'Don't eat the babbie, Grandaddie!'

I am still trying to find it on DVD/Video for my grandmother as we only have an old copy that was recorded off the telly. So if anyone can tell me where I could get a hold of an official copy of it that would be great.