Les aventures de David Balfour

The intriguing story of a young man in search of his home through Scotland during English occupation. Young David Balfour travels through the Highlands to get back what's his, all the time hiding from the English and meeting all kinds of people. The series includes a remarkable piping contest - quite funny - which leads me to the musical score: The title melody is hauntingly beautiful. It reminds you of great Celtic folklore, songs like Amazing Grace or Danny Boy. If you get the chance: watch it, it's truly worthwhile.

If you like it, I'll recommend "Matt and Jenny" from about the same time. A Canadian TV production about two children in search for their parents through Canada.

I saw this version of Kidnapped in 1979.I think it was the best one that was made. The theme music was really nice.It was called David's theme. It was very haunting and lonely. I would love to see a repeat of the show.I feel that Robert Louis Stevenson would be happy with this production.

This is the most complete in story and best performance of any dramatized version of Kidnapped. It was shown on televion only once in the United States. That was back in 1981 or 82. It is a pity that it has never been shown again or released to home video.

I saw this when it was originally screened in 1978 or 1979 - I was just a little kid at the time. I was living in Argyll, Scotland - real Gaelic country/landscape, so the programme really resonated with me. It was repeated in 1980 or 1981 but after that i never heard anything about it until circa 1991 the first two or three episodes, edited together, were released on video briefly, by a company called VideoGem. I was surprised by its quality - I thought my childhood memories may have exaggerated its appeal. Some of the acting - particularly David Balfour - is slightly wooden; on the other hand , a lot of it is very good - notably David McCallum as Alan Breck Stewart. The episodes I saw on video included original material that doesn't feature in the book; but unlike typical Hollywood 'adaptations' some of this material is quite worthy - including a scene that suggests the relationship between the Scots tenants and the Stewarts-in-exile was more about extortion than loyalty. As for the video release, I don't think it sold very well, as I never saw any further releases of the remaining episodes, which was a great disappointment.

I agree that it was easily the best adaptation I've ever seen, and it would be great to see the whole series released on video. If I remember rightly, the series also adapted at least some of the sequel 'Catriona'.

I remember this TV-series vividly. I was 8, perhaps 9, and the music David's Theme stayed with me to this very day. Wonderful, beautiful, sad.

As far as I recall the acting was great but then again I was 9. I have been wanting to see it again for somewhat 30 years now - who knows what I will think of it now? Silly? Poorly made?

Well, I can easily imagine myself being back in the late 70s completely enthralled by the story and the music. And I so want to show it to my kids. I know, back then, this series changed my little universe a bit.

I discovered that this particular version is available again on http://www.networkdvd.net/product_info.php?products_id=549 I will definitely buy it. Hope it's the right one!!! Don't shoot me if I'm wrong.