Kidnapped (1960)

In Scotland in 1751, young David Balfour is shanghaied aboard a ship where he meets Jacobite rebel Alan Breck Stewart with whom he escapes to the Scottish Highlands, dodging the redcoats.

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writer:

Robert Stevenson (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Peter Finch, James MacArthur, Bernard Lee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Finch	...	Alan Breck Stewart
James MacArthur	...	David Balfour
Bernard Lee	...	Captain Hoseason
John Laurie	...	Ebenezer Balfour
Niall MacGinnis	...	Mr. Shuan
Finlay Currie	...	Cluny MacPherson
Miles Malleson	...	Mr. Rankeillor
Duncan Macrae	...	The Highlander
Andrew Cruickshank	...	Colin Campbell
Peter O'Toole	...	Robin MacGregor
Alex Mackenzie	...	The Ferryman
Oliver Johnston	...	Mr. Campbell
Norman MacOwan	...	Tinker
Eileen Way	...	Jennet Clouston
Jack Stewart	...	Landlord

Storyline

Kidnapped and cheated out of his inheritance, young David Balfour falls in with a Jacobite adventurer, Alan Breck Stewart. Falsely accused of murder, they must flee across the Highlands, evading the redcoats.

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Plot Keywords:

scottish highlands | homosexual subtext | briton | friendship | held at swordpoint | 

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Taglines:

Flashing swords and raging seas launch a journey to the far corners of adventure!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Family

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film Peter O'Toole actually made was The Savage Innocents (1960), but it was not released until shortly after both The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) and "Kidnapped" had opened. All three films were shown in the UK within the space of about four months.

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Goofs

In the 18th Century, the letter 'S' looked like a long lowercase 'F', but the signage does not reflect this.

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Quotes

Robin MacGregor: [after Alan Breck Stewart has taken his turn to play the pipes] It's the God's truth. You're a creditable piper - for a Stewart.
Alan Breck Stewart: [when Robin MacGregor starts to play the pipes] Enough. You can play the pipes. Make the most of that.
[MacGregor smiles and continues playing]

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Connections

Version of Schüsse unterm Galgen (1968)

User Reviews

A truly remarkable film

Equating Disney movies to "family entertainment" is a bit trite, but here it works. Young men looking for adventure in their lives will be as pleased with this film as parents looking for a quality movie to which they can take their kids. This is the brilliant Scottish raconteur Robert Louis Stevenson's tale of two Scotlands, Highland and Lowland, as personified by the dour young Mr. David Balfour and the spirited Highlander Alan Breck Stewart (who proudly "bears a King's name"). On the run for their lives in their own native country of Scotland, now occupied by English redcoats and their Hessian merceneries, the protagonists must overcome their mutual distrust of one another, which is based primarily on political differences (but also on cultural differences as well). In fighting to keep their health and lives, they come to respect and even appreciate one another, in part because (ironically) they are from different worlds. The acting is simply first-rate; the producers could not (and did not) rely on special effects to make this movie work. The scenery of the Scottish Highlands is breathtaking. But it's the plot and character development made so viable by the brilliant acting of Peter Finch and James MacArthur that make the movie a stand-out. Rent it, bring it home, and watch it with your girlfriend, your boyfriend, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, friends, parent, grandparents, or perfect strangers. By the end of the movie, you'll value the friendship that young Mr. Balfour and the spirited Highlander find for themselves.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Scottish Gaelic Scots

Release Date:

24 February 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped

Filming Locations:

Ardgour, Highland, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1