BY TIM GREAVES
No matter the
conveyor-belt of bubblegum product proliferating at 21st century multiplexes,
it will always be the classics that endure. Robert Louis Stevenson's celebrated
novel “Kidnapped†– initially serialised in magazine form before being
published as a single volume in 1886 – has been tailored for cinema and
television many times, notably (for the big screen) in 1948 starring Dan
O'Herlihy and Roddy McDowell and in 1959 featuring Peter Finch and James
McArthur. 1971’s Kidnapped from
director Delbert Mann doesn't seem to get as much love as some of its siblings,
but for this writer it’s one of the most enjoyable of the clan, specifically
due to the presence of Michael Caine atop the cast.
Following the terrible
slaughter at the battle of Culloden, during which the Jacobite forces are
overthrown by government troops, an orphaned lad, David Balfour (Lawrence
Douglas) arrives at the home of his Uncle Ebenezer (Donald Pleasence) to claim
his inheritance. However, intent on securing it for himself, the grasping old
man slyly arranges for his nephew to be shanghaied, whereupon David finds
himself prisoner at sea of Captain Hoseason (Jack Hawkins), destined for sale
into slavery. When they run across notorious Jacobite rebel Alan Breck (Michael
Caine), David seizes the opportunity to ally with Breck and escape. They make
it back to shore and seek refuge with Breck's relatives, his uncle, James
Stewart (Jack Watson), and cousin Catriona (Vivien Heilbron). But their
adventure is only just beginning.
Although, of all Robert
Louis Stevenson's stories, "Treasure Island" remains the premier
boys' own adventure, "Kidnapped" is a cracker of a good yarn. Jack
Pulman's screenplay for this 1971 adaptation draws not only on that story but
also a chunk of its 1893 sequel "Catriona". And regardless of the
fact it all ends rather sorrowfully, it's still a rousing piece of fiction, the
recounting of which is well worth journeying alongside.
Delbert Mann (Oscar winner
for romantic drama Marty and much
admired by this writer for early 60s Doris Day rom-coms That Touch of Mink and Lover
Come Back) treated movie-goers to a star-studded and colourful period
costume drama whose glue, as previously remarked upon, is indisputably Michael
Caine. Admittedly the actor's Scottish accent waivers dreadfully at times, but
otherwise he's on excellent form with his infinite charisma and inexhaustible
brio serving to paper over any perceivable cracks. He certainly outshines
co-star Lawrence Douglas, whose David is more than a touch insipid; Douglas
worked almost exclusively in minor TV roles, with Kidnapped representing his only silver screen appearance of note.
Flame-haired Vivien Heilbron fares a little better as the lovely Catriona and
there's strong support from dependables Jack Watson as her father, Trevor
Howard as the surly Lord Advocate, Gordon Jackson as lawyer Charles Stewart,
Freddie Jones as cardsharp Cluny, and Jack Hawkins as the odious Captain
Hoseason (discernibly dubbed by Charles Gray who, due to Hawkins suffering from
throat cancer, often re-voiced the actor during this period of his career).
Special word for Donald Pleasence (who’s delicious as the slimy and duplicitous
Uncle Ebenezer) and a young Geoffrey Whitehead, nicely reptilian as Loyalist
Lieutenant Duncansby.
Thesps aside, the
undisputed star of the film is the beautiful location photography of Paul
Beeson (whose skills can also be admired in the likes of Mosquito Squadron, The Sound
of Music, Never Say Never Again
and the Indiana Jones trilogy); seldom have the Scottish Highlands looked so
stunningly beautiful. Arguably, Vladimir Cosma's music for a late 70s TV
adaptation will probably never be surpassed (so gorgeously honeyed that, if the
mood is right, it has the power to move this writer to tears). However, Roy
Budd's score for Mann's film – along with the closing romantic ballad performed
by Mary Hopkin – is memorably redolent and contributes immeasurably towards
making this more than respectable screen adaptation of its source story a very
worthy investment of one's time.
Network Distributing, who
originally released Kidnapped on DVD
in the UK in 2007, have reissued it in a nicely fulsome package as part of
their continuing 'The British Film' series. The feature itself is a clean
2.35:1 ratio presentation with only the most minimal traces of wear. Caine fans
will delight in the inclusion of no less than three lengthy archive interviews (with
a combined running time of over an hour), two of them hosted by Russell Harty
during the actor's promotional tours for Sleuth
and The Eagle Has Landed, one by
Gloria Hunniford focusing on Educating
Rita. Then there’s a short 1971 behind-the-scenes featurette hosted by
Lawrence Douglas, a gallery of poster art, FOH and lobby cards and an extensive
collection of production stills, plus an original trailer. For those hesitant
as to whether the film alone is sufficient inducement to warrant purchase, the
wealth of supplementary material served up on Network’s disc should definitely
clinch the deal.
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