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Thanks for the memories!

Pretty Good

Just perfect...

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I loved the book, and began watching this Disney treatment quite sceptically, expecting huge changes in the plot and a completely different ending. But to my surprise it follows Stevenson's original text virtually to the letter. A number of events were left out, for reasons of budget and screen time, I suppose. But everything you see in the film is in the book with minimal variations. The Scottish locations are fantastic, the art direction is excellent, the cameos by Currie, Malleson and Laurie are a joy to watch, and the pipe playing contest between Finch and O'Toole is unforgettable. It is obvious that James MacCarthur is in the film only because he was a raising star at Disney's at the time and they wouldn't use an unknown British boy instead. It makes sense, but of course we still would have liked to see a native Scot with a real accent instead of an American painfully trying to sound like a Scot. But he manages to get along anyway. A perfect adventure film for a Saturday/Sunday matinée.

Kidnapped is directed by Robert Stevenson, is based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson and stars Peter Finch, James MacArthur, John Laurie, Bernard Lee and Peter O'Toole.David Balfour (James MacArthur)gets caught up in the adventure of a lifetime when he befriends the mysterious Alan Breck Stewart (Peter Finch). Stewart is a Jacobite and is wanted by the British. Stewart and Balfour find themselves pursued by soldiers and must be careful who they trust (including some fellow Scotsmen).This version really focuses on the growing friendship between Balfour and Stewart, they come to trust one another and Stewart is grateful for the younger mans help and loyalty. Finch is excellent portraying Stewart as a brave and fearless man who is easy to like and trust, he also shows that he is quick tempered, a drinker and is very impatient. We also see Balfour being taught how to survive in the world, Stewart teaches him how to trust, how to survive and even when necessary how to kill.There's strong support especially from John Laurie as Balfour's scheming uncle Ebenezer, he steals every scene he is in. Bernard Lee is excellent as a ships Captain who has a conscience despite doing some bad things and a young Peter O'Toole is memorable as Robin MacGregor, the scene where he and Finch have a contest to see who is better at bagpipe playing is a highlight.

A very enjoyable and surprisingly faithful Disney adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic 1886 novel which retains some of its darker moments, including Shuan murdering the cabin boy Ransome. Future "Hawaii Five-O" star James MacArthur, the only American in the cast, is very likable and generally very good as David Balfour, which meant that I could live with the fact that his Scottish accent is very variable: sometimes good, sometimes non-existent. Peter Finch is excellent as Alan Breck Stewart. I was surprised that the film kept some of his less savoury attributes in place. It has a very good cast overall, including John Laurie (the most prominent real life Scot in the film), Bernard Lee (who does the best Scottish accent out of the non-Scots), Niall MacGinnis, Finlay Currie, Miles Malleson, Eileen Way, Andrew Cruickshank, Duncan Macrae and, in his first film appearance, the late, great Peter O'Toole. It loses momentum somewhat in its last half hour but it's still a very entertaining film. Funnily enough, the film is directed by Disney stalwart Robert Stevenson, who was no relation to the author of the novel.

This a rollicking good story and even if you not seen the movie for many years you are in for a pleasant surprise. The scenery is wonderful and there are wonderful characters in the film and plenty of excitement. The scenes of the grand old ships on the mighty ocean really do look rather like boats in a bath tub but forget all that its a finely paced adventure movie. There are a few of Disneys favourite young actors in it and they are all very good but its Peter Finch who brings that special distinction to the film. He was a brilliant actor and even though its a Disney kids flick he gives it all he has got. Finch is brilliant and it is his film. There is a lovely scene with the incredibly handsome Peter O Toole.