Customer Reviews

Kidnapped

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Originally released in 1960, filmed 10 years after Disney's "Treasure Island" (Both are based on books written by Robert Louis Stevenson). This is a grittier more realistic film than Treasure Island, not as flamboyant. Coincidentally, Disney Director Robert Stevenson wrote the screenplay based on the novel but he is not related to the original writer.

Set in 18th centurey Scotland, it features James MacArthur who made 5 other films for Disney as a young man, and later moved on to "Hawaii 5-O". The film starts with a plot of a young man finding out he has an estate after his father dies, and when he goes to reclaim it his uncle tries to cheat him out of it. There is a famous scene where the uncle tries to kill the young man by sending up a tower in the dark... with missing stairs. Peter Finch is the Hero that takes him under his wing. They have to battle their way off a ship as cutthroat sailors try to murder them. The movie draws you in, as it is very realistic and loaded with period atmosphere, costumes, sets, and weapons. The British are chasing the Scottish Highlanders all over the countryside which is loaded with friends and traitors, and so they can trust no one. There are many character actors that add to the richness of the film. This film is a rollicking good time, and has intrigue, adventure, and mystery as well. Swordfights and gun battles galore! There are numerous authentic Scottish actors and accents, as it was filmed on location in Scotland. While Disney films that were made in Europe were criticized for being "too Americanized" they loved this film and praised both it's authenticity to the original book.

The color is beautiful on this nice clean print, but I do not think the remastered it again for this DVD release. This film is not for the smallest kids as it does have some scary scenes and some violence. (But keep in mind that the film still takes a strong stand against killing and drinking/gambling. Nice moral lessons without being preachy. The stars fight because they have too, and truly regret having to participate in violence to defend themselves). Keep an eye out for Peter O'Toole in this film.

Kidnapped! has been a favorite of mine for years, judging by how many times I played the VHS copy I bought. I was let down by the fact that the DVD copy as not available in stores. Another irriation was that the DVD has no special features whatsoever--and it deserves them if this is going to be a DVD that is only available to Disney insiders. Well, I've got it at last. I only wish the House of Mouse had been less thrifty with this release.

James MacArthur, Peter O'Toole and a few others were still alive when this format was chosen and should have at least appeared to offer their recollections about the film---but nothing!


I'm vaguely hoping that when Disney finally releases "CHILD OF GLASS" on DVD that they will pad the special features with cast and crew input.


Buy Kidnapped on DVD and be up to date, but this isn't much more than a VHS copy that has learned a few more tricks. Hungering Artist, August 2010.

I saw this movie a number of times when I was young. Some of the scenes are deeply etched in my memory. I bought this movie expecting to be disappointed--I worried that it might be cute and sanitized. I was completely wrong. Great production values, wonderfully etched characters and an exciting story. I was particularly surprised how challenging the Scottish brogue was to follow. I must have missed half of the dialog when I was young; I know that I missed some on my first viewing.

I am not sure what ten year olds would make of it today. But if you saw this when young, it is definitely worth picking up.

It's hard to believe a movie this gritty and realistic would be made today by Disney. Nothing sugar-coated here. At one point, for instance, a mean, drunk, incompetent sailor kills a 12 year old cabin boy for mocking him, and they throw the boy's body over the rail to avoid being caught. When did you see a Disney movie like that?

Quite simply a classic--fantastic!!! This is one of the movies Disney made in England. Pretty much all of those movies are terrific!

The movie followed the book closely. This was good because my 5th grade grandson had read the book as part of his home school curriculum and then really enjoyed the visual representation. Good flic!

No worries about content for children. This is a great classic movie that is suitable and interesting for kids.

What more can i say it is a great movie, and make me think of my childhood!

This is a great movie and thanks for sending it to me after I purchased it.

Went into this thinking this would be yet another fluff piece from classic Disney, a bit of harmless fun. Wow, was I taken aback! This was absolutely wonderful!

About as un-Disney as you can get and still carry the brand name.

First, it's spoken entirely in honest Scot and legit Gaelic. There's no 'Americanization' of the characters, so typical of Disney productions; converting a people and their heritage to be palatable for what was then its primary audience. In fact, as I think about it: From a business standpoint, why did they green-light this? It certainly didn't fit in their business model. Very interesting.

Second, death is no boundary. It's depicted without mercy, nor pity - not hallowed or righteous - just the bitterness of killing. The murder of a young boy at the hands of a drunk sailor, whose body is then unceremoniously dumped overboard. Wow. That stark realism alone made this unusual, possibly even unique, as far as I know of Disney films for this period.

Thirdly, we get an unromantic insight into the history of Scotland. Certainly the story of English conquerers and their conquests have been fair game in recent films. But the truth is, even without English interference, the Scots would've been at war with one another. They had battled with one another for centuries before England and continued after. Blood feuds were common and even glorified by both cultures; the enduring enmity between Highland and Lowland Scots has rarely been exposed so vividly as in 'Kidnapped'. Truly amazing.

I'm genuinely stunned.

The adventures of young David Balfour and his journey home to claim his birthright was truly enjoyable. After being tricked by a conniving uncle, young David has to survive being sold into indentured servitude in far away America, a hand-to-hand ship battle for his own freedom, and a terrifying shipwreck on the storm-riddled Scottish coast. Accompanied by Alan Breck Stuart of Clan Stuart, admirably played by Peter Finch, a soldier in the service of an outcast king. I've always appreciated him as an actor, but this incredible performance has elevated him in my eyes. I suspect few could have pulled off the hardened combat veteran who fears no man and bends knee to his King and his king alone.

And you can't help but notice a small bit part played by a very young Peter O'Toole. Fans of the man tend to point to 'Arabia' as his defining role. And while I have respect and appreciation for that work, it's his smaller, less grand performances that I've always enjoyed best. This small role is one of those.

A near five-star rating for me, save for the fact that the audio re-dub wasn't quite in synch and the stock print being washed out. But the story and the sincere performances of every actor involved is worth every penny.

Repeat viewings may be necessary for those accustomed to subtitles, of which this bare bones edition has none.