A lot of fun.

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

This is an adaption of the famous Robert Louis Stevenson novel. I haven't read it myself but hear that this film is pretty faithful to the book. Set in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden in 18th century Scotland, a young man is sold into slavery by his unscrupulous uncle. He is soon rescued by a Jacobite rebel who is presently an outlaw wanted by the British government. The two men form an alliance of sorts and subsequently become involved in an incident that creates various complications.The first thing that stands out from the outset here is that the cockney actor Michael Caine is starring in the role of Alan Breck, the Jacobite rebel. It seems like it must be a bit of miscasting, as it is difficult imagining Caine in such a role, however, pleasingly he is very good here and his film star charisma is used to very good effect for this particular character. The film also benefits a lot from plenty of nice on-location photography from around Scotland. It gives the whole production more of an authentic feel. The story-line is compelling and the direction is well-paced, while the events depicted are less over-the-top than in later Scottish adventures set in historical times such as Braveheart (1995) and this for me is a good thing. The story-line eventually dove-tails to a very bittersweet ending that seems like the only appropriate way to round things off.

This adventure film from 1971 is a highly credible cinematic adaptation. The pacing is economical but I was most impressed by some of the visual relationships and props. For example, the dark-brown hues in Captain Hoseason's ship's cabin. Also in one early scene at the curmudgeonly Uncle Ebeneezer's bleak House of Shaws when young David is introduced to Captain Hoseason and is subsequently kidnapped, the morning sun-light shining on the door in the background gives the surface of the door a pure silver effect which seems profoundly metaphysical. I admired the eighteenth-century globes and furnishings in the Lord Advocate's office. Indeed the Lord Advocate - played with flair by Trevor Howard, is very much a figure from the Scottish Enlightenment. Michael Caine in one of his most committed performances plays the character of Jacobite soldier of fortune, Alan Breck Stuart: he sports green, blue and grey tartan with a silver brooch embossed with an amber gem. The fight scene in the ship's cabin is a bravura set-piece.

When this film was released, although still young, I was a film buff (not just in terms of cinematography but history, political biases etc.) of at least 25 years. I have to admit that I was severely biased against this version of 'Kidnapped' with Caine's casting and I am still puzzled as to the how/why of it's production. I have now watched it on a number of occasions and enjoy it more each time with age (both of myself and the film). What does come across, presumably from the script, particularly the comments of Trevor Howards character, and Michael Caine's 'less is more portrayal' of Alan Breck, is the sense of loss of the 'Celtic' past. I have travelled in Scotland but, despite the name, I have never been to Ireland before this year. Having grown up firmly 'English' I begin to feel that there seems to be an element of 'ethnic cleansing' went on.As an aside study, by comparison, I recommend John Buchan's 'John Burnet of Barns', 'Thirty Nine Steps' and 'Mr Standfast' which suggest that flight across the Scotish landscape has some deeper place in the psyche of the Scots.

I saw this film only once the year it was released and the only thing I can actually remember about it has me chomping at the bit to see it again. It is the final scene where Allan Breck was led out into the beautiful Scotland countryside by his captors, presumably to certain execution. As he looked around at the land he loved so much in sad resignation, Mary Hopkin's sweet soprano sang "For all my days upon the earth, for mountains high and valleys green, for mist that rolls in from the sea, I thank you Lord for sharing this with me." I'm sure I've remembered only the gist of the song, but I also remember some serious goosebumps and teary eyes during that scene.