Review of Kidnapped (1971)

Enjoyable enough adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s book with a stellar cast including Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Jack Hawkins, Donald Pleasence and Gordon Jackson all giving excellent performances in their respective parts, Hawkins in particular. Shot against beautiful Scottish locations, the film tells the tale of David Balfour (Lawrence Douglas) who is shipped off by his Uncle (Pleasence) to be sold as a slave before escaping with Alan Breck (Caine). Returning to Scotland, the two men go on the run from the evil English Redcoats as they attempt to help relations of the Stuart kings to free Scotland. The film is bookended by brilliance as Get Carter’s Roy Budd provides a hauntingly beautiful opening theme onto the Battle of Culloden and there’s an excellent, emotional finale. Caine’s real-life cockney does sometimes outweigh his Caledonian but ,all in all, this is a good watch.

3/5