KIDNAPPED
UK, 1971, 107 minutes, Colour.
Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Jack Hawkins, Donald Pleasence, Gordon Jackson, Vivien Holbron, Laurence Douglas, Freddie Jones, Jack Watson.
Directed by Delbert Mann.
Delbert Mann has directed versions of David Copperfield and Jane Eyre. Now he has turned to Robert Louis Stevenson and given us an enjoyable version of Kidnapped and David Balfour. It is not an outstanding film, but a competent one that brings the Scotland of two centuries ago to life. Scotland appears as most beautiful, war as cruel and the Scots as suffering in the wars between the English King and the French-based Bonnie Prince Charlie Stuart who attempted an impossible dream. This theme of war, politics, dreams and expediency is developed interestingly, especially in patriot, Alan Breck (Michael Caine). A fine English and Scots cast.
1. How good an adventure was this? How did it use its adventure ingredients?
2. Comment on the Scottish atmosphere at the opening of the film. The landscapes and the war dead? The impact of Culloden? The changed ways of Scotland? The clash between England and Scotland and Bonnie Prince Charlie? These landscapes and the landscapes of the dead as the landscapes of the Scottish mind? The decisions that had to be made about the future of Scotland?
3. How did the film establish David Balfour as the central character? Was he an engaging hero? Why? How did the audience see Scotland and its plight through his eyes? Did it matter that he was a lowlander looking at highlander difficulties?
4. The importance of the sequence of Uncle Ebenezer? The character of Ebenezer as played by Donald Pleasence? His ugliness and suspiciousness? His sending David to his death? His mean-mindedness? His arranging for David to be kidnapped? How did this set a tone for the film? In terms of justice and revenge?
5. How did the film convey what it was like to be kidnapped? How easy was David's life on the ship? What were your impressions of the captain? Did he have any heart or conscience? His first mate? Their encounter with Alan Breck? Their plotting and greed? What comment on human nature did the captain and his mate make?
6. What were your first impressions of Alan Breck? Did you like him? How self assured was he? How dedicated to his cause? How shrewd was his handling of the siege? How skilful his use of weapons? How callous was he? How warm-hearted?
7. Why did Alan and David become friends? How much was Alan indebted to David and vice-versa? What was the bond between the two?
8. What were your impressions of the Stuarts? Especially in the visit to James Stuart's house? James Stuart's views on the future of the war? Was he right? Were there too many dead? Why did Alan Breck disagree with him? Catriona and the future of Scotland? How did Catriona's presence indicate that war should be stopped? The impact of the interrupting of this: Campbell's men and the deaths? Did this give evidence that the Scots could be provoked again into war?
9. Why was Mungo Campbell fighting for the English? How callous and brutal were these murders? Especially in the way that they were filmed? These deaths are seen through the eyes of Alan and David? Alan shooting at Mungo Campbell? Did he have any right to shoot him? Why did he deny it? Even when James was to be executed for it?
10. The importance of the wandering sequences through the highlands? The landscapes and beauty of Scotland? Being pursued by the soldiers? Alan's killing of the soldiers who were looting? The. dangers and the fears? The peace of the visit to Cluny MacPherson? How did this relieve the pressures in the film? How entertaining a person was Cluny MacPherson? Was he right to stay in Scotland in a cave and not return to France? The occasion of the fight between Alan and David? Why could they not hurt each other?
11. Did the film give an interesting picture of the city of Edinburgh? Edinburgh comparatively at peace compared with the highlands? The dangers, however, to the Stuart family? Charles Stuart as a good lawyer? As risking his life and reputation for his family? How understanding was he of the situation and in helping Alan and David? Why did they advise David not to go to the Chief Justice?
12. What were your impressions of the Lord Advocate? As a man? And in political situations? His sense of justice? Should he have believed David? (Should David have gone to him?) Did he want to find out the truth? Did you believe that the Lord Advocate had tried to get David murdered? The importance of the duel? And the soldiers' refusal to kill David? The importance of the Lord Advocate's visit to David's flat? Did the Lord Advocate speak the truth about the future of Scotland and the need for peace? The irony of Alan's being in the cupboard? Did you agree more with the Advocate than with Alan?
13. David's importance as he became a man of property? (The impact in the film of Ebenezer's death after their getting the money from him to support the cause?) What future would David have? With Catriona? Was the future of Scotland summed up in them?
14. How did Alan realise that he was out of date? That he was fighting for past values? Why did he sacrifice himself and go to the castle? Was this the only alternative he had? (The emotional contrast between Alan's arriving at the castle and the sequences where David was followed and they were pursued, of Catriona's visit to her father?)
15. How interesting an adventure was this? What themes did it trace in the adventure story?
