Kidnapped (1938)

Director:

Alfred L. Werker

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (novel)
Sonya Levien (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 May 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

In the late eighteenth century David Balfour's evil uncle arranges for him to be kidnapped and sent to sea where he meets exiled Breck...

Plot Keywords:

Scotland | Rebellion | Inheritance | Murder | Inn

Cast

Warner Baxter	...	Alan Breck
Freddie Bartholomew	...	David Balfour
Arleen Whelan	...	Jean MacDonald
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Duke of Argyle
Reginald Owen	...	Captain Hoseason
John Carradine	...	Gordon
Nigel Bruce	...	Neil MacDonald
Miles Mander	...	Ebenezer Balfour
Ralph Forbes	...	James
H.B. Warner	...	Angus Rankeiller
Arthur Hohl	...	Riach
E.E. Clive	...	Minister MacDougall
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Dominie Campbell
Montagu Love	...	Colonel Whitehead
Donald Haines	...	Ransome

Also Known As:

Kidnapped: The Adventures of David Balfour (USA) (long title)

Runtime:

90 min (FMC Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4052) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Laurel Canyon, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Although the film was released in sepia tone, the print on the Fox Movie channel was in black-and-white.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Freddie Bartholemew is walking to Edinburgh, he passes a road sign showing "Edinboro" which would be an Americanized spelling of the city.

Movie Connections:

Version of Kidnapped (1917/II)

Soundtrack:

Rule Britannia

Enjoyable, even though it often strays from the original story

Years ago, I read Stevenson's story, KIDNAPPED. When I watched this 1938 version of the story, I couldn't help but wonder if I was losing my mind, as so much of it seemed like it wasn't in the book--particularly the romantic subplot and quite a bit of the action. Well, when I later checked, I found that for once I wasn't losing my mind--the story was heavily re-worked and in many places it bore little similarity to the novel. Additionally, I was surprised that despite the story being set in Scotland, none of the characters sounded like Scots--having mostly American and a few English accents. In particular, I have always liked Warner Baxter as an actor, but here he sounds exactly the same as he did in practically all his films--like a nice but not particularly rugged American.

Yet despite all this, the story still was rather enjoyable and kept my attention throughout. Very nice looking sets and a basic story that is hard to screw up, it isn't surprising that the story still delivers. It's well worth a look, but considering that KIDNAPPED is such an easy read, I still recommend the book over this film.