Kidnapped (1978)

Why so much hype?

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

I remember being glued to this miniseries when it was shown on TBS (Turner) in '78. It was wonderfully done, following the novel very faithfully and not trying to guild the lily the way so many other productions have done. More than that, it covered not only "Kidnapped" itself, but also that novel's sequel, "Catriona: (released as "David Balfour" in the United States) which I until then did not know even existed. It was an excellent idea, since it resolved all the hanging threads of the plot as Stevenson had intended.What I recall most were all the on-location shots (I assumed they were such, anyway) and the beauty of the Scottish countryside as well as that of the Netherlands. David McCallum gave an excellent portrayal of the brash Alan Breck. I know some have accused the actor who portrayed David Balfour's performance wooden, but frankly, Stevenson writes the character that way—he saves all the panache for Alan, and so it is in this film, as well. I particularly remember the haunting opening credits theme—I wish I could find a recording of it, as it, too, was excellent.It's a great shame this is not shown more often. I understand it's been released on DVD, but so far I've not been able to find it, so I'm guess this was not done in the U.S., which is a shame. Perhaps someday

I remember this TV-series vividly. I was 8, perhaps 9, and the music David's Theme stayed with me to this very day. Wonderful, beautiful, sad.As far as I recall the acting was great but then again I was 9. I have been wanting to see it again for somewhat 30 years now - who knows what I will think of it now? Silly? Poorly made? Well, I can easily imagine myself being back in the late 70s completely enthralled by the story and the music. And I so want to show it to my kids. I know, back then, this series changed my little universe a bit.I discovered that this particular version is available again on http://www.networkdvd.net/product_info.php?products_id=549 I will definitely buy it. Hope it's the right one!!! Don't shoot me if I'm wrong.

I saw this when it was originally screened in 1978 or 1979 - I was just a little kid at the time. I was living in Argyll, Scotland - real Gaelic country/landscape, so the programme really resonated with me. It was repeated in 1980 or 1981 but after that i never heard anything about it until circa 1991 the first two or three episodes, edited together, were released on video briefly, by a company called VideoGem. I was surprised by its quality - I thought my childhood memories may have exaggerated its appeal. Some of the acting - particularly David Balfour - is slightly wooden; on the other hand , a lot of it is very good - notably David McCallum as Alan Breck Stewart. The episodes I saw on video included original material that doesn't feature in the book; but unlike typical Hollywood 'adaptations' some of this material is quite worthy - including a scene that suggests the relationship between the Scots tenants and the Stewarts-in-exile was more about extortion than loyalty. As for the video release, I don't think it sold very well, as I never saw any further releases of the remaining episodes, which was a great disappointment.I agree that it was easily the best adaptation I've ever seen, and it would be great to see the whole series released on video. If I remember rightly, the series also adapted at least some of the sequel 'Catriona'.

This is the most complete in story and best performance of any dramatized version of Kidnapped. It was shown on televion only once in the United States. That was back in 1981 or 82. It is a pity that it has never been shown again or released to home video.