The Kidnappers (Scotland, 1953)


Figure 1.--.

"The Kidnappers" is also listed in HBC as "The Little Kidnappers" - it's U.S. release title. A HBC reader writes, "I've seen the film before but forgot how good it was. The boys are especiaaly good in the film - they got oscars." The older boy Harry is played by Jon Whiteley who also played the boy in "The Spanish Gardener". "Kidnappers" is set in Canada but it was filmed in Scotland and in London studios--a bit like "Huntingtower". Many on the production team including some of the actors on Scottish so we have archived the movie as a Scottish film, it could also be called a British film, further complicated by the fact that the film is set in Canada. The boys wear knee britches with braces and coarse shirts as of the time - early 20th Century. Also scenes in the school have other boys similarly dressed, although Jan who Harry fights in the school yard is better dressed. Jan is the son of the doctor, a Dutch settler who the Scots call "Boers". Also when Harry is taken to court (held in the local store - it's a small community) for "kidnapping" the Dutch family's baby his young brother, Davy, is dressed up in a smarter suit with a sort of string tie. There's a great ending but I won't give it away ....

Filmology

"The Kidnappers" is another of the charming British films made by the Ealing Studio in the early 1950s. It is also listed in HBC as "The Little Kidnappers" - it's U.S. release title. Many on the production team including some of the actors on Scottish so we have archived the movie as a Scottish film, it could also be called a British film, further complicated by the fact that the film is set in Canada. The screenplay was written by Neil Paterson.

Philip Leacock (1917-90)

The director of "The Kisnappers was Philip David Charles Leacock who has an interesting background. Leacock was born in London during World war I (1917). His younger brother was Richard Leacock is noted for documentary films. The boys grew up on the Spanish Canary Islands. I'm not sure what there parents were doing there. Both boys were educated at the progressive English boarding school, Bedales. Leacock at Bedales was encouraged to persue photography. His first involvement with film came at age 17 when he worked as an assistant o his brother-in-law, Harold Lowenstein, on his documentary, "Out to Play" (1936). He then went to Spain where he aided p Thorold Dickinson on two pro-Republican films, "Behind The Spanish Lines" (1938) and "Spanish ABC" (1938). Britain of course was soon at war with Germany and duting World War II Leacock during the war worked for the Army Kinematograph Service. He joined Crown Film Unit after the War. He worked at first on documentaries, but gradually found work on feature films, but there is a definite documentary look to several of his feature films. "The Kidnappers" (1953) was one of his eary films. He was credited for not only wonderful scenery, but for getting fine performances out of children in film. Several of his subsequent films feature children, often set in plots addressing contemporary social issues. "Escapade" (1955) is about children who set out to stage an anti-war protest. Perhaps Leacock's best film is "The Spanish Gardener" (1956), which addresses the often difficult relationship between father and son. Leacock then had an escapade in America. He did "Innocent Sinners" (US, 1958), about the resilience of childhood. It is about a neglected child who is able to find beauty even in his deprived environments. He then made a films addressing racism, often with Black actors. The films are of note, but there was not commercial successes. One of these films was "Take A Giant Step" (1959). Returning to Britain, he made "Reach for Glory" (1961). This is his most shocking film about children. The children in this film, unlike his earlier films, are not innocents. They pick of the prejudices of their parents. His further films were a mixed bag. One interesting film was "Tamahine" (1963), an entertaining comedy with Nancy Kwan who plays an exotic South Sea Islander who enlivens the placid environment of a staid English public school. As his films were not commercial successes, Leacock returned to America where he worked in both films and television. His last film received critical acclaim--"Three Sovereigns for Sarah" (1985) which was about the girls involved in the Salem Whitchcraft Trials.

Setting

The beautiful scenery for "The Kidnappers" was shot in Scotland (Glen Affric and Glen Moriston), although depicting Canada (Nova Scotia). The indoors scenes were shot in London studios--a bit like Huntingtower".

Cast

The main characters were: Duncan Macrae - Granddaddy Jean Anderson - Grandma Adrienne Corri - Kirsty Theodore Bikel - Willem Bloem Jon Whiteley - Harry Vincent Winter - Davy Francis de Wolff - Jan Hooft Sr. James Sutherland - Arron McNab John Rae - Andrew McCleod Jack Stewart - Dominie Jameson Clark - Tom Cameron Eric Woodburn - Sam Howie Christopher Beeny - Jan Hooft Jr. Howard Connell - Archibald Jenkins The boys do a wonderful job with their roles. The older boy Harry is played by Jon Whiteley who also played the boy in "The Spanish Gardener". Vincent Winter played the younger boy. Both boys received special oscars. The children were coached by Margaret Thomson.

Plot

This engaging period film is about a Scots settlement in Canada (Nova Scotia) at the turn-of-the-20th century. Two Scottish orphans are sent to Canada to be raised by their dour grandfather (Duncan Macrae). The lonely boys, receiving little affection from their grandfather,y boys wanted a dog, but there grandfather will not permit them to have one. Then they come accross a baby in the woods which they decide would make a suitable alternative pet. There's a great ending but I won't give it away ....

Clothing

The boys wear knee britches with braces and coarse shirts as of the time - early 20th Century. Also scenes in the school have other boys similarly dressed, although Jan who Harry fights in the school yard is better dressed. Jan is the son of the doctor, a Dutch settler who the Scots call "Boers". Also when Harry is taken to court (held in the local store - it's a small community) for "kidnapping" the Dutch family's baby his young brother, Davy, is dressed up in a smarter suit with a sort of string tie. The dress designer was Joan Ellacott .

Reader Comments

A HBC reader writes, "I've seen the film before but forgot how good it was.







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Created: February 5, 2004
Last updated: February 5, 2004