Kidnapped!

[Galant]

Don't know if anyone else mentioned it, but I caught the second half of the first part of Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Kidnapped' on PBS last Sunday. The second half will be on next Sunday. In the evening. You can check www.pbs.org for info. It's a Masterpiece Theatre adaptation of Stevenson's classic about a young Scottish lad who, in trying to get his inheritance gets caught up in adventure with highlander Alan Breck.

[auld argonian]

Saw it! Loved the part where the mysterious little old woman whips the cover off the hidden loom to reveal that she's weaving tartan in defiance of the law. Quite swashbuckling and some great - but really austere - scenery.

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[highlander_Daz]

I rmember this being in the paper last year-has NewZealand masquerading as Scotland tut tut

[MacConnachie]

I rmember this being in the paper last year-has NewZealand masquerading as Scotland tut tut

Big whup. I don't mean to sound overly insensitive (as in most cases, nominally insensitive will suffice), but there are numerous locations around the world which masquerade as Montana, for instance, notably several in the prairie provinces of Canada. Why? Because the tax breaks and other incentives for film-makers there -- wherever "there" is -- are better than those available to companies who may be considering filming in the state, itself.

Hmmm, let's see. . . I think various locations in Ireland "masqueraded" as scenic portions of Scotland and England in Braveheart (whatever one may think of the historical inaccuracies of Gibson's film). I think the whole Irish locales filming package was much more attractive to Gibson's production crew, as contrasted with what resulted from their overtures to Scotland. So, if Scots would like to see more films made in Scotland, let them figure out ways in which to make it more attractive for film-makers to do so.

Just my opinion, naturally . . .

[Colin]

See if you can find the old Michael Caine movie of the same name. He looks completely campy in his tartan suit.

[Woodsheal]

I watched Part 1 and was thouroughly disappointed. It strayed significantly from the book.
The old Disney version was better, and it was Peter O'Toole, not Michael Caine, who briefly appeared as Rob Roy's son in full Highland dress, and uttered, "I can pipe like a MacKrimmon!" when challenged by Allan Breck to a contest....

[davedove]

Because the tax breaks and other incentives for film-makers there -- wherever "there" is -- are better than those available to companies who may be considering filming in the state, itself.

Another reason, especially when filming "European" scenes is that the scenery just doesn't exist at the actual location anymore. In the last couple of centuries, Europe (especially western Europe) has become much more inductrialized and populated. So in many cases, a valley where some event occured now is covered by a town.

[macwilkin]

I watched Part 1 and was thouroughly disappointed. It strayed significantly from the book.
The old Disney version was better, and it was Peter O'Toole, not Michael Caine, who briefly appeared as Rob Roy's son in full Highland dress, and uttered, "I can pipe like a MacKrimmon!" when challenged by Allan Breck to a contest....

I agree that the Disney version is better; Disney does do a very good job in some of his films with historical "tidbits", such as having Allan dressed in a French uniform, since many Jacobites served in the French Army, rather than being dressed in head-to-toe in Tartan! BTW, I thought Peter Finch was one of the best Allan Breck Stewarts in film; whilst his accent wasn't the greatest, that is how I envisioned Allan when I read the book.

The line about the MacCrimmons and piping was great as well -- how many Americans at the time of the film were aware of the connection?

Cheers,

Todd

[Galant]

Well, I've never read the book or seen another version - and I enjoyed it. It did seem a little weak in points, but I just enjoyed something of the genre, the tale, and the decent production quality.

[auld argonian]

Slightly OT but since it was touched on in the thread:

They've shot films that were supposed to be set in Chicago in Vancouver so many times I feel like I'm being gypped: if it was Vancouver, at least I'd have more kilt nights to attend.

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