Kidnapped (2005/WGBH)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C- Episodes: B
Robert Louis Stevenson has written classic books like Dr.
Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and Treasure Island, but Kidnapped is
among those classics, but is not as well known. Part of the reason is that it is not adapted to film enough. The new 2005 two-part British TV production
is really good and brings to life a tale long overdue for revival.
The story is about young David Balfour (James Pearson) and
the passing of his father. He is told
to go see his uncle and get his inheritance, but he is instead betrayed and
sold into slavery upon a ship to get rid of the boy. Yes, this is the first major production since the Disney feature
film 45 (!!!) years ago, though Michael Caine did one in the early 1970s with
mixed commercial results we would love to see, but this 150 minutes long
version is never boring.
“Davie” has to survive the sea, pirates, thieves, robbers,
revolutionaries, government soldiers, illness, starvation and other twists and
turns. This is some of the best
material Masterpiece Theater has broadcast in years and should consider
doing the sequel book in a few years.
Hard as it may be, the production captures the spirit of the book and
Stevenson, which is not easy to do. With
al the Fantasy and high seas adventure being produced of late, this Kidnapped
puts many a feature film in the same filed to shame. Don’t miss it.
The letterboxed 16 X 9/1.78 X 1 image once again is not
bad, though one wishes it was anamorphic.
With that said, it is newly shot by Geoffrey Hall and always interesting
to watch with its models and digital graphics showing how the scientists
involved trace all their theories through.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds, but is a recent recording
with good fidelity. Extras are the
usual WGBH weblink and DVD-ROM printable educational materials, but that is
all.
- Nicholas Sheffo
