Movie Type: Sea Adventure, Family-Oriented Adventure
Themes: Kidnapping, Flight of the Innocent, Inheritance at Stake
Main Cast: Peter Finch, James MacArthur, Bernard Lee, Niall MacGinnis, John Laurie
Release Year: 1960
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Disney produced this historical adventure of old Scotland, based on the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. James MacArthur stars as David Balfour, a wealthy lad cheated out of his inheritance and sold into servitude by his duplicitous and greedy uncle, Ebenezer (John Laurie). Aboard the ship where he's been made cabin boy, David meets Alan Breck Stewart (Peter Finch), a Jacobite loyalist who thinks the vessel's skipper (Bernard Lee) is transporting him back to Scotland. When David learns otherwise, he and Alan become a team, escaping the ship and taking off across the Highlands. Accused falsely of murder, the pair must clear their names, evade redcoat troops, and restore David's fortunes. Although director Robert Stevenson was no relation to the famed author, the studio claimed otherwise at the time of the film's release, for publicity purposes. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Finlay Currie - Cluny MacPherson; Peter O'Toole - Robin Oig MacGregor; Miles Malleson - Mr. Rankeillor; Oliver Johnston - Mr. Campbell; John Pike - Cabin Boy; Andrew Cruickshank - Colin Roy Campbell; Abe Barker - Donald Dhu MacLaren; Eileen Way - Jennet Clouston; Alex Mackenzie - Ferryman; Richard Evans - Ransome, the cabin boy; Norman MacOwan - Tinker; Duncan MacRae - Gaelic-speaking scoundrel; Edie Martin - Woman on the bridge; Jack Stewart
Credit
Carmen Dillon - Art Director, Margaret Furse - Costume Designer, Robert Stevenson - Director, Gordon Stone - Editor, Cedric Thorpe Davie - Composer (Music Score), Muir Mathieson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Stuart Freeborn - Makeup, Frank Ernst - Production Designer, Paul Beeson - Cinematographer, Walt Disney - Producer, Vernon Dixon - Set Designer, Peter Ellenshaw - Special Effects, Robert Stevenson - Screenwriter
In eighteenth century Scotland, young David Balfour (James MacArthur) is directed by his recently-deceased father's letter to go to the House of Shaws, where he is greeted without much enthusiasm by his miserly uncle Ebenezer (John Laurie). An attempt to arrange a fatal accident makes it clear that Ebenezer has no affection for his nephew. However, David is not sufficiently on his guard. He accompanies Ebenezer to a meeting with a seafaring business associate, Captain Hoseason (Bernard Lee). The captain lures David aboard his ship and shanghais him, at Ebenezer's instigation.
At sea, David learns that he is to be sold into indentured servitude. However, a thick fog comes up and the ship collides with a boat. Alan Breck Stewart (Peter Finch), the only survivor of the latter, is brought aboard and pays for his passage, but the greedy captain plots to kill him for the rest of his money. David warns Alan, and the two are able to overcome the murderous crew. Alan coerces Hoseason into putting them ashore. The ship founders, but David manages to reach land alone.
After several dangerous encounters, he is rescued by Alan, who turns out to be a Jacobite wanted by the authorities. Evading the soldiers, the two make their way back to the House of Shaws, where Alan tricks Ebenezer into admitting his crimes within the hearing of a hidden witness, allowing David to claim his inheritance.
