The Kidnappers (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1953, The Kidnappers is a comedy, drama and family film directed by Philip Leacock, running about 93 minutes. “The frankly sentimental story of love, hate and adventure in a primitive land!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. After losing their father in the Boer War, orphaned brothers Harry and Davy must leave their home in Scotland to live with their grandmother and cantankerous grandfather in Nova Scotia. The boys want nothing more than a pet dog, but their grandfather refuses to get them one. Then, when the brothers find an abandoned baby, they decide to keep it – but the foundling may not have been abandoned after all.
Who’s in it. The Kidnappers stars Jean Anderson as Grandma MacKenzie, Adrienne Corri as Kirsty, Theodore Bikel as Dr. Willem Bloem and Duncan Macrae as Jim MacKenzie, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Kidnappers has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can stream it on ITVX Premium. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Kidnappers page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Kidnappers tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Kidnappers (1953)?
- In GB, The Kidnappers is available to stream on ITVX Premium. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Kidnappers worth watching?
- The Kidnappers holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Kidnappers?
- The Kidnappers stars Jean Anderson, Adrienne Corri, Theodore Bikel, Duncan Macrae and Vincent Winter.
- When was The Kidnappers released?
- The Kidnappers was released in 1953, with a runtime of about 93 minutes.