DAVID RAYNER

I have just videoed this British classic off Channel 4 this afternoon and a good job that I did. For later, searching around the usual websites: amazon; HMV; Movies Unlimited, ect, I was amazed to find that this film is not available anywhere on video or DVD...not even in America (where it's known as The Little Kidnappers).

Surely, something as family orientated as this, with superb, award winning performances from the then eight years old Jon Whiteley and five years old Vincent Winter, should be available to buy in the shops. This film has high quality written all over it.

deckard

David, I agree entirely,the woeful lack of classic British film releases,is totally unacceptable,particularly on DVD.Within the next few years VHS will become more and more obsolete with the advent of cheaper DVD recorders with more functions.What happens to the film fans who only have, or can only get, copies of particular films on VHS and their VHS recorders breakdown and parts are obsolete?When music CD's were released, vinyl became almost non-existent within a couple of years,DVD/VHS will undoubtedly go the same way.It would be good if we could set up some form of action group to lobby the industry for more film availability,because film is an art form and aren't classic films our heritage?Erm.. I'll get off my soap box now........ :)

"and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock"

DAVID RAYNER

Well, Deckard, I've had a DVD player since Christmas and have less than a dozen films on DVD. These I only bought because they are wide screen versions of films I only have on video in pan and scan and are extremely unlikely to be issued on video in wide screen.

However, I am worried about the future of my very large video collection bought from shops and recorded off air over many years and what's going to happen when I have nothing to play them on anymore. Judging by the modern junk that pervades the shelves of the modern video / DVD stores, and which they don't seem to be able to even give away in the January sales, I feel sure there is more than enough room on the shelves for all classic British films of the 40's; 50's and 60's to be made available to buy. Films like The Kidnappers seem to be only made available to television companies to transmit every few years or so.

Incidentally, I was looking at The Kidnappers tonight in a Picture Show magazine I have in my collection and dated February 20th, 1954. It contains the name of the uncredited baby. The baby girl in the film was actually a baby boy and his name was Anthony Michael Heathcoat. I don't know what became of him, but if he is still alive, he would be around 51 or 52 years old by now. And you won't find that information in the All Movie Guide or on the Internet Movie Data base.

DB7

The Kidnappers

(just in case anybody's looking for it)

DAVID RAYNER

I somehow thought that Bob would have this film on video. There aren't many he hasn't got. They'll probably be NTSC recordings, though (hence the American title), so anyone interested, make sure your VCR can run NTSC tapes before ordering.

Hackett

I've got a first gen video of "THE KIDNAPPERS" it came out in a collection that included John Mills "THE OCTOBER MAN".

Yvonne

THE KIDNAPPERS.

So what's happened to the child actors? I saw Jon Whiteley in a TV Robin Hood once, still with the same broad Scottish accent. My favourite line is Vincent Winter saying, "Harry and me want a dog".

Yvonne

DAVID RAYNER

Sadly, Vincent Winter died of a heart attack six years ago, aged fifty. Jon Whiteley, as far as I know, is still with us and was 59 on February 19th. As far as I know, he is now an Historian of Art at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. I emailed the museum a few weeks ago, asking them to confirm this, but so far, I have received no reply.

Vincent's other films include Time Lock (1957); Greyfriars Bobby (1960) and The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963). He later became an assistant director.

Jon only made five films before retiring from the screen in 1957 at the age of 12. These were Hunted (1952); The Kidnappers (1953), for which he and Vincent won Academy Awards; Moonfleet (1955), his only Hollywood film; The Spanish Gardener (1956) and The Weapon (1957).

paulsroom

I recorded a curiosity of a film from Channel 4 called "The Magnet" (1950) and starring James Fox aged thirteen. Although his stage name at that time was William Fox and he was billed under this name. It's now out on dvd and as usual with films of this period, the diction, manners and social scene seems a world away. Not a particuarly thrilling story, but interesting from the point of view the career of James Fox and the attitudes of the time.

fay4560

Hello everyone
Does anyone have any pictures of Vincent Winter? or know where i can get any? more in his later years (not that he was old) I am doing my family history and I have just found out he's my 2nd cousin, My dad said his mother always called him Vincent as she liked Vincent Price, but was told Vincent wasn't his proper name, but maybe it was. I know his mothers name (Irene) but not sure of his fathers christian name. Any help or info would be great
Thanks Fay

dhaynes221

Does anyone know where I could obtain a copy of this film? I tried Amazon, but they don't list it. Would gladly purchase it on a British Film Collection esp. in DVD format. Thanks.

aphra

I have a good recording of this film and can make an NTSC DVD. Write to my Hotmail address, or send me a PM if you are still looking for it.

batman

oops ...

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"