The Abduction Club (2002)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Stefan Schwartz

Writers:

Bill Britten (writer)
Richard Crawford (writer)

Release Date:

19 July 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It'll steal your heart.

Plot:

A group of Irish noblemen kidnap girls in order to marry into their fortune and avoid becoming priests or soldiers. |

Plot Keywords:

Kidnapping

Cast

Alice Evans	...	Catherine Kennedy
Daniel Lapaine	...	Garrett Byrne
Sophia Myles	...	Anne Kennedy
Matthew Rhys	...	James Strang
Liam Cunningham	...	John Power
Edward Woodward	...	Lord Fermoy
Patrick Malahide	...	Sir Myles
John Arthur	...	Robert Kennedy
Tom Murphy	...	Knox
Terry Byrne	...	Mary Nugent's Father
Guy Carleton	...	Butler
Fedelma Cullen	...	Mary's Mother
Alexander Downes	...	Lieutenant
Halina Froudist	...	Serving Woman
Peter Gaynor	...	Teeling

Also Known As:

Entführer & Gentlemen - The Abduction Club (Germany) (DVD title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

UK | France | Ireland | Germany

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 (cut) | Netherlands:6 | Germany:12 | Australia:M

Company:

Canal+

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Strang is fighting Power on the beach he is using a wooden boat hook (with only a metal hook on the end). When the shaft of the boat hook and the sword clash they make the sound of metal on metal.

Quotes:

Strang: [in italian] I pity those who have not looked upon your face. How barren their dreams must be.
Anne Kennedy: That's beautiful. What does it mean?
Strang: What?
Anne Kennedy: ...What does it mean?
Strang: oh... well... it's an old Italian proverb
Anne Kennedy: Yes, but what does it mean?
Strang: well, well... it means... well it actually means "Landlord, bring me another bowl of your finest pickled eggs"

Pleasant

I found this great little period romance to be very pleasant. It was predictable and corny but what could you expect from a period romance - that's why we watch them right? The scenery was terrific and certainly added to the romance of the film. I liked the humour between the male characters and found the dialogue of the film to be quite funny overall. The female characters, while certainly great eye candy were a little stilted in language and action, although I preferred Sophia Myles playing Anne to Alice Evans slightly lacklustre and wooden Catherine. I thought Matthew Rhys stole some of the limelight from Daniel Lapaine with his more affable portrayal of a destitute second son marrying for money rather than love, in truth I found Strang a more attractive character than Byrne. If anyone was looking for a serious period drama I would not recommend this movie but for some light romance with a touch of swashbuckle, obligatory sword play and excellent scenery I would not hesitate to suggest seeing "The Abduction Club".