The Kidnappers

The Kidnappers

Year: 1953

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Philip Leacock

DramaComedyFamily

After losing their father in the Boer War, orphaned brothers Harry and Davy are sent from Scotland to live with their stern grandfather and gentle grandmother in Nova Scotia. The boys dream of a dog, but their grandfather refuses. When they discover an abandoned infant, they take the child in, only to suspect the baby may not be truly abandoned.

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Timeline – The Kidnappers (1953)

Trace every key event in The Kidnappers (1953) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Arrival at the Nova Scotia settlement

In the early 1900s, eight-year-old Harry and five-year-old Davy Mackenzie are sent to live with their stern grandfather and grandmother after their father's death in the Boer War. They relocate to a Scottish settlement in Nova Scotia, Canada. The boys yearn for a dog, but Grandaddy forbids pets and is strict about rules.

Early 1900s Nova Scotia, Canada
2

Finding the abandoned baby and the Rover idea

The brothers discover an abandoned baby and conceal it from the adults. They treat the infant as a substitute for the dog they cannot have. Davy asks if they should call the baby Rover.

Early 1900s Settlement
3

Grandaddy's land dispute with Jan Hooft

Grandaddy has a long-running dispute with Afrikaner Jan Hooft over ownership of a hill and will not accept the ruling that the land belongs to Hooft.

Early 1900s Settlement
4

Kirsty and Willem Bloem

Kirsty is in love with the local doctor Willem Bloem, who does not return her affection, suggesting he finds himself too old for her. Her situation reflects the strained social mores of the community.

Early 1900s Settlement
5

The baby is Hooft's daughter

It is revealed that the kidnapped baby is Jan Hooft's younger daughter, complicating loyalties and accusations. Harry is suspected because of the feud, but he insists he did not know the baby's identity.

After discovery Local settlement
6

Harry's trial at the trading store

Harry is put on trial in a makeshift court set up in the local trading store. He maintains that he did not know the baby's identity while the community watches.

After discovery Trading store, local settlement
7

Hooft's defense and the lesson about responsibility

Jan Hooft speaks up in Harry's defense, saying no harm was done and that the older daughter should have looked after her sister. The gesture shows how personal histories complicate the trial and its outcomes.

During trial Trading store
8

The threat of a corrective school

The court official suggests sending Harry to a corrective school, a proposal that horrifies Grandaddy. The clerk pulls back, proposing instead an investigation into the existence and locations of such schools.

During trial Trading store
9

Resolution and thanks

The investigation is urged, and Grandaddy thanks Hooft for defending Harry. The moment hints at a fragile reconciliation, though tensions remain beneath the surface.

After trial Trading store
10

Don't eat the babbie moment

A memorable moment occurs when Duncan Macrae's horror is visible as his grandson pleads, 'Don't eat the babbie.' The scene underscores the fear and potential brutality simmering in the family and community.

Climax Grandaddy's home
11

The mail-order plan for the red setter

Towards the end, Grandaddy, who cannot read or write, instructs Harry to write to a mail-order company to order the red setter they long for. He discovers a dog flyer tucked in one of his boots, giving them a path to obtain the dog.

End Home
12

Sacrifice and Rover's name

To pay for the dog, Grandaddy sells a prized possession, showing the extent of his sacrifice. Davy then voices that they will name the dog Rover, sealing the puppy's future in the family.

End Home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 10:50

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