It's directed by Robert Stevenson, screenplay by Robert Stevenson, from the novel by Robert Stevenson -- the other one. When I was young enough to be fuzzy on such details, I concluded that he used the shorter version of his name for movie projects, but "Robert Louis Stevenson" for books, because... well, because. This was something I planned to do, and even had a pseudonym planned for such projects I envisioned in which I would wind up wearing many hats; I would be modest about proclaiming my immense achievements and good looks.
In any case, there is something about this fine version that, typically for many Disney live-action movies, always bothered me: they seemed more filmed stories than people living an exciting adventure, and the jokes in the comedies seemed planned and forced. Looking at this movie, I wonder how much of that sense of non-involvement is caused by the back-projection work, and the shots of James MacArthur and Peter Finch looking over the same bit of heather-decorated rocks -- at two different locations. It's not to say that MacArthur isn't ok as the young Balfour, that Finlay Currie isn't the Scottish laird as he seemed born to be, and certainly Peter Finch gives one of his most entertaining performances in a career in which he seemed defined by a sort of bland creepiness. It's just there's something about the Disney live-action movies which proclaimed their artificiality to me.
In any case, there is something about this fine version that, typically for many Disney live-action movies, always bothered me: they seemed more filmed stories than people living an exciting adventure, and the jokes in the comedies seemed planned and forced. Looking at this movie, I wonder how much of that sense of non-involvement is caused by the back-projection work, and the shots of James MacArthur and Peter Finch looking over the same bit of heather-decorated rocks -- at two different locations. It's not to say that MacArthur isn't ok as the young Balfour, that Finlay Currie isn't the Scottish laird as he seemed born to be, and certainly Peter Finch gives one of his most entertaining performances in a career in which he seemed defined by a sort of bland creepiness. It's just there's something about the Disney live-action movies which proclaimed their artificiality to me.