Product Description A romantic comedy based on real events from 18th century Ireland. A group of abductors kidnap usually willing young women and try to persuade them to wed. However, the local militia are tipped off when Strang (Matthew Rhys) is expelled from the club after falling in love with one of the girls. This mismatched couple, Strang and Anne (Sophia Myles), face a formidable challenge to survive once the militia are aware of the existence of the club. .co.uk Review "We are gentlemen brought together by necessity!" So goes the thinking behind The Abduction Club, the name of a wily gang of penniless 18th-century chaps who attempt to cure their singledom by swiping wealthy heiresses from the comfort of their own homes. The aim? To sweet talk them into marriage by morning, securing their future in the manner to which they are accustomed with the aid of the lady's hefty dowry. Daniel Lapaine and Matthew Rhys are two loveable rogues who get more than they bargain for with the feisty Kennedy sisters (Alice Evans and Sophia Myles), who give them a run for their money. But, with their family in hot pursuit, the question is: will the girls ever relent and fall for the boys? And if so, what will their folks say? Based on true events, the whole setup of The Abduction Club is dubious, intended to be overlooked by the fact that these abductors are rather handsome, so of course the ladies don't mind being kidnapped. But to launch a moral tirade against such a frivolous film would be as ludicrous as some of the oversized wigs and corsetry on offer here. There is some dodgy acting and some even more unsteady scripting, but The Abduction Club is just a genial romp that aims to amuse, and little else. On the DVD: The Abduction Club disc is completely bereft of any additional material apart from a trailer. --Laura Bushell
A**K
Fantastic - Loved It
June 2008 - Loved it so much I purchased both the DVD and VHS the next day. I will be watching this many times over and am pleased it is part of my collection. Oh where is a time machine when you need it. Love the 1700s yes life was short but it is the quality not the quantity that matters. Just made my day and brought stunning colour into an ordinary rainy day. I just saw it quite by chance and thought oh goodness this is FANTASTIC!
K**R
Be ready to be swept off your feet
This film is fab fab fab. The dresses, big houses and gardens are beautiful, hehehe the gentleman are too. It's quite funny. Made me giggle. Have to say i don't like wide screen. But glad to finally own the dvd. Too all girls out there if you like romantic films this dvd is definitely for you. Be ready to be swept off your feet. Put the kids to bed, bring the tea and biscuits in before you start the film. Hope you enjoy this film.
C**A
Entertaining Irish Period Romp
This is a nice little period romp with a decent script and a cracking good original score by Shaun Davey, the Irish composer probably most famous for his Brendan Voyage suite. The acting is decent, even though the cast includes no huge international stars. The four young leads are likable and turn in solid performances, as do the rest of the cast, albeit some in far less likable roles. Liam Cunningham, in particular, is quite delicious as the manipulative John Power. Filmed entirely on location in Ireland, this is a beautiful film that will keep the entire family nicely entertained on a rainy Sunday afternoon.The abduction clubs did, apparently, really exist in Ireland, but the characters in the film are all fictional. With the estates going to the eldest son, the younger sons of the landed gentry had little or no prospect of securing suitable wives. Their only way to avoid becoming a clergyman or leaving the country to seek their fortunes elsewhere, was to marry a rich heiress. These younger brothers banded together and abducted the daughters of wealthy families. In the case of this film, it is a pair of sisters who are being abducted. The elder of them, the rather stroppy Catherine, is not impressed with her abductor Garrett Byrne, while the younger one, Anne, who is coveted by the rich and much older John Power, is quite smitten with Byrne's companion Strang and insists on coming along with the abductors to be with him. Their father and Anne's suitor Power are determined to retrieve the two girls and capture their abductors.The DVD has English subtitles for the hard of hearing. Picture and sound quality are good. By way of extras there is only a trailer.
M**T
Sadly so...predictable
I carried on watching this despite my brain telling me to stop...I wish I had listened to my brain. This was predictable and did not make up for it by being oh so romantic. It was dull and felt long, find something better to do with your time, like reorganising your sock drawer :Z
C**E
A hard to find little gem
I love this film and have looked for it for years but couldn't get the English version so I was thrilled when I saw this by chance.The DVD arrived well packaged and in pristine condition and at a bargain price.As for the film it was just as good as I remembered the cast were great and the film a great mix of romance,drama,action and humour.I highly recommend it.
L**D
Period romp.....
Good period romp.Gentlemen antics, ladies in corsets on horse back.Guns , chases, longing looks and a good story.What’s not to enjoy.Harmless historical fun and games.Worth the watch.
L**S
Perfection
Definitely a favourite. No sex, no violence, just a brilliant fast-paced romance with some comedy thrown in for good measure. Great cast and wonderful storyline based (loosely) on real events. I can't understand why this didn't receive better ratings when it came out, because it's just perfection....if you like this sort of thing, which I do.
K**R
Light, Clever Escapism
Loved it for several reasons: (1)This is not a dreamed-up scriptwriter's tale. Abduction clubs really existed in Ireland in the 18th century. Improvements in inheritance laws would eventually make them unnecessary, but for a time, abduction was a way to snare a monied bride. (2)These fictitious characters are really quite funny, or at least what happens to these two smart-aleck, good-looking rogues when they take on the Kennedy sisters is. (3)The film has a quick pace and one does not have to worry much about how it will turn out. Sometimes you just want a film like that. Too bad it has never been released in the United States. I watched it in Europe. Some critics found it distasteful and degrading to women, but I am an American career woman and I enjoyed it. Come on, U.S. distributors, why are you not picking this one up?
B**H
One Star
Not so good
G**A
divertissant
Un petit film divertissant et plaisant, avec de bons acteurs dans l'ensemble. Les personnages, leur caractère et leur personnalité, auraient pu être plus fouillés, mais l'idée de base pour le scénario est intéressante. Une certaine maîtrise de la langue anglaise est nécessaire (notamment par rapport au vocabulaire de l'époque) mais sinon on arrive à bien suivre.
M**A
Davvero carino
I saw this movie for the first time in London when I was young and i immediately loved, years later i finally found the title and I brought it. Really cute and light, recommended for those who like romantic comedies and films set in the 18th century.
T**N
Spannend, unterhaltsam und sexy -ein echter Geheimtipp
"Vorbereitung ist alles". Diesen Satz vom Vorstand des "Entführerclubs" hätte sich Byrne besser hinter die Ohren geschrieben. Aber überzeugt von seinem Charme entführt er kurz nach seiner ersten Begegnung Miss Kennedy aus ihrem Elternhaus. Dummerweise ist die Entführte überhaupt nicht begeistert, einen mittellosen Mitgiftjäger zu ehelichen. Zudem hat Byrnes Freund Strang auch noch die jüngere Schwester, Anne Kennedy, mitgenommen. Jetzt mobilisiert der Verlobte Annes die Rotröcke und alarmiert sogar den Generalstaatsanwalt. Dermaßen unter Beschuss bleibt den Freunden nur noch die Flucht. Zusammen mit den entführten Frauen, die zwar eine gewisse Abenteuerlust, aber wenig Neigung zum Heiraten zeigen, fliehen sie zu der nächsten Küste um dem Galgen der Staatsgewalt zu entgehen...Der Film greift eine historische Idee aus dem 18. Jahrhundert auf, die als Grundlage der romantisch verwegenen Komödie dient. Da nur der Älteste Sohn erbberechtigt war, blieb den jüngeren Söhnen nur das Soldatenleben oder der geistliche Stand. Doch die irischen Junggesellen waren findig und so schlossen die vom Schicksal wenig Beglückten sich zusammen um reiche Erbinnen zu umgarnen und sie dann für eine Nacht zu entführen. Willigten die Entführten dann in eine Heirat ein, wurden sie sofort getraut. Im anderen Falle wurde das Mädchen wohlbehalten am nächsten Morgen zurück gebracht.Da die dargestellte Entführung jedoch nicht nach Plan gelingt, ist für reichlich Spannung und Abenteuer gesorgt. Außerdem merkt man den Schauspielern an, wie viel Freude sie an ihrer Darstellung haben und dies trägt ebenso zu einem Wohlfühlgefühl beim Zuschauer bei.Auf die DVD wurde ich durch die Empfehlung von Amazon aufmerksam gemacht. Die Beschreibung und die positiven Rezensionen haben mich überzeugt. Und nachdem ich den Film nun selbst gesehen habe, kann ich selbst den guten Tipp weitergeben.
M**.
Fun movie
Really enjoyed this movie!! Because it's a Region 2 movie, I can only watch it on my computer since I don't have a multi-region dvd player. Maybe they will make a Region 1 dvd of this movie soon? It's a great romantic period movie with a happy ending. Have watched it numerous times already -- love the characters, the romance, the humor, the scenery (Ireland).
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