THE ABDUCTION CLUB
Year: 2002
UK: Pathe Distribution
Cast: Daniel Lapaine, Matthew Rhys, Sophia Myles, Alice Evans, Edward Woodward, Liam Cunningham, Patrick Malahide, Tom Murphy, John Arthur, Frank Laverty, Peter Gaynor, Vincent Walsh, Ben Palmer, Michael Grennell, Patrick Leech, Richard Owens, Amy Sheils, Terry Byrne, Alexander Downes, Maire O'Neill, Fidelma Cullen, Guy Carleton, Liz Loyd, Noel O'Donovan, Halina Froudist, Sharon Hogan
Director: Stefan Schwartz
Country: UK
UK: 96 mins
UK Certificate: 12 contains some moderate violence and horror
UK Release Date: 19 July 2002
Synopsis
A fresh and funny romantic adventure, THE ABDUCTION CLUB is inspired by real events in Ireland in the late 1700s. With wealth and title destined to go to their elder brothers, the younger sons of wealthy Irish families were left penniless. To secure their financial futures, these young gentlemen formed 'abduction clubs' - stealing away young heiresses for one night, to charm them into marriage. Byrne and Strang, two handsome, dashing young abductors, target the beautiful, feisty Kennedy sisters, Catherine (Alice Evans) and the younger feisty Anne (Sophia Myles), daughters to gambling nobleman Robert Kennedy (John Arthur) - but find that with these young women they've bitten off more than they can chew...!
After the kidnap attempt is very nearly bungled, the girls make it clear it will take more than one night of "charming" to talk them into marriage. With the cold-hearted Power (Liam Cunningham, Dog Soldiers, Revelation) in hot pursuit of the sisters, one of whom he is intent on marrying, Byrne and Strang take the two girls on the run with them. As they gallop across the glorious Irish countryside, Strang's task is to keep Anne entertained whilst Byrne sets about changing Catherine's opinion of him.
Meanwhile Powers manages to implicate his love rivals in the death of a Redcoat soldier, and duly enlists the help of good friend, Attorney General Lord Fermoy (Edward Woodward), to order the immediate arrest of Byrne and Strang. Soldiers are quickly deployed, and the two bachelors find themselves running for their lives, whilst protecting an increasingly smitten Catherine and Anne from harm
Directed by Stefan Schwartz (Shooting Fish) and produced by Neil Peplow of Gruber Productions (Shooting Fish, Mike Bassett: England Manager, Waking Ned), THE ABDUCTION CLUB is a thrilling adventure set against a backdrop of breathtaking Irish landscapes. Packed with swashbuckling romance, treachery and intrigue, THE ABDUCTION CLUB is guaranteed to kidnap your attention from start to finish.
DVD EXTRAS
Certificate: 12
Language: English
Subtitles: English/Hard of Hearing
Original Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (16 x 9)
Sound Quality: 5.1 Surround
Special Features: Theatrical Trailer