The Hostages (film)
{{Short description|1975 British film by David Eady}}
{{Other uses|Hostage (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = The Hostages
| image = The_Hostages_film_opening_titles_(1975).png
| caption = Opening titles
| director = David Eady
| story =
| producer =
| writer =
| screenplay = Michael Barnes
| narrator =
| editing =
| music = Harry Robinson
| starring =
| cinematography = Jo Jago
| studio = Eady-Barnes Productions
| distributor =
| runtime = 58 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
}}
The Hostages is a 1975 British children's adventure film directed by David Eady and starring Stephen Garlick, Jayne Collins, Peter Marshall, Julian Holloway and Robin Askwith.{{Cite web |title=The Hostages |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150055560 |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}} It was written by Michael Barnes and made by Eady-Barnes Productions for the Children's Film Foundation.
Plot
Escaped convicts Joe Blake and Terry Sladden break into a remote farmhouse while the owners are away, and kidnap three children as hostages.
Cast
- Stephen Garlick as Peter
- Jayne Collins as Kate
- Peter Marshall as Tim
- Lucinda Gorell-Barnes as Helen
- Ray Barrett as Joe Blake
- Robin Askwith as Terry Sladden
- Jeremy Bulloch as policeman
Critical reception
Monthly Film Bulletin said "Another extremely well-made children's thriller for the Children's Film Foundation which packs a good deal of tension into its brief running time, thanks to split-second editing and a fine eye for country locations. The young players are rather more natural than usual and, of the adults, Ray Barrett contributes a sharp sketch of the injured convict with a few finer feelings than his companion, played with a touch of early Widmark by Robin Askwith. The fact that the film closely resembles The Desperate Hours, as well as leaning on situations familiar from many American TV featurettes which children can see at any time, makes one feel that the CFF might now turn their talents to fresher material."{{Cite journal |date=1975 |title=The Hostages |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305843127 |journal=Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=42 |issue=492 |pages=218 |id={{ProQuest|1305843127}} |via=ProQuest}}
Home media
It was released on DVD in 2024 by the British Film Institute as part of Children's Film Foundation Bumper Box Vol. 5.{{Cite web |title=Children's Film Foundation Bumper Box Vol. 5 (DVD) |url=https://shop.bfi.org.uk/childrens-film-foundation-bumper-box-vol-5.html?srsltid=AfmBOootrtj4wVLLmXGAZo6s75DPthSoOX-Rnz6NZ3QzMvjQnzCmWDZI |access-date=2 February 2025 |website=BFI Shop}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0309686}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hostages, The}}
Category:1970s children's adventure films
Category:Films directed by David Eady
Category:British children's adventure films
Category:Children's Film Foundation