The book by Robert Louis Stevenson:
- Awesome Ego: Alan. As David says:For though [Alan] had a great taste for courage in other men, yet he admired it most in Alan Breck.
- First Installment Wins: How many people even know that there was a sequel, let alone have read it? Catriona is so obscure that when the 1971 film of Kidnapped adapted part of it, a few people thought that part was invented for the film.
- Ho Yay: Alan and David.
- Also doubles as a bit of No Yay, once you remember that David is 18 and Alan is about 35... almost twice his age. Also, historically, Alan was forty at the time. If it helps, Alan says at a few points in the book that he loves David like a brother.
- Moral Event Horizon: Uncle Ebenezer crosses it when he tries to kill David. Mr. Shuan crosses it when he kills Ransome.
- The Woobie: Ransome.
The 1960 film:
- Retroactive Recognition: This was Peter O'Toole's feature-film debut; he plays Robin MacGregor.
