In Search of the Castaways (1962)

Based on the novel Les enfants du capitaine Grant, by Jules Verne, first published serially between 1865 and 1867.

Captain Grant goes missing at sea, leaving two children in England. An elderly man (IMDB: "a scientist") contacts them saying he has found a message in a bottle with their father's whereabouts, only in a truncated text. With the help of a rich man (IMDB: "a shipping company owner") and his son, they all go on an expedition in search of the missing captain.

This is a fairly absorbing and inventive film, which favors childishness in the form of cartoon-like action sequences, caricature, and songs. Perhaps it would not be too unreasonable to see this as one more instance on the theme of Fatherhood, a recurring one in Western literature and movies until not so long ago.

I may have seen a cut version. The film starts already showing the French guy and the two kids trying to break in at the ship owner's party; an IMDB user says there is a version which includes initial scenes where the scientist finds the bottle and contacts the children.

Rating: 50