Treasure Island (1950)

The treasure seeking adventures of young Jim Hawkins and pirate captain Long John Silver.

Director:

Byron Haskin

Writers:

Lawrence Edward Watkin (screenplay), Robert Louis Stevenson (story)

Stars:

Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bobby Driscoll	...	Jim Hawkins
Robert Newton	...	Long John Silver
Basil Sydney	...	Captain Smollett
Walter Fitzgerald	...	Squire Trelawney
Denis O'Dea	...	Dr. Livesy
Finlay Currie	...	Capt. Billy Bones
Ralph Truman	...	George Merry
Geoffrey Keen	...	Israel Hands
Geoffrey Wilkinson	...	Ben Gunn
John Laurie	...	Blind Pew
Francis De Wolff	...	Black Dog
David Davies	...	Mr. Arrow
John Gregson	...	Redruth
Andrew Blackett	...	Gray
William Devlin	...	Morgan

Storyline

Enchanted by the idea of locating treasure buried by Captain Flint, Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey and Jim Hawkins charter a sailing voyage to a Caribbean island. Unfortunately, a large number of Flint's old pirate crew are aboard the ship, including Long John Silver.

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Plot Keywords:

treasure map | sailing ship | treasure hunt | based on novel | child uses a gun | 

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Taglines:

a young cabin boy, a roguish buccaneer...match wits in a swashbuckling adventure!

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Genres:

Adventure | Family

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Disney's Official Site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 July 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,087,500, 31 December 1950

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,419,657

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions,Walt Disney British Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on January 29, 1951 with Bobby Driscoll reprising his film role.

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Goofs

When the pirates approach the inn we hear very strong winds but their clothing is not disturbed at all.

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Quotes

Opening title card: If sailor tales and sailor tunes, storm and adventure, heat and cold. If schooners, islands and maroons and buccaneers and buried gold, and all the old romance retold exactly in the ancient way can please as me they pleased of old the wiser youngsters of today... So be it!

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Alternate Versions

The 1975 re-release had some violent scenes removed in order to qualify for a G rating. These scenes were restored in the 1992 video release, and yet it still has a G rating.

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Connections

Version of Ostrov sokrovishch (1972)

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Soundtracks

Yo Ho Ho
(uncredited)
Written by Marcus Dods

User Reviews

Even with only one leg, Robert Newton's take on Long John Silver kicks ass on all other pirate portrayals; including Jack Sparrow!

I loved it!

There is just something about the classic old adventure movies which can't be found today. The colors, the stages and the costumes. It just brings out nostalgia. And the music scores sets the mood perfectly!

Saw it first time as a child. My father used to read the book for me. (I was a big fan of pirates).

The story by Stevenson is of course pretty great, and the movie remains true to it.

I'm not to familiar with the cast (It is the oldest movie on my shelf) but Bobby Driscoll provides a good take on young Jim Hawkins. And I really had a personal favorite in the character of Israel Hands played by Geoffrey Keen. He is perhaps best known for playing the British minister of Defence in many of the James Bond movies.

Furthermore I really liked the fact that Capt. Flint only remains mentioned through out the movie by name and actions. It makes his character a lot more terrifying and compelling.(For me it is without comparison the all time most intimidating character who is never shown on the screen. An introduction or flash back scene with an actor playing Flint would completely have destroyed this.)

But what really sells this picture and earned it a place among my all time favorites; is Robert Newton.

The way he brings the character of Long John Silver to live is breathtaking. You simply can get enough of him! His portrayal of the cunning and ruthless pirate is the definitive best there is! He completely brings the whole setting of the movie up to the next level and aboard a pirate ship and sets sail. Outstanding performance! Not only among pirate portrayals but in general. It burns through the screen.

He sets the standard on how to portray (and speak like) a great pirate persona. And so becomes his take on Long John the greatest pirate captain to sail the Seven Seas in movies. (Sorry Depp)

And his performance is the reason why it still stands as the, by far, best adaption of the story to the big screen. And perhaps the reason why no really major blockbuster remake have been tried. (My personal favorite to try on the role would be Daniel Day-Lewis. But I can't imagine any actor do better than Newton.)

The character of Long John also brought some of my favorite quotes. (Of cause spoken in true pirate tongue)

''Them that die will be the lucky ones!'' shouted at the start of the battle between the mutineers and the men loyal to the squire. And ''Oh, for ten toes!'' shouted when his fellows mutineers flees the battle leaving him behind. I will still rewind more than once to hear those.

I really enjoy watching this movie. And I do so once or twice a year.

It's a great swashbuckling pirate adventure that shouldn't be feared because of its old age.

And it turned out to be an honorable first jump into live action by Disney.

(A sequel was made. Rather poor. But nonetheless enjoyable due to Newton's performance in his return to the role as Long John)