Treasure Island

if you have ever read the book by Robert Louis Stevenson, you will truly enjoy this movie. Robert Newton is the perfect Long John Silver. I cannot imagine another actor living up to the role the way he did. Sure, the acting may not be the best, and the screen effects may be bad, but you have to remember when it was made. It is a very good movie for its time, and quite an enjoyable one in mine. If you enjoy seafaring movies- See this one. If you like pirate flicks- this one will have you arrgging all night long.

When I think of Long John silver, I think of one quote, "Fortune sits on the shoulder of him what schemes."

'They don't make 'em like this any more'. I've heard that statement made many times and, in the case of this movie at least, it is very true. Disney's version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island sticks surprisingly close to the book - not perfectly, of course, but close enough. It is quite violent for a Disney movie, but a lot of the potential gore is not seen and even if it was, it would be pretty tame compared to what kids see these days even on television.

Well acted and scripted, this boasts an iconic turn by Robert Newton as Long John Silver. The movie is almost worth watching for that alone. This is where all pirate stereotypes we all accept and hold dear originated! The other actors are all great too. Special effects and a lot of the backdrops leave a lot to be desired but this was made in 1950 and they are certainly fine for the time. Only a real curmudgeon would mark the movie down on this score anyway.

I have no doubt that someone making a version of this story in 2021 would add new 'twists' and personal 'reimaginings' to the plot - and ruin the story in the process. It's nice to see a movie that respects its source material.

This is a great movie for kids and nice nostalgia for adults. See it.

Even though it does not stick 100% to the novel, it stays true to the spirit and idea of the book. A light-hearted and well done adaptation of a well-loved book. Casting is brilliantly done, particularly for the parts of Long John Silver and Squire Trelawney. Locations are amazingly picturesque and make the watcher feel like they are in the right world for a swashbuckling pirate adventure, thereby making it all the better for them. For Disney's first foray into the arena of live-action films, it is extremely well done and hopefully they will be able to recapture their former glory and go back to the days of Treasure Island, Mary Poppins, and other live-action masterpieces of their illustrious past.

Excellent film adaptation of the famous novel made in England at Denham Film Studios and using much of the Denham lake and the river Colne in the location sequences. Wonderful 50s technicolour and matte shots from Peter Ellenshaw to enhance the scenery. Robert Newton in great form as Long John Silver and Bobby Driscoll equally good as Jim Hawkins - not to mention the fine British cast of top rate character actors The latest Disney video is supposed to show the original full version BUT this is not the case - for one thing the death of Pugh under the coach wheels is left out as well as the other sequences cut for the '70s re-issue of the film. This is a great shame. I am not sure whether or not the DVD recent release is also produced minus these scenes

Because practically everyone knows the story of "Treasure Island", I don't bother summarizing it here...especially since this is a rather direct telling of the classic story with no weirdness like you'd find in "Treasure Planet".

So is this Disney-fied version any good? Yes. While I still prefer the MGM version of the 1930s, this one is quite nice with its full color and the fun (and far from subtle) performance by Robert Newton as Long John Silver. Nothing particularly out of the oridinary....just a solid incarnation of the old Robert Louis Stevenson novel and a decent movie you can watch with your family.