Actor(s): Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Walter Fitzgerald, Denis O'Dea
Director(s): Byron Haskin
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Binding: DVD
Brand: BUENA VISTA HOME VIDEO
Language(s): English
EAN: 9780788845147
ISBN: 0788845144
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Movie Description
Strap on your pantaloons and prepare to travel with Jim Hawkins and Blind Pew to one of the most famous fictional islands in history. Walt Disney's 1950 adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's swashbuckling masterpiece has held up extremely well, with action and characterizations that feel freshly minted (although it's unlikely that the Mouse of today would sanction the high level of booze flowing throughout the picture). Great fun, with nary a wasted frame and, in the character of Robert Newton's much-imitated Long John, one of cinema's most boisterously crowd-pleasing villains ever. (Proving that you can't keep a good--er, bad man down, Newton would return with director Byron Haskins for the enjoyable sequel, Long John Silver.) Watching this classic is like having a flashback to some perfect Technicolor childhood. --Andrew Wright
Ahoy, mateys! Come aboard the good ship Hispaniola and set sail in search of buried treasure in one of Disney's most critically acclaimed adventure classics -- presented in its original, uncut theatrical version! In his first all-live-action feature, Walt Disney has vividly brought to life Robert Louis Stevenson's timeless tale of buccaneers and buried gold. Authentic locales, rich color photography, and musket-roaring action set the stage for the stouthearted heroics of young Jim Hawkins (Bobby Driscoll) -- and the skullduggery of that wily, one-legged pirate of all pirates, Long John Silver. Aye, for the kind of excitement that only treasure and treachery can bring, there's no better destination than TREASURE ISLAND!
There is a technical issue with this DVD where it gets stuck on a chapter.
"Great Classic for Students to Watch."
Written By: D. Huff
My high school students will really enjoy this classic. We love to compare the book with the movie. These old movies are great for the classroom.
"Treasure Island (Walt Disney, 1951)"
Written By: Mary Evans
This is the best Treasure Island. Long John Silver is treacherously endearing. He has the best Pirate Talk and fits the part like it was made for him. There is action, and adventure.
"Not nearly as good as the Charleton Heston version."
Written By: Elvis Zombie
In 1990 TNT produced an original movie starring Charleton Heston as Long John Silver. Young Jim was played by a very young Christain Bale. Why this movie has never been released on DVD is beyond me, because the Disney version is awful. It's corny, stupid and dated. Honestly, the nostalgia people have for this film is the only reason it's ranked as high as it is. Do yourself a favor and hunt down TNT's Treasure Island on VHS. It's not the best format, but it is a far superior film.
"Decent but Dated"
Written By: E. David Swan
With Treasure Island you have to take the good with the bad. Being a Disney film from the 1950's the acting is served up with some thick slices of ham and most of the movie is clearly filmed on a sound stage. I would contrast this with the 2001 film Cast Away that was filled with stunning location shots on a remote island. The fact that it never feels like we actually leave the Disney sound stages does diminish the film for me but that is simply the way it was done back then. The centerpiece of the film is without a doubt Robert Newton as the one legged, parrot on his shoulder, Long John Silver. Newton has essentially become the template for the generic pirate and if you watch his acting now it feels hilariously clichd. After John Silver cleverly disposed of Mr. Arrow a eulogy was held and following the prayer Silver server up an `arRRRrmen'. I couldn't help but burst out laughing but I wasn't laughing at the film but with the semi-unintentional humor. It's not Disney's fault that Netwon's portrayal made such an indelible impact on our collective psyche that his very speech pattern has become the model of a cartoon pirate. On national `Talk like a Pirate' people are essentially speaking like Robert Newton whether they know it or not.
The film itself didn't blow me away. I found it rather dated and hokey which was not unexpected when watching a Disney film that's nearly sixty years old. There was one fight between the pirates and the rest of the crew of the Hispaniola that gave me a chuckle when the filmmakers used the old chestnut of putting paint on a sword and running it down the bare chest of a pirate to give the less than convincing illusion that that man was slashed. Newton's scenery chewing acting is fun but other actors take it a bit over the top to the point of distracting. I have a feeling the young viewers will find the film a bit boring when compared to modern special effects laden films and I have to confess that even I found it a bit plodding at times. It's a fairly faithful adaptation although the ending was slightly altered. Long John Silver steals a rowboat and paddles off into the sunset which seemed kind of funny since I was always under that impression that Treasure Island was a long way away from mainland. Treasure Island is good for a viewing but for me once was nice and I don't feel the need to actually own it. I would defintely suggest getting the original Robert Lewis Stenveson classic book.
"quality problem with DVD"
"Great Classic for Students to Watch."
"Treasure Island (Walt Disney, 1951)"
"Not nearly as good as the Charleton Heston version."
