Walt Disney's Treasure Island

Robert Louis Stevenson's pirate story _is_ a children's fantasy. (Stevenson - whose grandson would later become one of Disney's "house directors" -- says as much in the book's introduction.) The principal characters are well-drawn and believable, but the story is 98% adventure. There is no _dramatic_ thrust to events. And it's told from the view of a 20-year-older Jim Hawkins, which tips off the reader that Jim is never in any real danger.

The emotional focus of the story is Jim's attraction to / repulsion by Long John Silver. In the novel, the adult Jim briefly acknowledges that he was attracted to Long John Silver as a surrogate for his recently deceased father, but turned away, because Silver is plainly untrustworthy. Stevenson fails to develop the relationship any further.

Not the screenwriters -- they bring it front and center. The story is now properly focused where it should be -- can Jim _really_ trust Long John Silver?

Silver is also worried about Jim, who plainly doesn't need "Piracy for Dummies" to recognize Silver is not altogether on the up-and-up. In a scene not in the book, Long John attempts to sweet-talk Jim -- one might even call it a seduction -- ending with the presentation of his parrot as a gift. The effect is subtly erotic -- especially as the gift comes from someone with such an obviously phallic name. (One is tempted to think Stevenson's name choice was deliberate -- he must have known how cabin boys were "mistreated.") And though Silver is married in the novel (to an unseen wife), the movie leaves his marital status unstated.

Long John Silver is a morally ambiguous character, and the film plays up this ambiguity. Silver alternates between protecting and threatening Jim, and you believe his sincerity in both instances. At the end, Jim is forced into deciding whether he should let Long John escape or be turned over to justice, completing the film with a solid dramatic "bang!" (The novel simply peters out -- Silver is taken captive, later wandering off with some of the loot.)

Robert Newton's interpretation of Long John Silver has always been controversial. There's no question it's totally "over the top." But that's how we expect pirates to behave, and it's how Stevenson wrote the character. I've seen "Treasure Island" several times -- Newton isn't simply chewing the scenery. His is a conscious interpretation, and he's in full control at all times. It's a great performance.


Arr, maties! Climb abord for a rip-roaring adventure!   March 19, 2004
Elisabeth (Moreno Valley, CA USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

The first time we watched this movie I watched it for about five minutes before walking away, because it wasn't interesting to me at the time. But when I caught the last twenty minutes of it, I decided that it was interesting after all and watched it from the beginning again.

I loved it! Bobby Driscoll was wonderful as Jim Hawkins, and Robert Newton gave the performance of his life as Long John Silver. The rest of the cast was also tremendous.

I had tried reading the book before, but it hadn't been interesting to me, and I ditched it before I was halfway done. Now, because of this movie, I think I'll dust it off and have a go at it. Who knows, I might even like it enough to review it! :)


One of Disney's Best   January 17, 2004
F. Adcock (Silsbee, Texas United States)
There have been several movie versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, going all the way back to the silent era, but I feel Disney's film is the best. Every version has a decent "Long John Silver" - among them Wallace Beery, Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, and even Mr. Magoo. But the entire mood of this film rests on Robert Newton's inspired "Long John". No other portrayal of a pirate has influenced more actors than Newton's, and his characterization has become the stereotype of every pirate performance ever since. Even a bit of "Long John" filters into Newton's portrayal of "Mr. Fix" in Michael Todd's "Around the World in 80 Days".

One important note: The cinematographer on this film was Freddie Young, who would later win Oscars for his camera work in "Lawrence of Arabia", "Doctor Zhivago", and "Ryan's Daughter".

Though this is a Disney film, there are some moments which may be a little too violent for younger children, hence the "PG" rating. Far better for Disney to give us the complete movie as originally filmed than to whack the print with a cutlass.

A must for any collection of seafaring flicks.