TREASURE ISLAND

US, 1950, 96 minutes, Colour.
Robert Newton, Bobby Driscoll, Walter Fitzgerald, Basil Sidney, Denis O'Dea, Geoffrey Wilkinson, Ralph Truman.
Directed by Byron Haskin.

Treasure Island is a highly entertaining Disney film made in Britain. Bobby Driscoll, a regular Disney star of the '40s, is very good as Jim Hawkins. Robert Newton made the part of Long John Silver his own (and was in the Australian film of the same name and the subsequent television series). The supporting cast is strong in British character actors led by Basil Sydney and Finlay Currie.

The film was written by Lawrence E. Watkin, who also wrote Disney action films of the '50s: Rob Roy, Robin Hood, The Sword and the Rose. It was directed by former cinematographer, Byron Haskin who made the sequel, Long John Silver, and worked in a number of science fiction films with George Pal.

The film captures the atmosphere of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel. It had been filmed in the '30s with Jackie Cooper and Wallace Beery. It was remade by John Hough in the early '70s with Orson Welles as Long John Silver. This film remains a definitive version.

1. An entertaining film? Adventure? For family audiences? Boys' audiences?

2. The British locations, atmosphere of the 19th. century, the action at sea, Treasure Island itself? Special effects? Rousing musical score?

3. The popularity of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel? Characters? Familiarity? The quality of the screenplay? The actors bringing the characters to life successfully?

4. Treasure island as the story of Jim Hawkins? His work at the inn? Captain Bones, the Black Spot and his tear? The encounter with Long John Silver and the sailors? The treasure hunt aboard the Hispaniola? Friendship with Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney? Squire Trelawney telling the news around the town? Aboard the ship, his work there, his friendship with Long John Silver? His being taken in by Long John's deceit? Long John admiring Jim? The revelation of the piracy? The adventures and the clashes? Landing on the island? The stockade and the battles? The encounter with Ben Gunn? The attempt to escape in the rowboat and Jim's decision to let Silver go? A young boy's adventure, his point of view of the pirates, the battles, the dangers on the ship ? from Israel hand? The dangers on shore?

5. Robert Newton's performance as Long John Silver? Newton's mannerisms used well tor the character? His appearance, clothes, one leg, parrot? 'Pieces of Eight'? His insinuating himself into Jim's friendship? His desire to get the map? His ingratiating manner with Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney? his manner on the ship? As cook? Seemingly friendly? A magnetic character? His lack of scruples? The revelation of the truth, his leadership, the reaction of the pirates? His putting the Squire and the company ashore? The quest for the treasure? Ben Gunn? The battles and the stockade? His confrontation with Jim? His admiration for him? Jim's letting him go ? to live another day?

6. Squire Trelawney and the treasure hunt? Dr. Livesey? Their characters? Friendship with Jim? Trusting Long John Silver? The voyage and its dangers? The adventures?

7. The film as a pirate film ? audience interest in pirates, the atmosphere of the 17th. and 18th. century, the taking of ships, the hiding of treasure? Loyalty and disloyalty amongst the pirate group? Long John's leadership? A band of cutthroats, their willingness to rebel, their cruelty, the stockade, the battles? Israel Hand and his treachery?
The characters of the other pirates? Ben Gunn and his having been left on the island, his madness, the discovery of the treasure?

8. The perfect ingredients for imaginative action adventure? Old traditions of good and evil, heroism and villainy? Filmed with the expert touch?