TREASURE ISLAND
UK/France/Italy/Spain/West Germany, 1972, 94 minutes, Colour.
Orson Welles, Kim Burfield, Walter Slezak, Ric Battaglia, Lionel Stander.
Directed by John Hough.
Treasure Island has been filmed many times. The Disney version of 1950, with Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins and Robert Newton doing his eye-rolling turn as Long John Silver, remains the classic version. (Newton starred in a sequel, made in Australia, Long John Silver as well as in a television series.)
This film follows the basic outline of the story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Kim Burfield is Jim Hawkins (and he appeared in only a few films at this period). Walter Slezak and Lionel Stander are veterans from the old days of European and Hollywood film-making. Slezak is Squire Trelawny and Stander, rather sounding like an American gangster, is Billy Bones. Italian actor Ric Battaglia is Captain Smollett and Spanish actor Angel del Pozo is Doctor Livesey.
But, of course, the star turn is by Orson Welles as Long John Silver. He is an immense presence, partly charming, partly sinister, mumbling his lines, an ambiguous character, especially in Jim Hawkins’ eyes. Welles is one of the main reasons for seeing this film.
Treasure Island was directed by John Hough, an English director who made a number of horror films including Twins of Dracula, Legend of Hell House.
1. The status of Robert Louis Stevenson and his classic? The appeal, to boys, to adults? The tradition of many film and television versions? The quality of this version?
2. A version of the seventies: a new look, fidelity to the text? The harking back to old-fashioned adventure styles? The contribution of Orson Welles in the writing and the portrayal of Silver? The narrative technique with Jim Hawkins explaining?
3. The quality of colour, English atmosphere in the 20th century, the landscapes of Treasure Island. the sea? Music?
4. The focus on Silver, the talk about him, Flint and his harsh tradition, his eventual appearance, friendly, suddenly becoming villain, his servile manner, his hold over his men, his wife, the takeover on the ship, his threats, his strategy on the island, the elusive villain and his escape? how likeable a villain, how bad a villain? His impact on Jim, on the audience, on the plot?
5. Identification with Jim Hawkins, a boy, his work, mother, home? Billy Bones and the secret map? His involvement with the pirates at the beginning? His joy in sailing? Overhearing the plot? His attempt to get to the stockade? The encounter with Ben Gunn, and working with him, his being captured, Silver and his violence and letting him go? His helping Silver? The climax?
6. The Admiral Ben Boy Inn. the work, his mother and the doctor, Billy Bones and his presence, the black spot and death? Blind Pew and the seeking of the map? The pirate thugs and their attack?
7. Dr. Livesey, Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollett? Their personalities, preparation for the voyage, the secrecy and the Squire's lack of it? Employing Silver, Israel Hands? The personalities of the crew and their violence?
8. The life on the ship, the mutiny, Smollett's care?
9. The island itself, landscapes, the scat the stockade? Hostility? The taking of the ship and Jim’s re-taking it? Ben Gunn and his appearance and disappearance?
10. Danger at the stockade, the search for the treasure? Dr. Livesey as providing the final solution? Ben Gunn and the treasure?
11. The discovery of the treasure and the happy ending?
