Treasure Island [DVD] [1950]

The Virgin Film Guide Version II (1993) rates this version of Treasure Island with FOUR stars, quote: ... by far the best film version of the familiar Stevenson story.Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins is rather too young and "sweet" for the part, and Walter Fitzgerald's Squire Trelawney a bit too clueless. The initial scene at the Admiral Benbow Inn is too truncated for my taste, and the visuals just too "stage set". However, things improve as the story progresses and the ending (detail withheld for obvious reasons), although not quite as Stevenson has it in the book, is satisfactory.Referring to the book itself, I would strongly recommend having a copy to hand. The opening paragraph is an object lesson in fine prose - one sentence, clauses galore - enough to make the flesh quiver.My father (then serving in the Royal Air Force and a writer of stories himself) bought me a copy for my Seventh Birthday in 1942; the inscription reads: This is a real boy's book, and a man's too, so look after it and you will enjoy it for many years to come.Just so, and here I am reading it again in my eightieth year!

When this film was shot back in the mid 50's as there was no computer enhancement it was and is still a good old film.Compared to today's films it's wooden, the actors stiff, scenes most of them done in a studio but still good all the same. I liked it as I was only about 10 when it was made, but I still like to watch those films even now as I am in my 70's. A good family film .

While it takes liberty with the book the characterisation is very close. The main character is the boy Jim Hawkins played by an American which grates as all the test of the cast are British with many familiar faces. Robert Newton plays Long John Silver with a typical over acting method but he is magnificent Well worth seeing.. .

This is a genuine classic. Made in 1949 and released in 1950 despite its years still is an engaging and exciting tale. The Robert Louis Stevenson book is stronger but this Walt Disney version has all the boys,and girls I suspect,own telling of a classic tale without the Disney gloss. It would get five stars in review but for the quality of the print. It does deserve five stars though in every other respect

This is a first rate adaptation of the novel...well acted by the whole cast and thoroughly entertaing. Robert Newton is mesmerising as Long John...his performance aptly described as 'feverishly eyed' has become the bluprint for pirate characters since. It's a bit of a shame that an American was chosen to play Hawkins, as the accent is a little out of place, but Bobby Driscoll plays the part very well. It's a super film, I've always loved it and find myself talking like Newton's Long John for hours afterwards. Robert Newton who was born in Dorset and grew up in Cornwall was perfectly cast as the rum soaked west country pirate...and made the part his own.

i first saw this film in the cinema when i was eight years old, now at seventy two and a great grandmother, i bought it for my five year old grandson who is madly keen on anything to do with pirates because i knew it would be suitable family entertainment for a youngster because of it's lack of violence .he loves it, and i must admit i enjoyed watching it again too, and robert newton's marvellous portrayal of long john silver (which was lost on me when i was so young) was excellent, his wickedness tempered by just the right amount of compassion towards young jim hawkins turning him from a villain into an almost likeable rogue.little boys who are 'would be' pirates will love this film.

I bought this film 18 months ago and have just decided to watch it. For the first 10 minutes or so I was thinking it was rather routine fare for its time but then I began to find it quite captivating. Robert Newton's Long John Silver is gloriously over-the-top. He's scheming and duplicitous but totally lovable ! The way he says 'Aaaarrmen' at the funeral of a seaman whose death he engineered is totally in keeping with this.The story is not as straightforward as I thought it would be and there are lots of minor story twists to keep both young and old interested. The young American boy takes a good part as Jim Hawkins. It's a great film if you're young at heart.

Pure nostalgia!First saw this at age 8 in Worcester. Certain scenes and characters still with me today,70 years on: Blind Pugh comes to the Admiral Benbow-terrifying at the time and remains so in my memory! Billy Bones receives the black spot; Jim meets Long John - what a performance-the archetypical pirate!; Jim in the apple barrel;Jim's pursuit up the rigging by Israel Hands...and many more. Technically surpassed by many films since, but few so vividly imprinted as in the memory of this old man!