Good concept, poorly executed.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

A Disappointing Continuation

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

" FIRE THAT MUSKET! AND I CUTS HIS THRRROAT! "One of the best Technicolor films and probably the best pirate film ever made, Disney's timeless production of Treasure Island hits on all marks and is just as watchable today as it was in 1950. I'd say it's the supremely excellent casting that's the single most important reason why this movie is so good. Robert Newton's iconic performance as Long John Silver never fails to light up the screen and his sidekick, the precocious youth Jim Hawkins (the only American in the cast) is charismatically played by a young Bobby Driscoll; plus several other seasoned English stage actors in varying roles, I say "actors" exclusively, because most unusually, there isn't a single female role in the entire movie. Special mention must be made of the great performances of Long Johns pirate crew, especially surly cut-throats like "George Mary" and "Israel Hands, master mariner for hire" often on the verge of mutiny, some real colorful and salty seamen form the ranks of Captain Long John's posse. But it's Robert Newton's portrayal of Long John Silver that steals the show, in every scene he's in, a superlatively amazing and over-the-top performance. Words fail to sum up just how awesome and entertaining his performance is. Thrilling stuff indeed.Is their anyone who really doesn't know the plot to this story??? Well for those of you who don't (how is that possible) all the hints you need lay within the two words that form it's title. Once on the island you're likely to find yourself chuckling from the ramblings and antics of Old Ben Gunn, a mangy, silver-haired, goat-skin wearing marooned-loon of a man, who "Many's a night I drreeamed of cheese... toasted mostly". This guy's a riot, while making the most of his brief screen-time, watch him run about fleet-footed over the sand dunes and through the tropical foliage, often accompanied by tinkering xylophones, Old Ben Gunn proves to be the zaniest of side-character's. With comic relief aside, rest assured there is plenty of action, bloodshed and treachery with musket's firing and sabre's flashing - cannon fire too. Along with the usual weapons, this movie is armed to the teeth with something else, that being Pirate Slang; the movie is literally swimming in it, practically every single character that has a speaking role has some old-timey sailors slang in their vocabulary, especially Long John Silver he really lay's it on thick and it's a total pleasure to hear all these colorful old sayings, that you don't hear anywhere else. Anyway, as it comes as no surprise the good guys inevitably prevail in the end, in a volley of musket-fire and they find what they were looking for on TREASURE Island, marking the end of an infinitely entertaining, virtually flawless Technicolor adventure film. One of the best films of the year 1950, just maybe thee best.I believe this movie was filmed entirely in various locales in and around merry old England, if so they did an extremely convincing job of projecting the look of a tropical island. Treasure Island maybe not be a super-production by today's standards, but none the less, Walt dropped a sizeable pile of doubloons into this film and I think it shows, boasting consistently strong production values and a rousing musical score by Clifton Parker (newly recorded and available on Chandos Records for those interested). I've seen a few other..... attempts, at this quintessential pirate's tale over the years (MGM's 1934 version and the lifeless Charlton Heston version from 1990) and compared to this one, they all pretty much suck. The resounding excellence that Disney was able to achieve in 1950 has yet to be matched, let alone bettered and proves without a doubt, that this production of Treasure Island is THE definitive version of this classic tale.This classic film got the 1950's off to a great start, it was the 1950's that produced more classic nautical films than any other era. In the end, for a 66 year-old G-Rated Disney production, this movie is PIRATICAL TO THE CORE.Now if only Disney would get off their duff's and give the world the Hi-Def Blu-ray release this movie deserves.

A deadly boring, badly acted movie that has not stood the test of time at all - although it probably wasn't that good when it was made over sixty years ago. Robert Newton overacts as Long John Silver and Bobby Driscoll was badly miscast as Jim Hawkins. His American accent was totally out of place, an English boy should have been cast. Most of the movie takes place in the studio even when they're supposed to be at sea. The worst part of all was a completely unfunny and embarrassing Ben Gunn - thankfully, he wasn't in the film for very long.The 1972 version with Orson Welles is far better, despite the dubbing of the international cast.

Byron Haskins 1950 adaptation of Robert Louis Stephenson's classic novel is not bad at all and is still great fun for audiences today.True it doesn't keep 100 percent to the novel and this may well irk fans of the story.However the basics are there and it succeeds well as a children's adventure.Plus where would pirate films be today without that famed Cornish accent done so famously by Robert Newton here?.The west coast of England 1765 finds young local lad Jim Hawkins(Bobby Driscoll)tending the bar of his mums pub,while trying to keep Captain Billy Bones(Finlay Currie)off the rum on the orders of kindhearted Dr Livesy(Denis O'Dea).One night a blind man enters the pub and gives Billy a piece of paper with the feared Pirates black spot upon it.Billy in terror then gives Jim a treasure map that he has had since his pirate days begging him to keep it safe.He also warns Jim to beware of a one legged man.Jim goes to fetch the Dr and Squire Trelawney(Walter Fitzgerald).Upon their return Billy is dead and the pub ransacked.Jim shows the men the map and they discover directions upon it to a secret island upon which a stash of treasure is stored.The Squire makes sailing arrangements and the three travel to Bristol where they put word around that they need a crew.Help comes in the form of one legged former sailor and cook,Long John Silver(Robert Newton)who gathers together some former shipmates and joins them on the voyage.He strikes up a friendship with Jim until it's revealed he and the crew he put aboard are pirates who also seek this treasure.It then turns into a coming of age story as Jim must step up and do things normally not asked of someone so young to save the lives of his friends and stop the pirates getting the treasure.With small but memorable appearances by Geoffrey Keen as pirate Israel Hands,Basil Sydney as fearless ships captain Smollett and Geoffrey Wilkinson who is very funny as hairy pirate cast away Ben Gunn.Plus lots of thrills and action,Treasure Island is great fun for all the family.And who could forget Long John Silver's teeth?so white and pristine I'm surprised nobody(be they pirate or not)noticed them(he must have had some amazing dentist in Bristol or maybe he just flossed an awful lot).A solid film as usual from Disney,now who's up for a treasure hunt?.

Disney has made the best version of this timeless tale and Robert Newton IS Long John Silver personified. The entire production is excellent. Bobby Driscoll is a fine Jim Hawkins and the rest of the cast is topnotch, cream of crop. Walter Fitzgerald (Squire Trelawney), Denis O'Dea (Dr. Livesy) and Basil Sydney (Captain Smollett) really look their parts and all are excellent as are Long John's swarthy collection of pirates. Geoffrey Wilkinson (Ben Gunn) and Finlay Currie (Capt. Billy Bones) are terrific in smaller roles. Director Byron Haskin does a great job keeping the story rolling and everything else about this film is magnificent. Other versions are nothing to sneeze at, especially the 1934 Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper version, but Robert Newton is the most perfect pirate ever put on film and that includes Jack Sparrow, Captain Blood and all the rest.