Blucher
One of the worst movies I've ever seen
Invaderbank
The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
Kodie Bird
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
HotToastyRag
Even if you've never seen Disney's Treasure Island, I guarantee you're well aware of it. If you've ever seen a pirate movie that was made after 1950 or if you've ever participated in some way on International Talk Like a Pirate Day, you're indirectly paying tribute to Treasure Island, and more particularly, Robert Newton, who is singlehandedly responsible for how we all think of pirates today. Before Robert Newton, there was no "Aarrrr!"This movie really is a must-see, if for no other reason, to honor the "original pirate". If you actually like swashbuckling movies, you have to watch this lush, energetic version. Treasure Island is a very entertaining story about a young boy who unknowingly teams up with a famed pirate, Long John Silver, who's trying to recover a lost treasure on an, well, island. Ironically, Bobby Driscoll, who plays young Jim Hawkins, gives the weakest performance of the movie. The whole time, I kept saying, "Why didn't they get the little boy who played in Oliver Twist?" It turns out, John Howard Davies was Disney's first choice, and he would have made a much more endearing lead. Not only was he a better actor and a cuter kid, but he and Robert Newton had already worked together. Robert Newton is the heart and soul of Treasure Island. It's no wonder he reprised a pirate role every two years afterwards until his death. His perpetually squinting spyglass eye, disheveled cheeks, crazed yet lovable grin, iconic accent, peg-legged limp, and green parrot atop his red coat is one of those performances that, once you watch it, you'll never forget.
GusF
Disney's first completely live action film, I can't say that I was impressed at all. Bobby Driscoll sticks out like a sore thumb as the only American in the cast but that wouldn't be a problem if he gave a good performance, which he most certainly doesn't. Frankly, I don't think that he could act to save his life. He is one of two things that really drag the film down, the other being the deathly slow pacing. It sticks to the general storyline of the novel by my fellow University of Edinburgh alumnus Robert Louis Stevenson but leaves out many of the details. Yet, bizarrely, it still feels considerably longer than its 95 minute runtime. It's plodding and dull. Neither the script nor the direction are very good. There is little of the great atmosphere of adventure that defines the novel.On the bright side, Robert Newton gives a great over the top performance as Long John Silver, which is the best part of the film. It also features a strong supporting cast of British character actors such as Basil Sydney, Walter Fitzgerald, Denis O'Dea, Ralph Truman, John Laurie, Francis de Wolff, Finlay Currie, Geoffrey Keen, Sam Kydd and Patrick Troughton. The film also looks good. Overall, however, I much preferred Disney's 1960 version of Stevenson's later and, for my money, better novel "Kidnapped" as well as "Muppet Treasure Island", which is considerably more fun.
oscar-35
*Spoiler/plot- 1950, A boy and his mother have a country inn on the ocean cliffs. An old sailor moves into the inn and is dying. He befriends the son of the inn keeper with is stories of living on ships. One night a strange blind man arrives and marks the old sailor for death from a pirate brotherhood with the 'Black Spot'. During a cutlass fight, the boy finds a treasure map in the sea chest of the dying sailor. He takes the map to the local authorities that know about it and set up a ship and crew to find the treasure. Once the ship, 'Hispaniola' leaves the port with mostly a secret pirate crew aboard; they arrive at the Treasure Island. The crew takes over the ship and attacks the obedient crew members trying to get the treasure for them. A marooned sailor helps the obedient crew members to find and stow the hidden treasure aboard the ship to go back to England for justice. 'Long' John Silver shows that he is an able conman, pirate, liar, double-crosser, and schemer through this whole treasure hunting experience.*Special Stars- Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton *Theme- Men will look for treasure even if they suffer for it.*Based on- Robert Louise Stevenson's famous pirate novel*Trivia/location/goofs- A vivid lush Disney version of the classic pirate novel with the harsh violence removed for the 1975 re-release. The ending is much different from the books climax.*Emotion- An enjoyable, but heavily censored story that became a Disney classic. This film doomed and type cast Robert Newton into a less than stellar acting career in playing only pirates roles for him. This film leads to Newton's less memorable 50's TV show.
thinker1691
Robert Louis Stevenson published his adventure packed book in 1883 and it would become the wellspring of a hundred imitations, sagas and motion pictures. This film for instance is the original tale as penned by the author and called " Treasure Island. " Anyone looking for the original birth source of Jim Hawkins (Bobby Driscoll), Long John Silver (Robert Newton) or Ben Gunn (Geoffrey Wilkinson) should include this incredible story as likely a Classic movie. It contains nearly all things related to the 19th century. Pirates, Tall ships, sailing the high seas, treasure maps and of course Spanish Gold. For any audience, the masterful pirate John Silver who takes as his mate, young Jim Hawkings and teaches the ways of the Pirate World, is perhaps the one place where hearing 'Arrrrr, there-she be mate' sounds perfectly natural. Coined by Newton himself, it became the stereotype of all subsequence pirate characters. Produced by Walt Disney studios, this film made sure that a star on the walk of fame, would forever shine for the principals of the story. Excellent family fare. ****
