GManfred First thing you think of when you think "Treasure Island" is Newton's outrageous overacting job. The best part is it all works, and it is one of filmdom's most memorable performances as well as an example of outstanding scenery-chewing. He is an arresting image when on the screen - in fact, you can't take your eyes off him. Other examples of this would be Shirley Temple or Carmen Miranda. I thought it the first time I saw "Treasure Island" and it became indelible in my mind since that time when I was 12. The whole movie is a classic made from a classic novel, well done in all phases which is a hallmark of the Disney studios. It was mostly a British cast except for the tragic Bobby Driscoll, whose adult life is one of Hollywood's horror stories. "Treasure Island" was on the other day on old reliable TCM. Try to catch it next time if you haven't seen it - it's great.

Idiot-Deluxe " 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.

Tess Hunneybell Hi there,Just a great family film, excellent exotic locations (Corwall LOL) and huge screen grabbing performance from Robert Newton as LJSHI.As for other post saying that LSJ was grooming Jim Hawkins ... LJS was grooming the whole wold for exploitation ... That was how he survived ... Let go of the modern diseases and just enjoy a rocket of a performance.Ben Gunn ... Why did he not feature a bi more? I guess to allow the surprise aimed at LSJ.Love the ending ... We all agree.

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. ****