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.

Filmed in England, this was the very first live action movie made by Walt Disney after a long string of animated features. Up till now I've never seen any of the films based on Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, so I'll have to go with the majority on this board stating that this is probably the finest effort. Robert Newton of course makes for a quintessential pirate, though I could see Charles Laughton in the role quite favorably. His take on Captain Kidd in the 1945 movie of the same name was classic.I don't think I've ever read the Stevenson book, or if I had, it's been so long in the past I can't even remember. Other viewers feel that this film version follows pretty closely, so that will probably save me the effort. With Newton's character, I was waiting for him to show his true colors, and it was quite a while into the film before he managed to take out Mr. Arrow (David Davies) with the plum duff and the old heave-ho overboard. If you didn't know Long John Silver was a pirate, that sequence would probably come off as a complete surprise.What I didn't get though was the ending of the story, in as much as Long John basically got away with the gold treasure, and the two principals, young Jim Hawkins (Bobby Driscoll) and Dr. Livesy (Denis O'Dea) didn't seem to mind that much. I realize Silver had a soft spot for the adventurous lad, but it was really touch and go there for Hawkins the entire time with no assurance of safety. Maybe I'll have to read the book after all.

I loved it!There is just something about the classic old adventure movies which can't be found today. The colors, the stages and the costumes. It just brings out nostalgia. And the music scores sets the mood perfectly!Saw it first time as a child. My father used to read the book for me. (I was a big fan of pirates).The story by Stevenson is of course pretty great, and the movie remains true to it.I'm not to familiar with the cast (It is the oldest movie on my shelf) but Bobby Driscoll provides a good take on young Jim Hawkins. And I really had a personal favorite in the character of Israel Hands played by Geoffrey Keen. He is perhaps best known for playing the British minister of Defence in many of the James Bond movies. Furthermore I really liked the fact that Capt. Flint only remains mentioned through out the movie by name and actions. It makes his character a lot more terrifying and compelling.(For me it is without comparison the all time most intimidating character who is never shown on the screen. An introduction or flash back scene with an actor playing Flint would completely have destroyed this.) But what really sells this picture and earned it a place among my all time favorites; is Robert Newton.The way he brings the character of Long John Silver to live is breathtaking. You simply can get enough of him! His portrayal of the cunning and ruthless pirate is the definitive best there is! He completely brings the whole setting of the movie up to the next level and aboard a pirate ship and sets sail. Outstanding performance! Not only among pirate portrayals but in general. It burns through the screen. He sets the standard on how to portray (and speak like) a great pirate persona. And so becomes his take on Long John the greatest pirate captain to sail the Seven Seas in movies. (Sorry Depp)And his performance is the reason why it still stands as the, by far, best adaption of the story to the big screen. And perhaps the reason why no really major blockbuster remake have been tried. (My personal favorite to try on the role would be Daniel Day-Lewis. But I can't imagine any actor do better than Newton.) The character of Long John also brought some of my favorite quotes. (Of cause spoken in true pirate tongue) ''Them that die will be the lucky ones!'' shouted at the start of the battle between the mutineers and the men loyal to the squire. And ''Oh, for ten toes!'' shouted when his fellows mutineers flees the battle leaving him behind. I will still rewind more than once to hear those.I really enjoy watching this movie. And I do so once or twice a year. It's a great swashbuckling pirate adventure that shouldn't be feared because of its old age.And it turned out to be an honorable first jump into live action by Disney. (A sequel was made. Rather poor. But nonetheless enjoyable due to Newton's performance in his return to the role as Long John)

I'm not sure if this is the cinematic version which best captures the ethos of Robert Louis Stevenson's book, but it is the version which provides the best movie experience for the viewer, and probably the film that most people think of whenever some one mentions Treasure Island. Wallace Beery is always worth watching, and his black and white version has many strong points, but he never quite convinces me that he is the black hearted devil who is second only to Captain Flint himself in his cruelty. The Charlton Heston version has the advantage of a wonderful Chieftains soundtrack, and some richer production values than were possible in 1954, but somehow Heston never comes across as the kind of man who could weld a band of misfits, convicts, perverts, murderers and general misanthropes into a functioning pirate crew. Robert Newton, however, is the definitive Long John Silver. I saw this flick fifty years ago, when it was first run in the theaters, and it left an indelible impression in my memory. (apparently it also impressed Richard Dreyfuss, who does an homage to Newton's Long John in 'Jaws'). The last time I viewed it was probably about ten years ago when my youngest child was still a pre-teen, and Newton's performance as the quintessential rogue who can slit your throat without a qualm while you are laughing at one of his jokes was just as impressive to me when I was 50 as when I was 10. The story is a little long in the tooth, but the key points, such as the delivery of the black spot by Blind Pew, and the recapture of the Hispaniola, are still tense and exciting, even to a generation weaned on Stargate and Spiderman. The apple barrel scene with young Jim trying to avoid being skewered by Silver's knife made my kids scream, and what more can you ask from a kid's movie than a good, safe scare? This is a must have movie for any serious video collection.