Treasure Island (1950)
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 “Aarrrrg!”
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.
More Robert Newton movies here!
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.
More Robert Newton movies here!