Treasure Island (1950)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Treasure Island (1950) – B. Haskin

Family fare from Disney that I recall fondly from my youth and have now had a chance to watch with my two sons (aged 6 and 3).  I’ve not read the Robert Louis Stevenson novel but its adventures would seem to be made for the screen.  Young Jim Hawkins receives a map to the titular island from dying Captain Billy Bones and turns it over to Squire Trelawney who funds a voyage.  However, he relies on ship’s cook, Long John Silver, to hire the crew.  Robert Newton owns the role with his pirate’s brogue (and some argue that he is the originator of all that “arrr, matey!” talk you can’t resist).  Silver is a very ambiguous character.  On the one hand, he is a notorious pirate and might be quick to slit a throat, especially amongst his own men, if they be getting out of line (see, it can’t be helped).  On the other hand, he seems to have a soft spot for Jim Hawkins (with whom we identify), even saving his life once or twice.  Of course, things are generally pretty tame, though vigorous at times.  The kids couldn’t quite hold on to the plot, which advances through talk that was over their heads (and laced with new pirate words) but I explained things and the older one was glued to the screen (though worried at times for our hero).  Enjoyable if you accept it for what it is.