When looking back at Disney’s early live-action films, it makes sense to start with the original. Treasure Island was the first of its kind for Disney when it was released in 1950. Walt realized that he could use profits stuck in the U.K. following the war to shoot a new film. There have been many adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 adventure novel, and this remains a famous one. Its success led Disney to produce a stream of live-action movies in the ‘50s and beyond.
Bobby Driscoll stars as Jim Hawkins following roles in Song of the South and So Dear to My Heart for Disney. His wide-eyed style matches the child acting you’d expect to see during that time period. He’s stiff and feels a lot more cornball than everything else. Thankfully, Robert Newton’s Long John Silver is around to keep the story rolling. He does more than just deliver a memorable character. Newton basically invents the pirate genre and sets the stage even for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. He’s over the top yet stays grounded enough to keep us engaged.
I have vague memories of watching Treasure Island as a kid on The Disney Channel or network TV. Even so, it had been a long time since I’d watched any part of it. I caught up to prepare for a recent episode of the Book of the Mouse Club podcast with Courtney Guth and Emily McDermott. We talked about the original novel, this Disney film, and more recent adaptations like Muppet Treasure Island and Treasure Planet. I had a blast diving into everything with Courtney and Emily, including this movie.
Billy Bones Needs Rum!
We begin in the Admiral Benbow inn and meet Black Dog, whose intentions are not good. He’s looking for Captain William Bones, and Jim Hawkins hides his knowledge. Everything moves swiftly in these early scenes. Before we know it, a blind man gives Bones the black spot and he collapses and dies. There’s no messing around with a 96-minute running time! Jim receives a treasure map, meets Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney, and the adventure begins! I appreciate the pace, especially after reading the book, but it might seem too quick if you’re less familiar with the source material.
We first meet Long John Silver at his restaurant, and he’s obviously a suspicious guy. When Black Dog appears, the way that Silver instructs his men to chase him shows he’s not trustworthy. Newton basically winks at the camera and makes sure we know he’s a villain. Jim isn’t so adept, however. Silver even gives him a gun just in case. It seems weird for a cabin boy he just met, but Silver is not your average cook. He holds his “arrr!” with his words and sets the mold for other actors to follow.
After meeting Captain Smolett, we learn what distinguishes the good guys from the pirates. The upstanding citizens all wear giant hats! Seriously, these characters retain their dullness from the books. It keeps the focus on Silver, but it also doesn’t introduce a worthy adversary for the one-legged trickster. George Merry wants to lead, but he’s too impulsive to enact their plans. Merry carries a concealed weapon and looks ready to use it. Ralph Truman does inject some energy into Merry to help compensate for the stiff heroes. The separation between the two groups is obvious.
The Real Plans
Any doubts about Silver’s intentions disappear after we see his treatment of Mr. Arrow. It’s surprising to note the nasty way that Silver dispatches the first mate through his weakness for alcohol. Silver may feign sadness (with a ridiculous “Arrr-men” at the funeral) but it’s all following his plans. The famous scene of Jim inside the apple barrel reveals the charade, and the outlook isn’t good. The adventure really builds steam in the middle act, and it’s an exciting tale. Stevenson’s novel gets weighted down with too much exposition, but it’s perfect for a streamlined action film.
Another surprise for a family film is seeing multiple head shots in Treasure Island. There’s even a quick shot of blood on the forehead before the first sorry fellow goes down. Most of the killing is bloodless, with men grabbing their stomachs in pain or just falling. That’s expected for the time period (and Disney), so the other moments stand out more. Silver revels in the fight and seems to use the flag of truce mostly to taunt Smollett and the others. It all gets serious when the captain is shot, though. The upbeat music quickly stops and reminds us this isn’t just a light adventure tale.
Jim’s fight on board the ship with Israel Hands is the creepiest sequence in the movie. Hands kills another pirate while drunk and then slowly approaches Jim to end the boy with a knife. This is our second head shot, though the set-up makes this scene. It’s the high point of the movie because the stakes feel real. It actually seems like Jim could get hurt here, which isn’t the case in much of the story. When Jim stumbles into the stockade to find the doctor, meeting Silver is another surprise on a very rough night.
A Boys’ Adventure Story
There are no female characters in Treasure Island, which is surprising even for a boy’s adventure story. His mom shows up briefly in the novel, but she doesn’t appear here. That may be due to the brief time at the inn, but it also reinforces the idea this is a wish-fulfillment story for Jim. He gets the chance to sail the high seas, battle pirates, and find treasure. It’s the type of journey that boys imagine while playing in their backyards. It’s also a successful genre, especially for Disney in the 1950s.
After reading the novel, I was more impressed to catch up with this adaptation. It removes most of the parts that drag in the book and streamlines the story to its key moments. There are still gunfights and tense moments, but it’s easier to show them here. Stevenson gets a little lost in all the descriptions of what’s happening with every character and even with the Hispaniola. I also recognize it’s written in language from the late 19th century, so terms may not resonate at much today.
Unlike the 1940 version of Swiss Family Robinson, this film modernizes the tale while still keeping its core elements. Long John Silver is a villain for the television age, and it’s no surprise that Newton returned for a sequel and TV series (neither produced by Disney). This iconic role made his career, and it largely still works today. It’s the type of film that is perfect to experience on Disney Plus, despite being 70 years old. It’s a solid adaptation that keeps it simple and provides a fun adventure.
Pirates on Discovery Island!
Treasure Island isn’t represented directly in Disney’s parks, but there are plenty of connections. Pirates of the Caribbean has become a legendary attraction, and it owes a lot to this film. The way the pirates talk connects to Silver here, and the general excitement also matches this story. Pirates have also taken over Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland. The Pirate’s Lair still retains parts of the original island but now incorporates a pirates’ theme into the fun island.
Another interesting piece of history is the original name for Discovery Island at Walt Disney World. The animal sanctuary was originally called Treasure Island in 1974, though it only retained that name for two years. Disney initially planned to focus more on the pirate theme but ultimately focused more on wildlife. The pirate ship and other décor remained beyond the name change in 1976; the band Pablo Cruise even shot a ridiculous music video there. These are just a few of many connections to this movie in Disney’s theme parks around the world.
Related Articles: Treasure Island
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
This post contains affiliate links. Making any purchase through those links supports this site. See full disclosure.
Leave a Reply