Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is not the classic 1950 Disney version of Treasure Island but a slow-moving non-Disney sequel, done a few years later, with the same lead pirate. Because it's ubiquitous on a number of discount public-domain video labels (some sell it under the title Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island), picture and sound quality may be inferior. Violence consists of mainly bloodless (but occasionally fatal) stabbings and swordfights, and Long John's crew are heavily into the rum (their captain isn't, though). There is some glorification of Long John's outlaw ways, compared to the snooty aristocrats who embody virtue (a pious, Bible-quoting sort turns out to be a nasty type). One pirate -- blind, scarred, and vengeful -- may frighten smaller viewers.
Families can talk about Long John Silver and his "moral code," if that's what it can be called. He's a treacherous rascal, and yet a friend and almost a surrogate father to Jim. Long John ends up acting heroically even though his own self-interest and thieving lurk behind almost his every deed. What other movie anti-heroes can you remember who are like that (besides Jack Sparrow)? Why do you think pirate movies are still so popular? Westerns feature similar outlaw types -- why do you think there aren't more Westerns being made today?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Charles Cassady, Jr.
Johnny Depp, eat your heart out. LONG JOHN SILVER's Robert Newton perfected the role of an eye-rolling, lusty, incorrigible pirate. So much so that he was hired first to play Long John in Disney's popular 1950 version of Treasure Island and rehired to play the role in this non-Disney sequel and the TV series. Unfortunately he's the best part of this Australian-made movie, which seems more like an extended TV episode than a fully realized feature film.
But it's not foreign-film appreciation that makes Long John Silver a very frequent find on video. Out of copyright and in the public domain, this particular movie is distributed on a lot of cut-rate DVD and VHS labels (aye, legal video piracy, ye might call it, arr!). Don't be surprised if picture and sound quality are less than seaworthy.
The story opens with Long John and his grumbling crew hanging out a tavern run by Long John's equally formidable girlfriend, Purity (Connie Gilchrist -- nice to see a big-boned leading lady instead of the anorexic fashion-model type). Long John learns that the colonial governor's daughter is being held hostage by a rival pirate, Mendoza (Lloyd Berrell). Long John isn't interested -- until he hears that another prisoner is his "old shipmate," the boy Jim Hawkins (Kit Taylor). Long John manages to both rescue the children and make a fortune on the side by having his own men ransack the government treasury, knowing that Mendoza will get blamed for the looting.
The reunion with Jim inspires another venture to the fabled Treasure Island, as it turns out there's more treasure buried there unfound in the last movie, and a medallion Jim happens to be wearing is a vital clue to its whereabouts.
Long John Silver does seem like a couple of movies/TV episodes all wrapped up in one slightly messy heap: Long John has running intrigues with Mendoza while attempting to escape Purity's overtures of marriage while Jim encounters perils on the various ships and on Treasure Island itself.
Continually the law-abiding boy keeps hoping that Long John will repent of his pirate ways, and Jim even actively tries to foil Long John's plans for mutiny and high-seas mischief. Yet they still continue to rescue each other and be friends, "shipmates," into the fadeout. No other characters here, pirate or non-pirate, seem to show each other such respect, understanding, and loyalty.
This movie has an entertaining bedtime-storybook spirit and some good action near the end, even if the script is heavy on the gab and the overall pace and budget are outgunned by the pirate antics of Disney, both old and new.
Robert Newton also played a less sympathetic Blackbeard the Pirate, another title which has found its way onto the public-domain video market. You can also get your hooks into his Long John Silver TV series on DVD as well.
Rate It!
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ViolenceThe pirates' "cuttin' and rippin'" are bloodless swordfights, stabbings, and shootings, plus a climactic barrage with explosives. One pirate threatens to cut out the boy hero's eyes. Long John takes a fall out a window. One hanging skeleton. |
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Social BehaviorYoung Jim Hawkins is, as always, virtuous and honest, always hoping that Long John Silver will reform. But the movie isn't named after Jim. Long John is a covetous scalawag who routinely double-crosses, robs, and tricks his enemies (it's a good thing that most of his enemies are worse than him). However, he does have a fatherly affection and respect for Jim. Despite the tropical settings, almost the entire cast is white -- not at all like a real pirate ship of the day. |
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CommercialismNothing but the obvious "for the seafood lover in you" chain-restaurant reference. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoMuch drinking of rum and grog among the piratical revelry. |
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