Watch Treasure Island For Free

One of my all time favorites.

How sad is this?

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Here is a story I want to tell. Yesterday, a friend of mine vouched that nobody could write a better piracy story than Stevenson's "Treasure Island" - tale of buccaneers and buried gold originally published in 1883. Nope, I replied, I have something at hand that is equally intriguing as plot but remained obscure since publishing date in 1972. You can Google it as "Veseliiat rodzhŭr" but full text is not available online. Plus, it is not written by neither Rafael Sabatini nor Emilio Salgari, etc. that are pioneer storytellers of pirate stories. Author is Georgi Dobrentov and here is resume of plot which I will divide in several subplots for more appropriate understanding.Subplot, part I - It's year 1683, sometime after Restoration, Charles II is reigning. Sir John Richmond, a hereditary aristocrat, is getting married to Lady Jane Crossword. They are going on wedding trip to Le Havre, France. Their small brigantine is shipwrecked near the coast of Spain where they are attacked by Barbary Coast Pirates. The barbarian leader is called Ali ben Jusef ibn Saada or "GreenEye Beast", but this Muslim proves gentleman and didn't kill the crew while only Lady Jane elopes with him under name "Fatima".Subplot, part II - Sir John manages to sail back to Portsmouth, South England, on his dilapidated ship but is furious on his wife's adultery. Since he is very rich, he seek vengeance by means of becoming pirate himself. He gets charter by Charles II which gives him right to liberate criminals from Newgate Prison. He engages 300 person by ransom and boards them on three-masted heavy frigate, a vessel specially built for him. His new crew is detached of scoundrels but that's the only way retribution can come. Names here are Don Pedro Quickdeath, Linden Hallelujah, Richard Artichoke and Black Mike. The first three are faithful to their Master, but commander Black Mike is traitor who works for notorious Caribbean Pirate Dick Dack (aleas Richard Misfit).Subplot, part III - Under Jolly Roger flag, Sir John Bloodthirsty hunts for his adulterous wife. Meanwhile, Muslim pirate Ibn Saada is ambushed first by Dick Dack and then overwhelmed by Sir John and his crew. Before dying Ibn Saada tells him that Lady Jane "Fatima" had further eloped with a Dutchman. When the latter is caught, she is already with a French, then with a Swedish and finally with a Spanish noble that makes the protagonist crisscross the Seven Seas. At last, the Sea Hike has trailed to a desert island in the Caribbean where Pirate Dick Dack has lounged his settlement. The guy alludes to revenge against Sir John and his progenitors because the latter's grandfather had blinded his one eye while Richard Misfit had been working as alchemist at Court. So far, everyone gets ashore where looking for treasures the island explodes into the air and that's it.Epilogue - Some of the Pirates survive the Alchemist plot and live till old age (Pedro Quickdeath, Linden Hallelujah, Richard Artichoke). Lady Jane is seen last with her lover Black Mike and then with a common sailor. Sir John changes his secular name to Saint Augustine and lives till 80 years of age. Now, if you liked my story I will be perfectly glad. And don't forget "Treasure Island" (1990) with Charlton Heston. Watch it!

In a commentary to the DVD of Treasure Island director Fraser Heston said that the genesis of this film was as a lad he heard Charlton Heston read the story to him. Robert Louis Stevenson's classic is an adventure story that has appealed to know about 15 generations and Fraser got to hear his father read the story playing all the parts with different accents. I'm betting this was the genesis of Charlton Heston's interpretation of Long John Silver. If so this film was about 35 years in the making. Not to dismiss the Wallace Beery/Jackie Cooper version or the Walt Disney version with Robert Newton and Bobby Driscoll, but Fraser Heston's version is a darker version. The other two concentrated on the relationship that develops between Silver and the lad Jim Hawkins with Silver as rogue and surrogate father figure to straight arrow Hawkins. This version emphasizes a very ruthless Silver and a much older Hawkins than either Driscoll or Cooper were played by Christian Bale. Young Bale is no kid the adults have to protect, he aids in the fighting and is if not mature very capable.The other parts of the legendary adventure are filled most capably with seasoned veterans like Oliver Reed as Captain Billy Bones, Richard Johnson as Squire Trelawney, Julian Glover as Dr. Livesey, and Isla Blair as the widow Hawkins. Most important and unforgettable is Christopher Lee as Blind Pew. Most of these people worked with Charlton Heston before so it was a family shoot in every sense of the word.Charlton Heston's interpretation of Long John Silver is unique and maybe closer to what Robert Louis Stevenson had in mind. But what a treat young Fraser Heston had to see that one man show of Treasure Island his father put on. If only cameras had been rolling.

More superlatives from me are not necessary. I will only say that I agree with the other commenters who consider this the best version of Treasure Island made so far. What would make a difference is for it to be released on DVD. If you would like to see this version of Treasure Island released on DVD, as I do, then please go to this link:http://tcmdb.com/title/title.jsp?scarlettTitleId=14882 and vote for it (on the right hand side of the screen).If the link does not work or you don't care to use it, then do a Google search for Turner Classic Movies, then search on the site for Treasure Island (1990). Maybe if enough people vote for it, it will actually be released on DVD. It can't hurt.

Although one of the commentaries states that he would have give 10 of 10 if the movie has been released widescreen in DTS I will give it nevertheless 10 points. This is based not on the technical side. Me as well would have greatly appreciated a Release on DVD in German Language in a Widescreen Apect Ratio but I'm afraid this Picture was shot in an 1.33 open gate Aspect Ratio due to the primary intense to broadcast it on TV (the Movie was produced by HBO). If so, a blow up to a 1.78 or wider would cut of heads or other important parts of the image.HBO has proved a dozen times (The Last Outlaw) that it is even more able to produce absolutely high class movies than some studios or independents simply by using the essence for a good film in a way it has to be: the story.Fraser Clarke Heston who did produce, wrote the screenplay and directed the movie did a really great Job. In his fussy stile (in the most positive tenor) he tried to take the story by Louis Stevenson in an image how it was intended. He meet the fantasy of thousand of readers and involve them in the movie. They are riveted on the picture from the very first minute.This movie is perfect! The Screenplay, the arc of suspense, the Language as it was spoken at that time, the clothes as they were worn, the decoration, the dirt, the teeth, the properties, the ship, the location, the make-up, hair-dresser and even the continuity are perfect. The story is known by all. The Actors as well.Therefore an extensive comment is needless except this one sentence:It's perfect and a great enjoyment to view, watch it !!