Treasure Island (1934)

I know there have been so many adaptations of Stevenson's classic novel and read that this one holds up as one of the closest to the novel. While the film is trimmed down a little in terms of specific scenes and some of the more violent aspects of the novel, it was still a very good rendition of this classic. I think that Jackie Cooper makes a fabulous Jim Hawkins and he is perfect for this role. I loved the scenery, the complete ambience and atmosphere as well. If there was one thing that bugged me, it was the ending which completely is altered from the novel and dripping with sentimentality. Overall, though, good film.

"Bless my soul", enjoyed watching the movie on yesterday's TV. Clean, cute humor adventure story for the family 👪. Get out the pop corn for fun.

this was my late husband favorite movie this series

Excellent movie restoration of picture and sound. Lots of fun, a timeless classic.

This has to be one of my all-time favorite films. I've been watching an old VHS version for the past 20 years that I taped off TV, but it finally wore out.This is an excellent transfer of this fine film. Very sharp, wonderful tonality, and with very little dust or dirt.... very nice indeed. The audio is crisp and clear as well. I will say that in some of the darker scenes the grain does show a bit, but that's such a minor thing... truly, I'm amazed at how good this old film looks.Maybe it's because I feel like a kid again when I watch this film, but it has everything I could would want for a Saturday afternoon film.... adventure, one legged pirates, and buried treasure on a far-away island....... wow!I do understand and sympathize with some of the folks here who felt this wasn't true to the book, but I've always felt a good movie should be able to stand on it's own, and this one does that just fine. The pacing is fairly quick for an older film, with no dead or slow spots, and the many fine actors do a great job of developing and portraying their characters.As far as Jackie Cooper's acting goes...... well, for me that is one of the highlights of the film, so it just goes to show that sometimes it's merely a matter of taste.If you are a fan of well done older films, then I can highly recommend this as one of the best. Good clean fun for the whole family!

Clear, perfect, value-rich black-and-white. Wallace Beery plays the cheerful psychopath right to the end, lending a cool creepiness right over the top of Louis B. Mayer's soppy sentimental music. Those of us who love the book love the clever additions in the dialog, especially Cooper's spat "Says you, says I, says he, says nothing." Blind Pew, Black Dog, Israel Hands - all played to nasty perfection. You wouldn't want any of these guys to show up at your party and make you sing. Nigel Bruce is as full of true British bulldog puffery as ever. And the ships - oh, the ships. If this film had been made in color, the audience would have fainted, it's that beautiful. Watch for the parrot falling asleep under the hot camera lights, regardless of Beery's lively acting.Odd extras: all awful things from after censorship set in. Because the movie itself was made just before the Hayes Office got its hands on thought and art for grownups, the extras, with their soppy, silly, childish style, might have been put in to show the damage done to any art form by censorship - which, in the bowling sequence, obviously didn't include blunt stupid racism.

I remembered watching this version numerous times as a kid. Sunday afternoon's long before we all had cable certain stations would run old movies for the family. AND considering color tv was also not available at this time [yes, there was a time back in the 50s when no one had cable or color tv]so, black & white was black & white. Jackie Cooper & Wallace Berry are a perfect match as Jim Hawkins & Long John Silver. This version runs pretty much with Stevenson's novel, including the pirate song "Fifteen men on a dead man's chest." Also appearing in the film is acting legend John Barrymore as pirate Billy Bones;[this would be Drew Barrymore's grandfather]Nigel Bruce as Squire Trelawny [better know for his role as Dr Watson opposite Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes]You have to first realize the era in which this film was mad; that means no special effects, no color. I would also suggest you read the novel first to really appreciate the film. Now film-makers use what they call "artistic license" which means they follow loosly the original story-line, tweaking where necessary. No so with a film made in the 30s. This is an enjoyable family film where you do not have to worry about questionable language or too much exaggerated violence. Just remember this film was made back in the 1930s, and keep that in mind when viewing, and you won't be disappointed.

DVD arrived quickly and in great condition. This review is of the 1934 Treasure Island movie of the great Robert Louis Stevenson novel, Warner Bros. Archive Collection, with subtitles! In English, French and Spanish, several Special Features! Bless my soul!, Unusual for Warner to include so much, on a dvd-r. B&W, full screen, very well done version, ashamed it's not in color. Not my favorite because of that, 1950 color version is my favorite.

Okay,let's get this out of the way right from the start - Jackie Cooper,who plays young Jim Hawkins,is pretty irritating unless you're a JC fan and after watching this film I'm not.However,he is the only downside in a version of Stevenson's classic tale that far outstrips any of its many rivals.A lot of people are fans of Robert Newton's entertaining turn in the Disney version,perhaps for reasons of nostalgia,and I have fond memories of it myself,but it pales by comparison to this.Perhaps because it's in b&w it almost feels as if it might have been made at the time the film is set in, and the actors playing the pirates have a scratchy authentic look and sound to them that's absolutely convincing.This is exemplified by Lionel Barrymore,who plays Billy Bones as a drunken frightened bully,and who seems to have stepped straight out of the 18th century.And as for the star,Wallace Beery,he manages to convey charm,ruthlessness,cunning and a strange kind of honour,with every tuck of his head and "aw,Jim".He perfectly captures the essence of Silver and despite all his treachery and deceit it's him you find yourself rooting for.He's ably supported by just about everyone,however brief their appearance,Blind Pugh,Israel Hands and Squire Trelawney are all brought vividly to life.All that is except Jackie Cooper who,even by child actor standards, is mawkish and irritating.But don't let that put you off,because without doubt this is the best version from a pretty big and largely undistinguished bunch of adaptations and the only one that really does the story justice.

Arrived on time plays great

i like this 1934 version of "treasure island" produced by "M.G.M," wallace beery makes for a good long john silver(but certainly not in the same league as robert newton) and jackie cooper is well-cast as jim hawkins. the production values are typically excellent and the use of a real ship makes the film all the better. i think lionel barrymore was wasted a bit as he hardly had anything to do after the beginning. i enjoyed watching nigel bruce and otto kruger and lewis stone as the ship's captain was perfectly competent. i reckon more english actors might have made the film better.

The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer [DVD] [1938 ]wonderful transfer of this classic, technicolor was the best and still is, in almost 80 years we have not found a better system, the first technicolor film was produced in 1926, the piratedouglas fairbanks, only part technicolor,but a milestone for the industry. this old classic is a sharp and colorful as any recent production, considering its age. its a pity other classics are not preserved that wayold time great time The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer [DVD] [1938

My Husband loved it. It's great for the older gentlemen, or men that like older movies with action!