Treasure Island Review

[IllinoisJones]

Walt Disney's first all live action feature is a doozy. Director Byron Haskin is tasked with recreating Robert Louis Stevenson's timeless pirate epic for the big screen in what in my opinion is the greatest version ever created. Haskin, by the way directed Arsenic and Old Lace which is one of my favorite non-Disney classic films. Clearly Walt wanted a director who had achieved box office success. Disney star Bobby Driscoll is brilliant. I'm amazed at what a incredible actor this boy was. Robert Newton's portrayal of Long John silver would become the quintessential pirate character in films. Argh! There be a good crewman. There are slow moments in this film but I attribute those to a different era of filmmaking. Overall, it is an incredibly important film in Disney history and for that alone I give it 3 1/2 X marks the spots out of 5.