Treasure Island which version ?

[darrenburnfan]

No, Billy, only that it was filmed in England and that it was Walt Disney's first live action feature without any animation sequences. However, originally, there was a scene near the beginning of the film where Blind Pew (John Laurie), having delivered the Black Spot to Billy Bones, gets run down and killed by a coach and horses as he's leaving the Admiral Benbow inn. Although the Walt Disney DVD of the film says it's the full, uncut, theatrical version, this scene is missing from it. The scene was in the film when I went to see it at the cinema as a re-issue in both 1962 and 1972.

[will.15]

That Disney movie is listed as a British film, as are other Disney films like Swiss Family Robinson, but not Mary Poppins. Did Disney have a British studio facility for a while and is that the reason they're classified as British?

[billy bentley]

darrenburnfan, or anyone else for that matter - do we know if the Blind Pew gets run down scene appears in the VHS version ?

[darrenburnfan]

Will: I seem to recall that early Walt Disney pictures filmed in England were made at Denham studios and Shepperton studios. I'll have a look on the credits to see if it mentions which studio Treasure Island was made at.



Billy: I have the PAL VHS version and the Blind Pew being run down sequence is also missing from that one as well. The prints used for both the PAL VHS and Region 2 DVD were probably of US origin. It's possible that UK cinema exhibition prints, long withdrawn from release, may still exist that contain the sequence.

[Wilfried Mueller]

In 1966 there was a four part mini series in the German tele. For me this was much better than the brilliant Disney version. It was a German-British-French production starring Ivor Dean as John Silver. It is still shown in Germany from time to time and is available on DVD - but it has only the original German sound.



If you'd like to check it use amazon.de or IMDB. The German title is DIE SCHATZINSEL.

[wadsy]

Just had a look. I just can't imagine Ivor Dean as "Long John Silver"!

[Wilfried Mueller]

Look here at youtube and you will hear the title song and see photos from the series - also Ivor Dean!



Link: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4YJ-zFp8os&feature=related]YouTube - Die Schatzinsel - Treasure Island - 1966 - Theme[/ame]

[wadsy]

Its certainly a rousing title song!

[Maurice]

DVD (subtitles) released 11/01/10



Hi Billy,



If your youngest son wishes to learn Russian, this is a faithful adaptation of the story - complete with Blind Pew's death, missing from the Disney version.



Estonian actor Aare Laanemets (06/02/1954 - 28/10/2000) was an older 'Jim Hawkins' compared to Jackie Cooper or Bobby Driscoll.



Maurice

[Gerald Lovell]

I am pretty sure there was a BBC black and white classic serial version in the mid to late 60s. I must look out my old Radio Times to see if I can find out anything about it.

[batman]

There was a 1968 BBC version with Peter Vaughn as Silver.

[Gerald Lovell]

name='batman']There was a 1968 BBC version with Peter Vaughn as Silver.

Thank you, that's the one I was remembering.

[Steve Crook]

name='batman']There was a 1968 BBC version with Peter Vaughn as Silver.

There were extracts from that in the recent BBC4 documentary about people writing about the sea



Art of the Sea: In Words



Steve

[Gerald Lovell]

name='Steve Crook']There were extracts from that in the recent BBC4 documentary about people writing about the sea



Art of the Sea: In Words



Steve

Thanks for that, Steve - I was glad to see Anthony Bate there, as I recalled in was in that version, as well as the later one made in the 70s.

[Toscana]

name='wadsy']Just had a look. I just can't imagine Ivor Dean as "Long John Silver"!

It appears that Ivor Dean also wrote episodes of the 1986 TV series Return To Treasure Island. I remember this vertion as Brian Blessed plays Silver as a one legged Prince Vultan.

[Trevor]

Wasn't there a Channel 4 version in the 90s starring Michael Elphick or did I imagine it.

[Trevor]

A web search reveals that I was right about the 90s version starring Michael Elphick (as Billy Bones) and, apparently, it was directed by none other than Ken Russell, made in 1995. I'll see if it's out on DVD (I doubt it), if not I'll post a request for a copy. I saw it when it was first shown (on Channel 4, I think).



http://www.channel4.com/apps26/film/...n.jsp?id=29160



http://www.film4.com/reviews/1995/ke...reasure-island



Update: No DVD available.

[Mr Sloane]

name='Harbottle']If you can find it the 1977 BBC Treasure Island starring Alfred Burke as LJS is a superb adaptation I think. Released only on VHS, though it has been uploaded to one of the usual places fairly recently

I agree I loved this version when I saw it a great cast, faithfull to the book and very atmospheric.