Long John Silver (1954)

The Worst Film Ever

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

. . . and so is LONG JOHN SILVER--sort of. It's as if the cast of this flick were asked to play their parts as over-sized Muppets (if they had such a thing in the 1900s). The uneven tone of this picture implies that the cast only remembered such a stage direction half of the time. So if ridiculous plot twists mixed together with plenty of mugging for the camera is your cup of grog, then this 1954 offering may be your SILVER lining. While it's tempting to remember Robert Louis Stevenson's Jim Hawkins as a plucky teen, the white-washed character by that name in this movie version of his story is more of a sanctimonious Tom Sawyer than a rebel-with-a-cause Huck Finn. It's really difficult to understand what Long John Silver sees in this wishy-washy Pre-teen milquetoast. Jim Hawkins should be the sort of kid who'd be sneaking his girl out her window in a couple of years--NOT a Brown-Noser type who'll ring her front doorbell and discuss Donald Trump with her dad for ten minutes.

I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed this movie. I wasn't sure how authentic a movie from the 50's would look, but then I saw the scenes in the Tavern. I was instantly transported. From the foggy alley outside to the dank interior, this was a great set piece. The other highlight was the lead character, Long John. He was essentially Jack Sparrow 50 years ahead of time. He plays people against each other, has hidden motivations, and always comes out on top by planning 5 steps ahead. There are some politically incorrect elements, mostly involving Hispanic stereotypes, and I thought the story got less interesting once they got onto Treasure Island. However, a fun ending made up for that, so I would recommend this for someone looking for family oriented adventure.

After Walt Disney's relatively well-produced version of "Treasure Island" (1950), timber-shivering Robert Newton (as "Long John Silver") returns. He is made to rescue kidnapped Kit Taylor (as Jim Hawkins) along with a damsel in distress, avoid the marriage-minded Connie Gilchrist (as Purity Pinker), and embark on a far less satisfying treasure hunt. This slight, long, and disappointing sequel rests its laurels almost entirely on Mr. Newton's top-heavy characterization. Late in the running time, young Hawkins and a vision-impaired Rodney "Rod" Taylor (as Israel Hands) give Newton a run for the money. Another "Return to Treasure Island" (also 1954), starring Tab Hunter, was even more peripheral to the original. Like Newton says, "Tis a long time since Treasure Island." **** Long John Silver (12/16/54) Byron Haskin ~ Robert Newton, Kit Taylor, Connie Gilchrist, Rod Taylor

There is not much new in this sequel to "Treasure Island", which has Robert Newton return in the role of "Long John Silver" and getting involved in new adventures that nevertheless have a familiar feel to them, but it is still an entertaining movie. Made four years after the original, it has Kit Taylor replacing Bobby Driscoll as Jim Hawkins, but the relationship between the characters is still much the same. Newton is the main strength, since he captures his character very well, and he is fun to watch even when there is not a lot else going on.The story has Long John meeting up again with Jim and with various old friends and old rivals, while carrying out his usual assortment of schemes. It all has a familiar feel to it, with some of the same settings and many of the same plot devices getting recycled, and quite a few references to events and characters from the original story.If you enjoyed "Treasure Island", you would probably enjoy "Long John Silver" as well. Although it doesn't have much new material, it has plenty of adventure and the same kinds of scheming and counter-scheming. You could also enjoy it perfectly well, assuming that you have an interest in the genre, without having seem the first movie. The occasional links with the original are probably easy enough to figure out, from the context and/or from a passing acquaintance with the story from literature or elsewhere.