Long John Silver (film): Difference between revisions

Long John Silver
Long John Silver
	Original film poster
Directed by	Byron Haskin
Written by	Martin Rackin
Produced by	Joseph Kaufman
Starring	Robert Newton; Kit Taylor; Connie Gilchrist; Lloyd Berrell; Grant Taylor
Cinematography	Carl Guthrie A.S.C.
Edited by	Manuel delCampo
Music by	David Buttolph
Production; company	Treasure Island Pictures
Distributed by	Distributors Corporation of America
Release dates	16 December 1954 (Australia); 17 December 1954 (UK); 21 December 1954 (U.S.);
Running time	106 minutes
Countries	United States; Australia
Budget	US$1,000,000
Box office	754,745 admissions (France)

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Long John Silver, also known as Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island, is a 1954 American-Australian adventure film about the eponymous pirate Long John Silver, with Robert Newton repeating his starring role from Walt Disney's 1950 feature Treasure Island. Newton's billing in the opening credits states, "Robert Newton as Robert Louis Stevenson's immortal", followed by the title Long John Silver, presenting Robert Louis Stevenson's immortal Long John Silver as another of the film's alternate titles.

Kit Taylor plays Jim Hawkins, Connie Gilchrist is Purity Pinker, Lloyd Berrell is Capt. Mendoza, Kit Taylor's father Grant Taylor plays Patch and 24-year-old Rod Taylor, credited under his early stage name, Rodney Taylor, has the showy role of the blind bearded pirate Israel Hands who murderously pursues Jim.^[8]

The film was shot in CinemaScope and color at Sydney's Pagewood Studios and the same company went on to make The Adventures of Long John Silver, a 26-episode TV series with the same actors. The director, Byron Haskin, also directed the 1950 Disney film and at least one episode of the TV series.

Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island should not be confused with another 1954 American film, Return to Treasure Island, released six months earlier, in June, with stars Tab Hunter and Dawn Addams.

Plot

The movie is set some time after the events of Treasure Island. Long John Silver and crew are broke and bumming around Portobello (a fictional port in the British West Indies). Long John has a map to a second treasure cache on Treasure Island; but needs a special medallion to decode it. The pirate Mendoza has kidnapped Governor Strong's daughter Elizabeth and is holding her ransom. Also captured is Jim Hawkins, who has been press ganged into serving as cabin boy. Hawkins has secretly helped Dod Perch escape, and sent them to track down Long John Silver for help. Perch manages to find Long John, but is beaten to the punch and killed by two of Mendoza's men. Perch is able to mention Mendoza, Strong and Hawkins before perishing. Long John visits Governor Strong and his wife and proposes to deliver the ransom before they pursue Mendoza.

During the pickup of the ransom, Long John goes with Billy Bowlegs to Mendoza's ship and blackmails Mendoza over their plan to hoard the ransom money. Long John suggests to Mendoza that he leave Elizabeth on shore and lure the governor's warships away in order to sack the king's warehouses. As Mendoza carries out the plan, Long John finds that Jim possesses the pirate medallion indicating the second treasure's location. Mendoza begins to double cross Long John, but Long John has his men ambush and capture Mendoza along with the warehouse fortune, while Jim and Elizabeth make their escape.

Back at the governor's house, Jim is offered the chance to go back to England, but Long John has plans to take Jim with him on the second voyage to Treasure Island. After his crew has been captured along with the warehouse loot, Long John seizes an opportunity to crew Captain MacDougall's ship, the same slave ship carrying Hawkins back to Bristol. Long John sets off, avoiding becoming engaged to Purity Pinker, and barely escaping the alert local sentries.

Long John plots a mutiny on Captain MacDougall's ship. Hawkins discovers Long John's plan and tells the puritanical MacDougall, who decides to maroon Long John and his men on an island that is the secret hideout of Mendoza. Jim sets fire to Mendoza's warehouse so that Long John and his crew can capture Mendoza's ship. As Long John sails for Treasure Island, Mendoza awaits his next ship.

Once on Treasure Island, Long John and his men take shelter in the stockade from Israel Hands, who had survived Jim's shot some time ago, but is blind. Israel keeps Long John and his men trapped, killing them a few at a time. Soon, Mendoza's men arrive, and Israel offers to side with Long John in return for a passage to Cornwall and vengeance against Jim. After they flee, Mendoza burns down the stockade.

Long John follows the trail of the map to the caves where the treasure is buried. Israel tries to kill Jim, but Jim leads him to the coast, where Israel plunges to his death. As Jim heads back to the caves, he is taken by Mendoza, who is going to use him as bait to get Long John, but Long John surrenders to Mendoza, giving his men the opportunity to make an attack, cutting down Mendoza's forces and leaving the rest marooned. Long John returns to Portobello as a rich citizen and dines with the Governor, during which it is implied that Silver received a pardon for his past crimes for the role he played in saving his daughter's life, and for a "generous donation to Government House" that served to "arm the harbor against pirates". He and Jim ride off before Purity Pinker can pull a shotgun wedding.

Cast

Robert Newton as Long John Silver
Connie Gilchrist as Purity Pinker
Lloyd Berrell as Capt. Mendoza, 'El Toro'
Grant Taylor as Patch
Rodney Taylor as Israel Hands
Harvey Adams as Governor Sir Henry Strong
Muriel Steinbeck as Lady Strong
Henry Gilbert as Billy Bowlegs
John Brunskill as Old Stringley
Eric Reiman as Lanky pirate Trip Fenner
Harry Hambleton as Big Eric
Syd Chambers as Ned Shill
George Simpson Little as Capt. Asa MacDougal
Tony Arpino as Mendoza pirate
Al Thomas as Mendoza pirate
Vladislaus Leonaitis
Thora Smith as Elizabeth Strong
Billy Kay as Ironhand
Hans Stern as Father Monaster
Owen Weingott
Don McNiven as Sergeant Cover
Elwyn Daniel as Dodd Perch the dying pirate
Charles McCallum as Elderly naval officer
John Pooley as Young naval officer
Frants Folmer as Sentry
Fred Goddard
Kevin Healy
Jeffrey Bradley
Nicki Martino as Barmaid
Kenneth Warren
John Llewellyn
James Workman
and introducing Kit Taylor as Jim Hawkins

Uncredited

Harry Willis as singer^[9]

Production

Walt Disney's film of Treasure Island (1950), starring Robert Newton as Long John Silver, had been very successful at the box office. Because the novel was in the public domain, producer Joseph Kaufman decided to make a sequel in which Newton reprised his role.

The film was produced by Treasure Island Pictures Pty. Ltd. The company's dominant shareholder and financier was Joseph Kaufman. The minor shareholders were director Byron Haskin, writer Martin Rackin and star Robert Newton.^[10]

The producer chose Australia to film, rather than Egypt, as a number of other films had been successfully made in Australia to reduce production costs, which was a common practice in the 1950s for US and British films, as the Australian crews spoke English.^[11] Part of the funding from the film came from notorious Wall Street financier Louis Wolfson. Byron Haskin alleged that producer Joseph Kaufman ran out of money during production, making shooting extremely difficult.^[12] Haskin arrived in February 1954.^[13]

Byron Haskin had experience working with Australians on His Majesty O'Keefe (1953) and cast several actors from that film, including Grant Taylor, Muriel Steinbeck, and Guy Doleman. Doleman was selected to play Israel Hands but refused to grow a beard and wear contact lenses which were required for the part. He dropped out and Rod Taylor stepped in instead.^[14] The only actors imported were Robert Newton and Connie Gilchrist. The role of Jim Hawkins was given to Grant Taylor's son Kit.^[15]

The film was shot in and around Sydney during 1954. Most of the filming was done at Pagewood Studios, where large sets were built representing a pirate ship, seaport and waterfront street. The filmmakers also constructed a galleon on a barge at Botany Bay, and filmed a sea battle between six foot model ships in Port Hacking. Other locations used included the Jenolan Caves (standing in for the caves on Treasure Island), Garie Beach, south of National Park (as the coast of Portobello) and the town of Waterfall (substituting for Treasure Island).^[16]^[17]^[18]

Production began on 3 May 1954^[19] and shooting lasted for 63 working days.^[20] Filming was complicated by the fact that it was the first movie in Australia shot in CinemaScope.^[21] This was also the first movie to be shot in DeLuxe Color outside the United States. Del Campo became the second Mexican, after Joe MacDonald, to work on a CinemaScope picture.

While making the film, court proceedings were initiated against Newton in England to fulfill his debts, which resulted in his being declared bankrupt.^[22]

Reception

Critical reaction to the film was generally poor.^[23] A color television series, The Adventures of Long John Silver, resulted nonetheless; it ran for one series of 26 episodes. This was the first TV series made in Australia, two years before television broadcasting started in the country. The series began production in 1954 and originally aired in the US, UK, and Australia in 1955–56, 1957–58, and 1958–59, respectively.

Kylie Tennant wrote a novelisation of the script.^[24]

Kaufman took out an option on Pagewood Studios for two more years and announced plans to make other films in Australia including Come Away, Pearler, from the novel by Colin Simpson.^[25]^[26] That did not happen.

The film and its star Robert Newton were referenced several times in the UK TV comedy series Hancock's Half Hour (1956–1961).

References

^ "Gala Film Premiere". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 17 December 1954. p. 13. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ "'Long John Silver' World Premiere" Sydney Morning Herald 8 December 1954 p 6.
^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series: Volume 9: Parts 12–13, Number 1: Motion Pictures and Filmstrips, January–June 1955. Washington: Copyright Office, The Library of Congress, 1955: 17. Internet Archive. Web. 28 February 2012 <https://archive.org/download/catalogofcopyrig391213lib/catalogofcopyrig391213lib_bw.pdf>.
^ "Film Praised" Courier-Mail 24 December 1954 p 1.
^ "Sydney Boy's Film Contract" Townsville Daily Bulletin 9 April 1954 p 6
^ "PRODUCTION 101" ON LOCATION Pirate Film in Colour Will Have Sydney Backgrounds". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 2 June 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ French box office in 1956 at Box Office Story
^ Vagg, Stephen (14 April 2020). "Audio commentary for Long John Silver" (Podcast). Anchor FM.
^ Vagg, Stephen (25 May 2020). "The A to Z of Non-White Aussie Movies and TV in White Australia". Filmink.
^ "Pirate Film In Colour Will Have Sydney Backgrounds" Sydney Morning Herald 2 June 1954. p2.
^ John Stewart, "An Encyclopedia of Australian Film" Reed Books 1984 p 15
^ Vagg, Stephen (2010). Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood. Bear Manor Media. p. 40.
^ "Oronsay Back, Bringing Tourists". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 9 February 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media 2010 p 39
^ "BOY in the Public Eye PAGEWOOD MUTINY". The Sun-Herald. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 11 April 1954. p. 24. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ Long John Silver press book 1954
^ "HERALD MAGAZINE SECTION". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 11 September 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ "A pirate prowls at Pagewood". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 19 May 1954. p. 39. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ "Start on Film" The Courier-Mail 3 May 1954 p 3
^ "Long John Silver Sets Record" The Argus 2 August 1954. p 7
^ "HERALD FEATURES". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 30 September 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ "Robert Newton Alleged To Owe £47,000". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 25 September 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ "London Critics Severe On 'Long John'". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 18 December 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ "Tales By Australian Writers". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 11 December 1954. p. 12. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ "Australian Novel's Film Chance". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 20 July 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
^ "U.S. Producer's Plans For 3 Films Here". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 16 September 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

External links

Long John Silver at IMDb
Long John Silver at AllMovie
Long John Silver at the TCM Movie Database
Long John Silver at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
The Adventures of Long John Silver at Classic Australian Television
Long John Silver at the Rod Taylor Site
Long John Silver at Oz Movies
Review of film at Variety

[1] "Gala Film Premiere". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 17 December 1954. p. 13. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[2] "'Long John Silver' World Premiere" Sydney Morning Herald 8 December 1954 p 6.

[3] Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series: Volume 9: Parts 12–13, Number 1: Motion Pictures and Filmstrips, January–June 1955. Washington: Copyright Office, The Library of Congress, 1955: 17. Internet Archive. Web. 28 February 2012 <https://archive.org/download/catalogofcopyrig391213lib/catalogofcopyrig391213lib_bw.pdf>.

[4] "Film Praised" Courier-Mail 24 December 1954 p 1.

[5] "Sydney Boy's Film Contract" Townsville Daily Bulletin 9 April 1954 p 6

[smh-6] "PRODUCTION 101" ON LOCATION Pirate Film in Colour Will Have Sydney Backgrounds". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 2 June 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[7] French box office in 1956 at Box Office Story

[8] Vagg, Stephen (14 April 2020). "Audio commentary for Long John Silver" (Podcast). Anchor FM.

[9] Vagg, Stephen (25 May 2020). "The A to Z of Non-White Aussie Movies and TV in White Australia". Filmink.

[10] "Pirate Film In Colour Will Have Sydney Backgrounds" Sydney Morning Herald 2 June 1954. p2.

[11] John Stewart, "An Encyclopedia of Australian Film" Reed Books 1984 p 15

[12] Vagg, Stephen (2010). Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood. Bear Manor Media. p. 40.

[13] "Oronsay Back, Bringing Tourists". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 9 February 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[14] Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media 2010 p 39

[15] "BOY in the Public Eye PAGEWOOD MUTINY". The Sun-Herald. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 11 April 1954. p. 24. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[16] Long John Silver press book 1954

[17] "HERALD MAGAZINE SECTION". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 11 September 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[18] "A pirate prowls at Pagewood". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 19 May 1954. p. 39. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[19] "Start on Film" The Courier-Mail 3 May 1954 p 3

[20] "Long John Silver Sets Record" The Argus 2 August 1954. p 7

[21] "HERALD FEATURES". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 30 September 1954. p. 10. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[22] "Robert Newton Alleged To Owe £47,000". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 25 September 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[23] "London Critics Severe On 'Long John'". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 18 December 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[24] "Tales By Australian Writers". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 11 December 1954. p. 12. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[25] "Australian Novel's Film Chance". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 20 July 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

[26] "U.S. Producer's Plans For 3 Films Here". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 16 September 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|1954 pirate adventure film}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2012}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
+{{distinguish|Silver: Return to Treasure Island|Return to Treasure Island (film)}}
 {{Infobox film
-|name=Long John Silver
+| name           = Long John Silver
-|image= Ljspos.jpg
+| image          = Ljspos.jpg
+| caption        = Original [[film poster]]
-|image_size=245px
+| director       = [[Byron Haskin]]
-|caption= Original [[film poster]]
+| producer       = [[Joseph Kaufman (producer)|Joseph Kaufman]]
-|director=[[Byron Haskin]]
+| writer         = [[Martin Rackin]]
-|producer=[[Joseph Kaufman (producer)|Joseph Kaufman]]
+| starring       = [[Robert Newton]]<br>[[Kit Taylor]]<br>[[Connie Gilchrist]]<br>[[Lloyd Berrell]]<br>[[Grant Taylor (actor)|Grant Taylor]]
-|writer=[[Martin Rackin]]
+| music          = [[David Buttolph]]
-|starring=[[Robert Newton]]<br>[[Kit Taylor]]<br>[[Connie Gilchrist]]<br>[[Lloyd Berrell]]<br>[[Grant Taylor (actor)|Grant Taylor]]
+| cinematography = [[Carl Guthrie]] [[A.S.C.]]
-|music=[[David Buttolph]]
+| editing        = [[Manuel delCampo]]
-|cinematography=[[Carl Guthrie]] [[A.S.C.]]
+| studio         = [[Treasure Island Pictures]]
-|editing=[[Manuel delCampo]]
+| distributor    = [[Distributors Corporation of America]]
-|studio=[[Treasure Island Pictures]]
+| released       = {{Film date|1954|12|16|Australia|ref1=<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18455202 |title=Gala Film Premiere. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=17 December 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=13 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>|1954|12|17|UK|ref2=<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27503633 "'Long John Silver' World Premiere"] Sydney Morning Herald 8 December 1954 p 6.</ref>|1954|12|21|U.S.|ref3=<ref>''Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series: Volume 9: Parts 12&ndash;13, Number 1: Motion Pictures and Filmstrips, January&ndash;June 1955''. Washington: Copyright Office, The Library of Congress, 1955: 17. ''[[Internet Archive]]''. Web. 28 February 2012 <https://archive.org/download/catalogofcopyrig391213lib/catalogofcopyrig391213lib_bw.pdf>.</ref><ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50620091 "Film Praised"] Courier-Mail 24 December 1954 p 1.</ref>|df=y}}
-|distributor = [[Distributors Corporation of America]]
+| runtime        = 106 minutes
-|released=16 December 1954 (Australia)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18455202 |title=Gala Film Premiere. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=17 December 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=13 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><br>17 December 1954 (UK)<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27503633 "'Long John Silver' World Premiere"] Sydney Morning Herald 8 December 1954 p 6.</ref><br>21 December 1954 (USA)<ref>''Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series: Volume 9: Parts 12&ndash;13, Number 1: Motion Pictures and Filmstrips, January&ndash;June 1955''. Washington: Copyright Office, The Library of Congress, 1955: 17. ''[[Internet Archive]]''. Web. 28 February 2012 <https://archive.org/download/catalogofcopyrig391213lib/catalogofcopyrig391213lib_bw.pdf>.</ref><ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50620091 "Film Praised"] Courier-Mail 24 December 1954 p 1.</ref>
+| country        = United States<br>Australia
-|runtime=106 minutes
+| budget         = US$1,000,000<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62506920 "Sydney Boy's Film Contract"]  Townsville Daily Bulletin 9 April 1954 p 6</ref><ref name="smh">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18424923 |title=PRODUCTION 101" ON LOCATION Pirate Film in Colour Will Have Sydney Backgrounds. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2 June 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
-|country=United States<br>Australia
-|budget=US$ 1,000,000 <ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62506920 "Sydney Boy's Film Contract"]  Townsville Daily Bulletin 9 April 1954 p 6</ref><ref name="smh">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18424923 |title=PRODUCTION 101" ON LOCATION Pirate Film In Colour Will Have Sydney Backgrounds. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2 June 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
 |gross=754,745 admissions (France)<ref>[http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com.au&sl=fr&u=http://www.boxofficestory.com/france-1956-c22750159/3&usg=ALkJrhicAN6mWGUe3ek0Kw0eu28OEGCYWg French box office in 1956] at Box Office Story</ref>
 }}
+'''''Long John Silver''''', also known as '''''Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island''''', is a 1954 American-Australian adventure film about the eponymous [[pirate]] [[Long John Silver]], with [[Robert Newton]] repeating his starring role from [[Walt Disney]]'s 1950 feature ''[[Treasure Island (1950 film)|Treasure Island]]''. Newton's billing in the opening credits states, "Robert Newton as [[Robert Louis Stevenson]]'s immortal", followed by the title ''Long John Silver'', presenting '''''Robert Louis Stevenson's immortal Long John Silver''''' as another of the film's alternate titles.
-'''''Long John Silver''''', also known as '''''Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island''''', is a 1954 American-Australian adventure film about the eponymous [[pirate]] [[Long John Silver]], with [[Robert Newton]] repeating his starring role from [[Walt Disney]]'s 1950 feature ''[[Treasure Island (1950 film)|Treasure Island]]''. Newton's billing in the opening credits states, "Robert Newton as [[Robert Louis Stevenson]]'s immortal", followed by the title ''Long John Silver''.
 [[Kit Taylor]] plays [[Jim Hawkins (Treasure Island)|Jim Hawkins]], [[Connie Gilchrist]] is Purity Pinker, [[Lloyd Berrell]] is Capt. Mendoza, Kit Taylor's father [[Grant Taylor (actor)|Grant Taylor]] plays Patch and 24-year-old [[Rod Taylor]], credited under his early stage name, Rodney Taylor, has the showy role of the blind bearded pirate [[Israel Hands]] who murderously pursues Jim.<ref>{{cite podcast|publisher=Anchor FM|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=Audio commentary for Long John Silver|date=14 April 2020|url=https://anchor.fm/stephen-vagg/episodes/Audio-commentary-for-Long-John-Silver-1954-ecnv2l}}</ref>
@@ Line 28: / Line 27: @@
 The film was shot in [[CinemaScope]] and color at [[Sydney]]'s [[Pagewood Studios]] and the same company went on to make ''[[The Adventures of Long John Silver]]'', a 26-episode TV series with the same actors. The director, [[Byron Haskin]], also directed the 1950 Disney film and at least one episode of the TV series.
-''Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island'' should not be confused with another 1954 American film, ''[[Return to Treasure Island (film)|Return to Treasure Island]]'', released six months earlier, in June, with stars [[Tab Hunter]] and [[Dawn Addams]]. Hunter plays a researcher of secrets hidden within Stevenson's ''[[Treasure Island]]'' and Addams is Jamesina "Jamie" Hawkins, a descendant of Jim Hawkins. In the film's universe, the characters and events described in Stevenson's adventure novel are portrayed as a part of history.
+''Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island'' should not be confused with another 1954 American film, ''[[Return to Treasure Island (film)|Return to Treasure Island]]'', released six months earlier, in June, with stars [[Tab Hunter]] and [[Dawn Addams]].
 ==Plot==
-The movie is set some time after the events of ''Treasure Island''. Long John Silver receives grave news from Dod Perch of a massacre by Mendoza, who had also kidnapped Governor Strong's daughter Elizabeth for ransom along with Jim Hawkins. Long John also learns of a second treasure cache on Treasure Island; the only clue to its location is a pirate medallion. Long John visits Governor Strong and his wife and proposes to deliver the ransom before they pursue Mendoza.
+The movie is set some time after the events of ''Treasure Island''. Long John Silver and crew are broke and bumming around Portobello (a fictional port in the [[British West Indies]]).  Long John has a map to a second treasure cache on Treasure Island; but needs a special medallion to decode it. The pirate Mendoza has kidnapped Governor Strong's daughter Elizabeth and is holding her ransom. Also captured is Jim Hawkins, who has been press ganged into serving as cabin boy. Hawkins has secretly helped Dod Perch escape, and sent them to track down Long John Silver for help. Perch manages to find Long John, but is beaten to the punch and killed by two of Mendoza's men. Perch is able to mention Mendoza, Strong and Hawkins before perishing. Long John visits Governor Strong and his wife and proposes to deliver the ransom before they pursue Mendoza.
-During the pickup of the ransom, Long John goes with Billy Bowlegs to Mendoza's ship and explains that Billy shot his two partners to hoard the ransom money for himself. Long John, invited on the ship, suggests to Mendoza that he leave Elizabeth on shore and lure the governor's warships away in order to sack the king's warehouses. As Mendoza carries out the plan, Long John finds that Jim possesses the pirate medallion indicating the second treasure's location. Mendoza begins to double cross Long John, but Long John has his men ambush and capture Mendoza along with the warehouse fortune, while Jim and Elizabeth make their escape.
+During the pickup of the ransom, Long John goes with Billy Bowlegs to Mendoza's ship and blackmails Mendoza over their plan to hoard the ransom money. Long John suggests to Mendoza that he leave Elizabeth on shore and lure the governor's warships away in order to sack the king's warehouses. As Mendoza carries out the plan, Long John finds that Jim possesses the pirate medallion indicating the second treasure's location. Mendoza begins to double cross Long John, but Long John has his men ambush and capture Mendoza along with the warehouse fortune, while Jim and Elizabeth make their escape.
-Back at the governor's house, Jim is offered the chance to go back to England, but Long John has plans to take Jim with him on the second voyage to Treasure Island. Long John seizes an opportunity to charter Captain MacDougall's ship for the voyage. Long John sets off, avoiding becoming engaged to Purity Pinker, and barely escaping the alert local sentries.
+Back at the governor's house, Jim is offered the chance to go back to England, but Long John has plans to take Jim with him on the second voyage to Treasure Island. After his crew has been captured along with the warehouse loot, Long John seizes an opportunity to crew Captain MacDougall's ship, the same slave ship carrying Hawkins back to [[Bristol]]. Long John sets off, avoiding becoming engaged to Purity Pinker, and barely escaping the alert local sentries.
-Long John plots a mutiny on Captain MacDougall's ship. MacDougall discovers Long John's plan and decides to maroon Long John and his men on an island that is the secret hideout of Mendoza. Jim sets fire to Mendoza's warehouse so that Long John and his crew can capture Mendoza's ship. As Long John sails for Treasure Island, Mendoza awaits his next ship.
+Long John plots a mutiny on Captain MacDougall's ship. Hawkins discovers Long John's plan and tells the puritanical MacDougall, who decides to maroon Long John and his men on an island that is the secret hideout of Mendoza. Jim sets fire to Mendoza's warehouse so that Long John and his crew can capture Mendoza's ship. As Long John sails for Treasure Island, Mendoza awaits his next ship.
 Once on Treasure Island, Long John and his men take shelter in the stockade from Israel Hands, who had survived Jim's shot some time ago, but is blind. Israel keeps Long John and his men trapped, killing them a few at a time. Soon, Mendoza's men arrive, and Israel offers to side with Long John in return for a passage to Cornwall and vengeance against Jim. After they flee, Mendoza burns down the stockade.
-Long John follows the trail of the map to the caves where the treasure is buried. Israel tries to kill Jim, but Jim leads him to the coast, where Israel plunges to his death. As Jim heads back to the caves, he is taken by Mendoza, who is going to use him as bait to get Long John, but Long John surrenders to Mendoza, giving his men the opportunity to make a gunpowder attack, cutting down Mendoza's forces and leaving the rest marooned. Long John returns as an honorable citizen, but he and Jim ride off.
+Long John follows the trail of the map to the caves where the treasure is buried. Israel tries to kill Jim, but Jim leads him to the coast, where Israel plunges to his death. As Jim heads back to the caves, he is taken by Mendoza, who is going to use him as bait to get Long John, but Long John surrenders to Mendoza, giving his men the opportunity to make an attack, cutting down Mendoza's forces and leaving the rest marooned. Long John returns to Portobello as a rich citizen and dines with the Governor, during which it is implied that Silver received a pardon for his past crimes for the role he played in saving his daughter's life, and for a "generous donation to Government House" that served to "arm the harbor against pirates". He and Jim ride off before Purity Pinker can pull a shotgun wedding.
 ==Cast==
@@ Line 89: / Line 88: @@
 The producer chose Australia to film, rather than Egypt, as a number of other films had been successfully made in Australia to reduce production costs, which was a common practice in the 1950s for US and British films, as the Australian crews spoke English.<ref>John Stewart, "An Encyclopedia of Australian Film" Reed Books 1984 p 15</ref> Part of the funding from the film came from notorious Wall Street financier [[Louis Wolfson]]. Byron Haskin alleged that producer Joseph Kaufman ran out of money during production, making shooting extremely difficult.<ref>{{cite book | first=Stephen | last=Vagg | title=Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood | publisher=Bear Manor Media | year=2010 | page=40}}</ref> Haskin arrived in February 1954.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18408833 |title=Oronsay Back, Bringing Tourists. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=9 February 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
-Byron Haskin had experience working with Australians on ''[[His Majesty O'Keefe]]'' (1953) and cast several actors from that film, including [[Grant Taylor (actor)|Grant Taylor]], [[Muriel Steinbeck]], and [[Guy Doleman]]. Doleman was selected to play Israel Hands but refused to grow a beard and wear contact lenses which were required for the part. He dropped out and [[Rod Taylor]] stepped in instead.<ref>Stephen Vagg, ''Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood'', Bear Manor Media 2010 p 39</ref> The only actors imported were Robert Newton and Connie Gilchrist. The role of Jim Hawkins was given to Grant Taylor's son Kit.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28660609 |title=BOY In The Public Eye PAGEWOOD MUTINY. |newspaper=[[The Sun-Herald]] |location=Sydney |date=11 April 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=24 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
+Byron Haskin had experience working with Australians on ''[[His Majesty O'Keefe]]'' (1953) and cast several actors from that film, including [[Grant Taylor (actor)|Grant Taylor]], [[Muriel Steinbeck]], and [[Guy Doleman]]. Doleman was selected to play Israel Hands but refused to grow a beard and wear contact lenses which were required for the part. He dropped out and [[Rod Taylor]] stepped in instead.<ref>Stephen Vagg, ''Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood'', Bear Manor Media 2010 p 39</ref> The only actors imported were Robert Newton and Connie Gilchrist. The role of Jim Hawkins was given to Grant Taylor's son Kit.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28660609 |title=BOY in the Public Eye PAGEWOOD MUTINY. |newspaper=[[The Sun-Herald]] |location=Sydney |date=11 April 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=24 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
-The film was shot in and around [[Sydney]] during 1954. Most of the filming was done at Pagewood Studios, where large sets were built representing a pirate ship, seaport and waterfront street. The filmmakers also constructed a galleon on a barge at [[Botany Bay]], and filmed a sea battle between six foot model ships in [[Port Hacking]]. Other locations used included the [[Jenolan Caves]] (standing in for the caves on Treasure Island), [[Garie Beach]], south of National Park (as the coast of Puerto Bello) and the town of [[Waterfall, New South Wales|Waterfall]] (substituting for Treasure Island).<ref>''Long John Silver'' press book 1954</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18459678 |title=HERALD MAGAZINE SECTION. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=11 September 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51775862 |title=A pirate prowls at Pagewood. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=19 May 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=39 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
+The film was shot in and around [[Sydney]] during 1954. Most of the filming was done at Pagewood Studios, where large sets were built representing a pirate ship, seaport and waterfront street. The filmmakers also constructed a galleon on a barge at [[Botany Bay]], and filmed a sea battle between six foot model ships in [[Port Hacking]]. Other locations used included the [[Jenolan Caves]] (standing in for the caves on Treasure Island), [[Garie Beach]], south of National Park (as the coast of Portobello) and the town of [[Waterfall, New South Wales|Waterfall]] (substituting for Treasure Island).<ref>''Long John Silver'' press book 1954</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18459678 |title=HERALD MAGAZINE SECTION. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=11 September 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51775862 |title=A pirate prowls at Pagewood. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=19 May 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=39 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
-Production began on 3 May 1954<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50598961 "Start on Film"] The Courier-Mail 3 May 1954 p 3</ref> and shooting lasted for 63 working days.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23420680 "Long John Silver Sets Record"] The Argus 2 August 1954. p 7</ref> Filming was complicated by the fact that it was the first movie in Australia shot in [[CinemaScope]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18462608 |title=HERALD FEATURES. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=30 September 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>  This was also the first movie to be shot in [[DeLuxe Color]] outside the United States.  Del Campo became the second Mexican, after [[Joseph MacDonald|Joe MacDonald]], to work on a CinemaScope picture.
+Production began on 3 May 1954<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50598961 "Start on Film"] The Courier-Mail 3 May 1954 p 3</ref> and shooting lasted for 63 working days.<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23420680 "Long John Silver Sets Record"] The Argus 2 August 1954. p 7</ref> Filming was complicated by the fact that it was the first movie in Australia shot in [[CinemaScope]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18462608 |title=HERALD FEATURES. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=30 September 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> This was also the first movie to be shot in [[DeLuxe Color]] outside the United States.  Del Campo became the second Mexican, after [[Joseph MacDonald|Joe MacDonald]], to work on a CinemaScope picture.
 While making the film, court proceedings were initiated against Newton in England to fulfill his debts, which resulted in his being declared bankrupt.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27515354 |title=Robert Newton Alleged To Owe £47,000. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=25 September 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
 ==Reception==
-Critical reaction to the film was generally poor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18446587 |title=London Critics Severe On 'Long John'. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=18 December 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>  A color television series, ''[[The Adventures of Long John Silver]]'', resulted nonetheless; it ran for one series of 26 episodes. This was the first TV series made in Australia, two years before television first started there, and it and star Robert Newton were referenced several times in 50's/60's UK classic TV comedy "Hancock's Half Hour" . The series began production in 1954 and originally aired in the USA, UK, and Australia in 1955-56, 1957-58, and 1958-59, respectively.
+Critical reaction to the film was generally poor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18446587 |title=London Critics Severe On 'Long John'. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=18 December 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> A color television series, ''[[The Adventures of Long John Silver]]'', resulted nonetheless; it ran for one series of 26 episodes. This was the first TV series made in Australia, two years before television broadcasting started in the country. The series began production in 1954 and originally aired in the US, UK, and Australia in 1955–56, 1957–58, and 1958–59, respectively.
 [[Kylie Tennant]] wrote a [[novelisation]] of the script.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18445600 |title=Tales By Australian Writers. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=11 December 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
 Kaufman took out an option on [[Pagewood Studios]] for two more years and announced plans to make other films in Australia including ''Come Away, Pearler'', from the novel by Colin Simpson.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18425263 |title=Australian Novel's Film Chance. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=20 July 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18454480 |title=U.S. Producer's Plans For 3 Films Here. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=16 September 1954 |accessdate=25 August 2012 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> That did not happen.
+The film and its star Robert Newton were referenced several times in the UK TV comedy series ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'' (1956–1961).
 ==References==
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 * {{TCMDb title}}
 * {{AFI film}}
-*{{Internet Archive film|cco_longjohnsilver}}
 *[http://www.classicaustraliantv.com/advljs.htm ''The Adventures of Long John Silver''] at Classic Australian Television
 *[http://rodtaylorsite.com/longjohnsilver.shtml ''Long John Silver''] at the Rod Taylor Site
@@ Line 124: / Line 124: @@
 {{Byron Haskin}}
 {{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Long John Silver (Film)}}
-[[Category:Australian films]]
+[[Category:Australian adventure films]]
 [[Category:1954 adventure films]]
 [[Category:1954 films]]
@@ Line 132: / Line 133: @@
 [[Category:Treasure Island films]]
 [[Category:Films shot in Australia]]
-[[Category:American films]]
 [[Category:American adventure films]]
 [[Category:CinemaScope films]]
+[[Category:1950s American films]]

v t e Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island
Characters	Billy Bones Captain Alexander Smollett Captain Flint Ben Gunn Israel Hands Jim Hawkins Dr. Livesey (1988 film adaptation) Long John Silver Squire Trelawney
Films	Treasure Island (1918) Treasure Island (1920) Treasure Island (1934) The Secret of Treasure Island (1938) Treasure Island (1950) Long John Silver (1954) Return to Treasure Island (1954) Between God, the Devil and a Winchester (1968) Franco, Ciccio e il pirata Barbanera (1969) Animal Treasure Island (1971) Treasure Island (1971) Treasure Island (1972) Treasure Island (1973) Treasure Planet (1982) Treasure Island (1982) Treasure Island (1986) Treasure Island (1988) Treasure Island (1990) Muppet Treasure Island (1996) Treasure Island (1999) Treasure Planet (2002) Pirates of Treasure Island (2006) Doraemon: Nobita's Treasure Island (2018)
Television	The Adventures of Long John Silver (1954) Treasure Island (1966) Treasure Island (1977) Treasure Island (1978) Return to Treasure Island (1986) Treasure Island in Outer Space (1987) The Legends of Treasure Island (1993) Ken Russell's Treasure Island (1995) Treasure Island (2012) Black Sails (2014)
Video games	Pirate Adventure (1978) Treasure Island (1984) Muppet Treasure Island (1996) Treasure Planet: Battle at Procyon (2002) Destination: Treasure Island (2006)
Other adaptations and sequels	Shin Takarajima (1947 manga) Pieces of Eight (1985 musical) Jim Hawkins and the Curse of Treasure Island (2001 novel) The Resurrection Casket (2006 novel) Long John Silver (2007 comic) Silver (2012 novel)
Related	Black Spot Legend of the Cybermen "Shiver my timbers" "Dead Man's Chest"