Treasure Island (1934)
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56% of users liked it
(1,593 ratings)
This fifth film version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island boasts an all-star MGM cast, headed by Wallace Beery as Long John Silver and Jackie Cooper as Jim Hawkins. The screenplay, by John Lee Mahin, John Howard Lawson and Leonard Praskins, remains faithful to the Stevenson… More This fifth film version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island boasts an all-star MGM cast, headed by Wallace Beery as Long John Silver and Jackie Cooper as Jim Hawkins. The screenplay, by John Lee Mahin, John Howard Lawson and Leonard Praskins, remains faithful to the Stevenson original...up to a point. The story begins when drunken old sea dog Billy Bones (Lionel Barrymore) drags himself into the seaside pub managed by Jim and his mother (Dorothy Peterson). After Billy is killed by the scurrilous Blind Pew (William V. Mong) and his henchmen, Jim discovers that the deceased ex-pirate carries a treasure map on his person. Together with Dr. Livesey (Otto Kruger) and Squire Trelawny (Nigel Bruce), Jim books passage on a ship captained by Alexander Smollett (Lewis Stone); their destination is the "treasure island" depicted on the map. Smollett doesn't like the voyage nor the crew, and not without reason: ship's cook Long John Silver has rounded up the crew from the dregs of the earth, fully intending to mutiny and claim the treasure for himself. A further plot complications awaits both treasure-seekers and pirates in the person of half-mad island hermit Ben Gunn (Chic Sale) who's already found the treasure and has stashed it away for himself. Towards the end, the plot strays from the Stevenson version in detailing the ultimate fate of ruthless-but-lovable Long John Silver. While consummately produced, Treasure Island suffers from overlength and a mannered performance by Jackie Cooper. Disney's 1950 remake with Robert Newton and Bobby Driscoll is far more satisfying. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Victor Fleming
- Written By
- Robert Louis Stevenson, John Lee Mahin, Leonard Praskins, John Howard Lawson
- Genres
- Classics, Action & Adventure
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 17, 1934 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Spry adaptation of beloved pirate yarn has a treasured cast.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A quality Hollywood adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson kiddie classic.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...young (Jackie) Cooper has a hard time holding his own against the older cast members, but that point aside, the film is a delight.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Five minutes into the picture, I pretty much forgot about its 1934 production date and was caught up in the characters and story.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Wallace Beery
as Long John Silver
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Jackie Cooper
as Jim Hawkins
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Lionel Barrymore
as Billy Bones
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Otto Kruger
as Dr. Livesev
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Lewis Stone
as Capt. Alexander Smollett
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Nigel Bruce
as Squire Trelawney
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Charles "Chic" Sale
as Ben Gunn
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William V. Mong
as Pew
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Charles McNaughton
as Black Dog
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Dorothy Peterson
as Mrs. Hawkins
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Robert A'Dair
as Tom
- Robert Anderson
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Wilson Benge
as Friend at Inn
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Robert Bolder
as Mild Man at Inn
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Edmund Breese
as Anderson
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James Burke
as George Merry
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W.B. Clarke
as Allan
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Cora Sue Collins
as Child at Inn
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Harry Cording
as Henry
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Sidney D'Albrook
as Joyce
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Jill Dennett
as Streetwalker
- Kay Deslys
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Vernon P. Downing
as Boy at Inn
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Douglas Dumbrille
as [Ugly Israel] Hands
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Frank G. Dunn
as Hunter
- Frank S. Hagney
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Olin Howland
as Dick
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Charles Irwin
as Abraham Gray
- Cornelius Keefe
- John Kerr (II)
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J.M. Kerrigan
as Tom Morgan
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Edward Pawley
as O'Brien
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Richard Powell
as William Post
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Yorke Sherwood
as Mr. Arrow
- Bob Stevenson
- Tom Wilson
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John Anderson
as Harry Sykes
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Tom Mahoney
as Redruth
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Harold Wilson
as Oldster
- Ed Brady
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Harold Entwistle
as Ship's Chandler
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Edith Kingdon
as Wife at Inn
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King Mojave
as Pirate
- Jane Tallent
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Charles Bennett
as Dandy Dawson
- James Mason
