Treasure Island (1950) - Directed by Byron Haskin

Disney's first live action film is a fun, entertaining adventure following the journey of Jim Hawkins, a young boy caught in the middle of a search for buried treasure. The film remains a classic today, largely thanks to the excellent performance by Robert Newton as Long John Silver.

Treasure Island is the story of Jim Hawkins, a young boy who is gifted a map to a famous pirate's treasure. After being invited on a voyage to seek out this treasure by British merchants, Jim befriends the ship's cook Long John Silver. In an expected twist, Silver is revealed to be a pirate captain, set on taking over the expedition and uncovering the treasure for himself. Despite this "villainous" turn, Silver's relationship with Jim push the story along and serves as the heart of the film.

Much like Johnny Depp's turn as Jack Sparrow, Treasure Island succeeds because of the amazing performance by Robert Newton as Long John Silver. You cannot help but cheer for the man. His charm, wit, and overall appearance steal the show and leave you wanting more. I was hoping he'd succeed in his mission, despite my natural hope for the "good guys" to win.

In addition to Newton, the film has great production quality. The ship is beautiful as are all the locations. The story and other performances are forgettable, but that's fine simply due to Long John Silver being in the film. He steals the show. While other adaptions of Treasure Island have fallen short, this film succeeds thanks to Robert Newton. His performance alone makes this film worth watching.

Final Verdict: 4/5 stars

5 = Excellent

4 = Very good, would rewatch

3 = Good, but won't rewatch

2 = Bad, but with a few good moments

1 = Terrible