Review: Treasure Island (1990)


In this seafaring adventure for young and old, a post-“Empire of the Sun” (but pre-“American Psycho”) Christian Bale stars as young adventurer Jim Hawkins, who thanks to phlegmatic old sea dog Billy Bones (Oliver Reed, having a ball) learns of the whereabouts of pirate’s treasure. On board the ship Hispaniola, young Jim is torn between the ship’s intelligent, capable Captain Smollett (Clive Wood), and the charismatic, but crafty scallywag Long John Silver (Charlton Heston). Michael Halsey and Pete Postlethwaite are Silver’s two chief henchmen, Julian Glover (a most underrated character actor) is Dr. Livesey, who tries to look out for Jim, whilst Richard Johnson plays the eccentric old fuddy-duddy Squire Trelawney almost for laughs. Christopher Lee plays a skeletal Blind Pew, who gives Billy Bones the black spot that seals his doom in the early stages.


Though filmed for television by director Fraser Heston (Yes, the Son of Moses), this 1990 adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic is jolly good fun, possibly one of the best TV movies I’ve ever seen. Heston the Elder (i.e. Moses) is effectively cast against-type as the grizzled, unscrupulous Long John Silver, though (despite a shark-like grin) he’s far from the most fearsome pirate you’ll ever meet. He gets the imposing quality down pat, however, and some might favour his surprisingly mostly cheese-free (hey, compare it to Orson Welles’ ham and cheese sandwich, OK?) interpretation. Bale, Glover, Halsey (as the shifty, haggard Israel Hands, who seems far more dangerous than Silver himself!), and especially Johnson are also fine.


However, it’s old pros Reed and (a cockney!) Lee at the film’s beginning that really liven this one up. Reed (possibly drunk), cranks it up to 11 in hamminess in his brief appearance, and Lee is almost unrecognisable in looks and voice here, in a truly repulsive, genuinely creepy cameo as something in between The Grim Reaper and a hideous leper. These two are so vivid (and so is the thick, foggy atmosphere!) that you kinda wish the film could stay on dry land. But the sea-faring is enjoyable, too, so why complain? The screenplay is by the director, and apparently pretty faithful to Stevenson too.
 

Rating: B

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