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My high school students will really enjoy this classic. We love to compare the book with the movie. These old movies are great for the classroom.

This is the best Treasure Island. Long John Silver is treacherously endearing. He has the best Pirate Talk and fits the part like it was made for him. There is action, and adventure.

In 1990 TNT produced an original movie starring Charleton Heston as Long John Silver. Young Jim was played by a very young Christain Bale. Why this movie has never been released on DVD is beyond me, because the Disney version is awful. It's corny, stupid and dated. Honestly, the nostalgia people have for this film is the only reason it's ranked as high as it is. Do yourself a favor and hunt down TNT's Treasure Island on VHS. It's not the best format, but it is a far superior film.

With Treasure Island you have to take the good with the bad. Being a Disney film from the 1950's the acting is served up with some thick slices of ham and most of the movie is clearly filmed on a sound stage. I would contrast this with the 2001 film Cast Away that was filled with stunning location shots on a remote island. The fact that it never feels like we actually leave the Disney sound stages does diminish the film for me but that is simply the way it was done back then. The centerpiece of the film is without a doubt Robert Newton as the one legged, parrot on his shoulder, Long John Silver. Newton has essentially become the template for the generic pirate and if you watch his acting now it feels hilariously clichéd. After John Silver cleverly disposed of Mr. Arrow a eulogy was held and following the prayer Silver server up an `arRRRrmen'. I couldn't help but burst out laughing but I wasn't laughing at the film but with the semi-unintentional humor. It's not Disney's fault that Netwon's portrayal made such an indelible impact on our collective psyche that his very speech pattern has become the model of a cartoon pirate. On national `Talk like a Pirate' people are essentially speaking like Robert Newton whether they know it or not. The film itself didn't blow me away. I found it rather dated and hokey which was not unexpected when watching a Disney film that's nearly sixty years old. There was one fight between the pirates and the rest of the crew of the Hispaniola that gave me a chuckle when the filmmakers used the old chestnut of putting paint on a sword and running it down the bare chest of a pirate to give the less than convincing illusion that that man was slashed. Newton's scenery chewing acting is fun but other actors take it a bit over the top to the point of distracting. I have a feeling the young viewers will find the film a bit boring when compared to modern special effects laden films and I have to confess that even I found it a bit plodding at times. It's a fairly faithful adaptation although the ending was slightly altered. Long John Silver steals a rowboat and paddles off into the sunset which seemed kind of funny since I was always under that impression that Treasure Island was a long way away from mainland. Treasure Island is good for a viewing but for me once was nice and I don't feel the need to actually own it. I would defintely suggest getting the original Robert Lewis Stenveson classic book.

I bought this for my 6 year old son who loves pirates. We didn't even finish half of it because we couldn't keep up. The dialogue was way over his head (even mine part of the time). We will keep it and try again in a few years.

Reviews

The Bottom Line: A glorious Technicolor adventure that is reminiscent of the beloved Wizard of Oz in the way that it combines high adventure and lovable characters in a manner that will appeal to people of all ages, The Thief of Baghdad is really a delightful film that hasn't attained full "classic" status but richly deserves it. 3.5/4

What a marvelous classic. And with Sabu as the thief, Conrad Veidt as the scheming sorcerer/villian and Rex Ingram as the genie no less. Although the "special effects" are laughably primitive by todays standards, they work and only add to the charm of this wonderful fantasy/adventure. Many of the scenes have a dream like appearance that is most memorable. June Duprez is ravashing as the heroine and John Justin shines as the handsome dethroned king and her heroic suitor.

Folks, if you like good old fashioned adventure, hocus pocus, and mumbo-jumbo mixed with colorful photography minus the graphic blood & guts-fests of modern times that you could watch with the whole family, then this is for you! Not to be confused with the also-excellent Douglas Fairbanks silent flick of 1924 (the story is almost completely different) or the actual tale of Aladdin in the ARABIAN NIGHTS, this is simply a wonderful piece of entertainment and a DVD worth the price. This does some alterations on the classic tale by splitting Aladdin into two characters, a handsome, wrongly desposed King (John Justin) and a scappy but charming street urchin and thief (Sabu). Jaffar (Conrad Veight, of CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI infamy) tries to take over a throne and a beautiful princess. He uses classic screen villanry and trickery to get the princess' senile father as well as Justin and Sabu out of the way. Also worthy of honorable mention is Rex Ingram (The Green Pastures) as the marvelously bellowing genie. Everything here works. Likeable heroes, campy villans, good story, fine special effects (which were probably astonishing for 1940 and still enjoyable today). However, this edition has some weak special features. Korda's 1940 Brit WW2 propaganda film will put you to sleep, and the commentary almost runins things by spilling the beans on the special effex 9why some commentators feel the need ot do this is beyond me). But all that aisde, get it, bring the whole family oer (as well as friends and snacks) and you will truly enjoy. Oh yeah, read the real Arabian Nights afterwards for comparison.

This movie is recommended on Roger Ebert's site. Considering this was made in 1940, the effects are amazing with towering genies and flying carpets, and a special world filled with vibrant colors, amazing storytelling, and sparkling dialogue. According to Ebert his 7 year old grandchild loved it, so it has a classic timeless quality about it. The version I saw also featured commentaries with both Martin Scorsese and Francis Coppola, who were both inspired by this movie as children, and it would appear that this is a favorite among well known directors. Their affection for this movie and its history is quite obvious. I totally enjoyed it not only for its beauty, but for its story, and the way it grips you, and its surprising twists and turns. Loved the genie. I could easily imagine a child being taken by this movie. I hope you find this review helpful, and Thief of Bagdad enjoyable.

I saw this film as a child and didn't remember the title, so searched for the original movie for years under various movie titles, Magic Carpet, etc. Finally, at age 68, accidentally stumbled upon it only to find out it was a film classic. Didn't remember it being in color, so probably color enhanced since original release in 40's. Worth a watch for all ages. Very entertaining for the young at heart.

Reviews

First off, let me say that I'm grateful to Warners for bringing classics like this to DVD. I never tire of watching films from the 30s, to me the greatest decade in Hollywood. However...for me this film suffers greatly from its two stars. Jackie Cooper is just plain annoying with his protruding lower lip (what my mother called "a kitchen shelf") and his "Gee whiz, bless my soul" interjections at the end of practically every scene, and above all his whining voice that sounds every bit like Judy Garland in THE WIZARD OF OZ. (Did MGM have an vocal coach assigned to child actors to ensure that they all sounded alike?) I think it would be a hoot to extract lines from one movie and swap them with the other...or create a scene between Dorothy Gale and Jim Hawkins. The movie, while certainly well made, staggers back and forth between swashbuckling adventures and comedy of both high and low quality. Nigel Bruce has one characterization, whether he's in something like this or a Sherlock Holmes film. The supporting cast I found more entertaining than the stars. As for the pirates' singing, they sounded a bit too Norman Luboff or Fred Waring to be anything close to authentic. But despite its flaws, I hope Warners Home Video continues to unearth and spruce up these classics.

Most of the positives about this superb film have been well written already. I would like to focus on what I found to be the surprise performance of the film, Lewis Stone. I always found him to be a likable functional actor lacking the extra spark of the great character actors of his day, though, as Judge Hardy, he had no peer. In "Treasure Island" he has a very commanding presence that leaves the viewer with no doubt that he is a Captain of the Royal Navy. He adds much to the scenes during the seige of the stockade, giving his character just enough hard edge without suggesting that he is a martinet. Also, was there ever a scurvier collection of pirates? Don't miss this one.

excellent rendition of robret louis stephenson's treasrue island. There is nothing bad I can say about this film It's just wonderful from start to finish.

I remember watching this film a few times as a kid. This has been the first time that I saw it since then. This was as good as I remembered it to be.

This original movie of Treasure Island is very realistic since it was made in the early 1900's, a time when alot of the old tall ships were still around.

Reviews

These are far lighter and less durable than lead to believe. Cannot maim, alarm, or even fly more than 2 feet. Also they are about 3 inches long. How am I suppose to fight crime with these????

We bought these for the goody bags for our son's birthday party. The kids were excited when they saw them in their bags, but the excitement soon faded when they realized they are too light to throw very far. The cat likes to chew on them though!