Long John Silver (film): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →‎External links: Changed "Website onthe film and TV series " to '' 'The Adventures of Long John Silver'' at Classic Australian Television"
No edit summary
Line 6: Line 6:
| director = [[Byron Haskin]]
| director = [[Byron Haskin]]
| producer = Joe Kaufmann<br/>Mark Evans
| producer = Joe Kaufmann<br/>Mark Evans
| writer = Martin Rackin<br/>[[Robert Louis Stevenson]] (characters)
| writer = [[Martin Rackin]]
| based on = characters created by [[Robert Louis Stevenson]]
| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = [[Robert Newton]]<br/>[[Rod Taylor]]
| starring = [[Robert Newton]]<br/>[[Rod Taylor]]
Line 17: Line 18:
| country = {{Film Australia}}
| country = {{Film Australia}}
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| budget =
| gross =
| gross =
| preceded by = ''[[Treasure Island (1950 film)|Treasure Island]]''
| preceded by = ''[[Treasure Island (1950 film)|Treasure Island]]''
Line 41: Line 42:


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 he plunges off to his death. As Jim heads back to the caves, he 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 honourable 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 he plunges off to his death. As Jim heads back to the caves, he 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 honourable citizen, but he and Jim ride off.

== Production ==
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 (town)|Waterfall]] (substituting for Treasure Island).<ref>''Long John Silver'' press book 1954</ref>

Part of the funding from the film came from notorious financier [[Louis Wolfson]]. [[Byron Haskin]] alleged producer Joseph Kaufman ran out of money during production, making shooting extremely difficult.<ref>Stephen Vagg, ''Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood'', Bear Manor Media 2010 p 40</ref>

[[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.<ref>Stephen Vagg, ''Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood'', Bear Manor Media 2010 p 39</ref>


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
Line 59: Line 67:
* [[Tony Arpino]] as Mendoza pirate
* [[Tony Arpino]] as Mendoza pirate
* [[Al Thomas]] as Mendoza pirate
* [[Al Thomas]] as Mendoza pirate

==References==
{{reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 70: Line 81:
* {{amg movie|id=1:29928}}
* {{amg movie|id=1:29928}}
* [http://www.classicaustraliantv.com/advljs.htm ''The Adventures of Long John Silver''] at Classic Australian Television
* [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


{{Treasure Island}}
{{Treasure Island}}

Revision as of 10:40, 22 September 2011

Long John Silver
Directed byByron Haskin
Written byMartin Rackin
Produced byJoe Kaufmann
Mark Evans
StarringRobert Newton
Rod Taylor
CinematographyCarl E. Guthrie
Edited byManuel del Campo
Music byDavid Buttolph
Distributed byTreasure Island Pictures Pty. Ltd.
Release date
1954
Running time
106 minutes
CountryTemplate:Film Australia
LanguageEnglish

Long John Silver is a 1954 Australian film about the eponymous pirate from Treasure Island, starring Robert Newton as Silver and Rod Taylor as Israel Hands.

It was shot in colour at the Pagewood Studios, Sydney, and the same company went on to make a 26 episode TV series with the same actors, called The Adventures of Long John Silver. The director, Byron Haskin, had directed Treasure Island in 1950, with Newton as Silver.

Long John Silver should not be confused with the 1954 American film, Return to Treasure Island, starring Tab Hunter and Dawn Addams.

Plot

Long John receives grave news from Dod Perch of a massacre from Mendoza who in the process kidnapped Governor Strong's daughter Elizabeth for ransom along with Jim Hawkins. There is also a second treasure cache on the Treasure Island directed only by a pirate medallion. Long John visits Governor Strong and his wife to propose to give in the ransom before they pursue Mendoza.

During the pickup of the ransom, Long John goes with Billy Bowlegs to Mendoza's ship with an explanation that Billy shot his two partners to hoard the ransom money for himself. Long John invited on the ship briefs a plan to Mendoza to leave Elizabeth on shore and mislead the Governor's warships in order to sack the king's warehouses. As Mendoza carries out the plan, Long John finds Jim possesses the very medallion of Treasure Island. As Mendoza begins to double cross Long John, he in turn summons his men to ambush and capture Mendoza along with the warehouse fortune, whilst Jim and Elizabeth make their escape.

Back at the governor's Jim is offered the chance to go back to England, but Long John has plans to take Jim with him on the second voyage for Treasure Island. Long John seizes an opportunity to charter Captain MacDougall's ship for the voyage. Long John sets off missing Purity Pinker's hand in marriage and barely escaping the alert local sentries.

Long John plots to start a mutiny on Captain MacDougall and take over his ship. MacDougall in response plans to have Long John and his men marooned on an island which 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 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 service to Long John, in return for a passage to Cornwall and vengeance against Jim. After fleeing, 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 he plunges off to his death. As Jim heads back to the caves, he 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 honourable citizen, but he and Jim ride off.

Production

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 (substituting for Treasure Island).[1]

Part of the funding from the film came from notorious financier Louis Wolfson. Byron Haskin alleged producer Joseph Kaufman ran out of money during production, making shooting extremely difficult.[2]

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.[3]

Cast

References

  1. ^ Long John Silver press book 1954
  2. ^ Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media 2010 p 40
  3. ^ Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media 2010 p 39

See also

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Long_John_Silver_(film)&oldid=451826883"