Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Long John Silver [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I won't go into the merits of the movie, because that has been sufficiently covered by other reviewers...in short, good movie and this DVD is the best copy of it available. However, there is one thing that should be noted about the aspect ratio on this DVD. While the back of the package states that it is "Enhanced for 16x9 TVs" (or "Anamorphic") the DVD is indeed encoded in a 16x9 aspect ratio...but the source picture is actually a 4x3 image that's already letterboxed, so the picture you see on your TV is extremely vertically compressed (making everyone look short and fat). The remedy is: If you have a regular 4x3 TV, set the TV aspect ratio in your DVD player settings to 16x9 and the picture will look the way it's supposed to (just remember to change it back before you watch something else). If you have a 16x9 TV, just use the zoom feature on your TV that you usually use with 4x3 non-anamorphic videos. That's about the only real problem with the DVD, and I thought anyone considering purchasing it should be aware.

The incomparable Robert Newton reprises his role as the kindhearted pirate Captain Long John Silver! In this "sequel" to Treasure Island, apparently made by another studio for the purpose of cashing in on the success of the Disney original, we find Long John passing time in an old tavern/inn on a British controlled Caribbean island, where he awaits the start of his next adventure. We don't have to wait long, when an unfortunate pirate stumbles into the pub with news of Jim Hawkins and treasure on his dying tongue. The word is that the ruthless pirate "El Toro" Mendoza has kidnapped the local Governor's beautiful young daughter for ransom, and captured Jim Hawkins along with her for use as a cabin boy. Around Jim's neck hangs a medallion that will help Long John find more of legendary Captain Flint's buried gold, still waiting to be discovered on Treasure Island. Immediately, Long John concocts a plan to get the kids back, and earn a little booty at the same time. He quickly confronts the Governor with his idea to help rescue the kids and capture El Toro, and in desperation, the Governor agrees to give Long John a chance.
Putting his plan into action, Long John delivers the ransom money to El Toro in person, but he also attempts to strike a bargain with the cruel pirate. Long John tells El Toro that he'll send the Governor's warships in the wrong direction, so that he and El Toro would be free to sack the Governor's storehouse of valuables and rum. When the two pirates arrive at the storehouse, El Toro attempts to betray Long John, but Long John has his men hidden away within the stored goods, and a grand pirate battle immediately ensues. Long John's men soon have the upper-hand, and since he has told the children to run for their lives, he is now alone with El Toro and the other pirates, and free to reveal the next part of his plan. He sends the bad guys on their way, and takes all the booty for himself, blaming the ransacked storehouse on El Toro and his men when he arrives at the Governor's to receive a word of thanks for the rescue of his daughter. His plan a success, everyone has come out a winner except the evil El Toro, who has sworn revenge on Long John Silver.
Now that Long John is reunited with his old shipmate, Jim, whom he hasn't seen in some time, though obviously not that long since Jim is still a boy, the old pirate is free to pursue the rest of Flint's treasure. His only obstacles are acquiring a ship and dodging Purity, the innkeeper woman who has plans to marry Long John and adopt Jim as their son. Before we know it, Long John has signed himself, Jim, and his crew of bloodthirsty pirates on as hands on The Thistle, bound for England, with secret plans to mutiny and return to Treasure Island! Little do they know of the dangers they will encounter along the way, including a confrontation with a cold-hearted pirate they had once left for dead!
Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island is a must own for any fan of the Disney original. If one can acquire a decent quality DVD or VHS (my VHS is quite a bit below par), it is definitely worth owning. It may not be as good as the original, but how can you go wrong with Robert Newton back as Long John, and a great new story with characters we already know and love! This is a great way to feed your love for carefree fun and adventure where the original film left off! Don't miss it!

The incomparable Robert Newton reprises his role as the kindhearted pirate Captain Long John Silver! In this "sequel" to Treasure Island, apparently made by another studio for the purpose of cashing in on the success of the Disney original, we find Long John passing time in an old tavern/inn on a British controlled Caribbean island, where he awaits the start of his next adventure. We don't have to wait long, when an unfortunate pirate stumbles into the pub with news of Jim Hawkins and treasure on his dying tongue. The word is that the ruthless pirate "El Toro" Mendoza has kidnapped the local Governor's beautiful young daughter for ransom, and captured Jim Hawkins along with her for use as a cabin boy. Around Jim's neck hangs a medallion that will help Long John find more of legendary Captain Flint's buried gold, still waiting to be discovered on Treasure Island. Immediately, Long John concocts a plan to get the kids back, and earn a little booty at the same time. He quickly confronts the Governor with his idea to help rescue the kids and capture El Toro, and in desperation, the Governor agrees to give Long John a chance.
Putting his plan into action, Long John delivers the ransom money to El Toro in person, but he also attempts to strike a bargain with the cruel pirate. Long John tells El Toro that he'll send the Governor's warships in the wrong direction, so that he and El Toro would be free to sack the Governor's storehouse of valuables and rum. When the two pirates arrive at the storehouse, El Toro attempts to betray Long John, but Long John has his men hidden away within the stored goods, and a grand pirate battle immediately ensues. Long John's men soon have the upper-hand, and since he has told the children to run for their lives, he is now alone with El Toro and the other pirates, and free to reveal the next part of his plan. He sends the bad guys on their way, and takes all the booty for himself, blaming the ransacked storehouse on El Toro and his men when he arrives at the Governor's to receive a word of thanks for the rescue of his daughter. His plan a success, everyone has come out a winner except the evil El Toro, who has sworn revenge on Long John Silver.
Now that Long John is reunited with his old shipmate, Jim, whom he hasn't seen in some time, though obviously not that long since Jim is still a boy, the old pirate is free to pursue the rest of Flint's treasure. His only obstacles are acquiring a ship and dodging Purity, the innkeeper woman who has plans to marry Long John and adopt Jim as their son. Before we know it, Long John has signed himself, Jim, and his crew of bloodthirsty pirates on as hands on The Thistle, bound for England, with secret plans to mutiny and return to Treasure Island! Little do they know of the dangers they will encounter along the way, including a confrontation with a cold-hearted pirate they had once left for dead!
Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island is a must own for any fan of the Disney original. If one can acquire a decent quality DVD or VHS (my VHS is quite a bit below par), it is definitely worth owning. It may not be as good as the original, but how can you go wrong with Robert Newton back as Long John, and a great new story with characters we already know and love! This is a great way to feed your love for carefree fun and adventure where the original film left off! Don't miss it!

beware! this is not the tv series as described by the first reviewer (not the reviewer's fault). this is instead, the movie version of "return to treasure Island", and the tv version is by a different distributor.

Despite having been filmed by a non-major studio, this is a fabulous sequel to Disney's "Treasure Island".

In the present form, the DVD comes out shining. Excellent restoration and vivid colors make it fully worthwhile watching.

This is a 2.55:1 widescreen presentation, and as such it is presented here. No cropping of any kind (like reducing it to 1.85:1 or 2.35:1). The soundtrack is in an unbelievably clear and polished Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Stereo.

VCI Entertainment (the Label of this DVD) has surpassed itself for this production and this is simply a must buy.

Reprising his former role of said Long John Silver, is the brilliant Robert Newton, but the rest of the roles have been recast. Despite of it, they all do a marvelous job recreating what was left of from the previous movie and bring it back now, in these new adventures of high Sea piracy.

Due to its format, this is truly a spectacular movie, with wonderful vistas and a sense of grandeur, that in today's movies is usually lacking and replaced by overblown special effects.

It is not "Pirates of the Caribbeans", but still highly entertaining and amusing. Thrills are there and not artificial as the ones we get nowadays, but rather subtle in coming, and once they are there, they are truly felt.

I can only recommend it.

But do not forget its original predecessor. The Disney's version, although in Full Screen (as it was filmed) has to be in your collection, to be able to enjoy this one to the fullest.

My urge upon you, the viewer, is to buy them both in a package, since otherwise, you may not fully understand the action contained in this sequel.

But even by itself it still stands the proof of time.

I like it. I hope you will too...

The Australian TV series this three video set was from, was made in the mid 50's. The editing and colour is very ropey, but if you, like I, want to see more of British actor Robert Newton in his classic role as British pirate turned semi-respectable citizen Long John Silver - this set is for you. The TV series lasted one season (26 episodes). With this you get six episodes (two per video).

The Australian TV series this three video set was from, was made in the mid 50's. The editing and colour is very ropey, but if you, like I, want to see more of British actor Robert Newton in his classic role as British pirate turned semi-respectable citizen Long John Silver - this set is for you. The TV series lasted one season (26 episodes). With this you get six episodes (two per video).

To the best of my knowledge, this is largest collection of episodes from "The Adventures of Long John Silver" on DVD. A total of 26 episodes were produced in 1955 and fully half of those episodes are contained in this 2-DVD set from Platinum Disc Corporation.

The series was produced by the same production company, Treasure Island Pictures, that made the theatrical release "Long John Silver" (a/k/a "Long John Silver's Return to Treasure Island") which, in turn, was a sequel to the earlier Disney film "Treasure Island." Most of the cast and crew of "Long John Silver" returned for the TV series, which was syndicated in the United States and it was the first television series produced in Australia to reach U.S. shores. Sadly, the series' star, Robert Newton, would make only one other film after the conclusion of this series, "Around the World in Eighty Days," before passing away in March of 1956.

As is the case with other classic TV releases from Platinum Disc Corporation, the prints used for this DVD set are not from the original film elements; rather, they are sourced from syndication prints. The series was filmed in color, but time has not been kind to the prints utilized for this release. Colors tend towards browns and a few episodes have that reddish look associated with the fading of color film but, in several episodes, colors are fairly vivid. If you're used to seeing the public domain prints of the film "Long John Silver," these TV episodes are comparable . . . watchable but certainly not "high definition." The bottom line is that if you like Robert Newton, pirate movies and/or classic television from the 1950s, this 2-DVD collection is a must.

The episodes included on the two discs are shown below and the discs can be purchased separately or as this 2-disc set.

Disc 1:

The Necklace
Pieces of Eight
The Orphans' Christmas
Execution Dock
The Eviction
The Pink Pearl

Disc 2:

The Tale of a Tooth
Ship o' The Dead
Sword of Vengeance
Turnabout
Miss Purity's Birthday
Dead Reckoning
Devil's Stew

I was very disappointed in the quality of this DVD. I would not recommend anyone buying this DVD until the quality is back to that of a professional recording.

I purchased this DVD because I remembered seeing it when it was first released in the 1950's.It was supposed to be a sequel to the Disney classic "Treasure Island"..The film itself was typical of the era with Robert Newton chewing the scenery and obviously having a good time as indeed did most of the cast. What I do remember was the vivid color photography, however this transfer is possibly the worst quality I have ever seen (with the possible exception of "New Faces of 1956"). The color is murky and the picture is out of focus. The film was photographed in Cinemascope however this transfer is in full screen and not even pan and scanned but merely cropped. Avoid at all costs. Even at the bargain price it is not worth it.