TREASURE ISLAND was always considered a classic family film, but somebody decided it was too violent for a G rating. Thus, the shot of Israel Hands being shot point blank in the face was trimmed. How come nobody complained about the violence language in TRUE GRIT?
shareman, you're kinda weird ..you know that?
"r0s3bUd!$%#!!"
Thanks for the compliment, but as Churchill once told Lady Astor when she called him drunk at a party, "Tomorrow I'll be sober."
shareI have a distinct memory of one scene in a movie, but I don't know what movie:
As I recall, there is a pirate chasing a young boy up a mast of a ship (or up a narrow staircase maybe?). The camera shot was from the bottom looking up at the boy's face as he looked back frightened. The pirate or the boy wore a knit cap with black and white stripes going around.
I was a kid, and this scene really scared me and stayed with me. I'd like to find the movie.
Thanks in advance for any help.
X
http://spaces.msn.com/members/X-Evolutionist/
Lacking from both the 80's VHS and the recent DVD is a scene I saw on a KTLA FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL (hosted by Tom Hatten) broadcast in the early 90's which showed Blind Pew's legs being crushed by the carriage after he alerts the other pirates. I have it on a tape somewhere........somewhere.
shareToo many years since I've seen it. We have to remember TRUE GRIT with its language and fingers being chopped off was also considered a family film(G).
Years ago I saw Jack Valenti at the American Film Institute in DC for a special program where he discussed the ratings system. One woman raked him over the coals for not giving THE EXORCIST an X rating. Film clips were from CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, THE WILD BUNCH, A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and BLOW-UP.
I have a very politically incorrect joke that explains the differences between G, Pg, R and X which is probably out of date by today's standards. But when your local HOLLYWOOD VIDEO can carry Takeshi Miike and excessively violent films as rated "R" it makes you wonder.
See you at the movies.
I was really amazed when I saw your posting. For years I have been looking for a copy of the version you speak of. I was a Theatre student and "Treasure Island" was playing in a Saturday matinee in a local Theatre. I had imitated Newton to my then girl friend, (she'd never seen the film) so I took her. When I saw Pew get crushed under the coach I went, "Wait a minute, I've never seen this before". And the other thing is......the ending was different. In this version, "Long John" is brought on board the Hispaniola (might be spelled wrong) and locked into a cell next to the treassure. When they land in Jamacia, everyone goes a shore to celebrate. When they get back, they find "Long John" has burrowed into the next cell (which was unlocked) and taken off with some or all of the gold. And he's no where to be seen. Please let me know what version this is so I can get a copy. Thanks. It's nice to know that my memories from back then were not from an "acid" flashback", ha, ha!
I'm sure that I've also seen this version on TV. I bought the DVD quite recently and was surprised (and disappointed) by the ending as it was not what I remembered (nor true to the book). I never understand why screenwriters "mess with" original stories when there is no cinematic need (Every time I see Lord of the Rings I get more and more irritated with the divergences from the books - but I think that's my age!)
Apart from the ending I think the film is marvellous - Robert Newton IS Long John Silver - Aharrrr!
There was definitely an ostrich involved
Dear Sr Clarke:
What was the ending on the DVD......and it's not the screenwriters its the studio the director and the editor. (mostly the studios) They play movies to a test audience and them poll them. If there is something in the version that the audience found objectionable, the studio will authorize pickup shots to change the ending or the footage has already been shot and the director just tells the editor, "okay, were going to go with the third ending," etc. Hope that helps. Let me know about the ending in the version you've got on the DVD.
Thanks me harty!
Dammit man! I'm a bricklayer, not a doctor. And Ouch!....you try laying a brick!
To all Treasure Island Lovers; I have this movie and thoroughly enjoy it time and time again, but something haunts me. Somewhere in my memory (perhaps in the 50s?) I recall Long John telling "young Jim'awkins" about all the places he's been,eg Surinam, Portebella-----etc? does this ring a bell with anyone??
I could have heard this on a radio broadcast of the movie? HELP!!!!
Hi Alexwolf,
sorry I'm a long time replying! The ending in the book has Long John sailing back with Squire, Doctor, Jim and the rest. But he steals a small portion of the treasure by cutting through a bulkhead in the ship and absconding (I think when they stop off to reprovision). He certainly doesn't make off with the whole lot in a rowing boat! (as per the DVD).
A much more satisfactory ending, eh matey?
By the way - to get more info on pirates (and just for a laugh) visit www.talklikeapirate.com
"Thems that die will be the lucky ones! Aarrr!"
There was definitely an ostrich involved
Yes. The scene where Pugh is crushed below the wheels of a horse drawn carriage are not in the current DVD. Also a scene later in the film where Silver throws his crutch like a spear into the back of one of his pirates killing him.Leaving out the shots of Pugh being killed off takes some sense from the film and I would have thought it would have be put back now
shareWell, I must say I saw this movie without any knowledge of censorships, thinking it´s an normal all audience movie, and that, and I thought that the movie is more violent than POTC.
I mean, just comparing it with today´s children´s movies.
I know, cuz I am older enough, that children´s movies in the past were so much violent and had more stuff that today would be considered a PG-13 or R.
That´s becoz older times were more like that; movie were open to such things more than todays. Today the world is more "educated" in that issue.
Besides, it´s Disney and Disney always had a hint of adult themes in his all-audience- movies, not as people say:: Disney is merely childish, No.
Disney is very adult and dramatic sometimes. Do not tell me Bambi is not distubing for a child! Becoz it was for me and I am not stupid.
"Hey, do ya love me. I'm untouchable darkness!"
Bambi was very disturbing compared to The Lion King because the violence happened offscreee.
Wayne once claimed that his movies weren't violent but he forgot about the scene in True Grit involving a turkey and the language, and that was rated G.
When I took a film class a few years ago we had to analyze a film of our own choosing for the first exam, and I chose an early adult western Little Big Horn which I saw when I was 9 or 10. The violence in that film was mild by today's standards.
The plot is simple: Lloyd Bridges and John Ireland lead a small patrol across country to rendezvous with Custer to warn him. The cast includes Jim Davis, Reed Hadley, Hugh O'Brian, fast gun artist Rodd Redwing, Sheb Wooley and Marie Windso as Bridges' cheating wife.
I made a point of comparing LBH with Bells of San Angelo in which David Sharpe and Dale van Sickel beat up Roy Rogers. You know Roy will be back to sing Happy Trails at the end of the movie. In LNH when the Sioux torture Wooley, you know he won't be singing The Purple People Eater.
I hate what passes for horror films in Hollywood these days because they are catching up with the extremes of Japanese cinema and underground films.
I also tried writing my own movie which is best described as "The Wages of Fear" with women. But that's another story.
See you at the movies.