- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,311
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
One might presume that Disney's wonderful adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 classic, Treasure Island, would have been photographed somewhere in the Caribbean.
But it's all UK studio bound, along with location photography in Cornwall, England.
https://www.visitcornwall.com/beaches
The film was directed by Byron Haskin.
If you check his CV, you'll find that he started his career in the silent era as a cinematographer, and did a bit of directing in 1927.
His work as cinematographer includes The Sea Beast, an late silent adaptation of Moby Dick, with John Barrymore and Dolores Costello, with a two-color Technicolor sequence.
Mid-career, he worked in special photographic effects at WB, before going into direction full time in 1948.
His most notable film as director - the 1953 War of the Worlds for Paramount.
The film Bobby Driscoll (if you don't know his life story, look it up and have Kleenex brand facial tissues at the ready), Robert Newton (who became linked to the role, and the casting, going back to Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn), and the extraordinary Finlay Currie (still haven't seen Great Expectations?).
The archival crew at Disney went back to the original nitrate negatives, and masters for a full-on restoration of Treasure Island, and their work is obvious in every meticulous frame.
As the original negatives were conformed as single strand, all printer functions are duped in (and always have been), so that the generation loss at those times is expected.
Color goes from superb to glorious, and it should be, as the film was photographed by the great Freddie Young, with location work and studio interiors, shot at Denham, matching nicely.
The money shot in this film, or at least to me, the quintessential money shot, is Bobby Driscoll hiding in the apple barrel, surrounded by shafts of Technicolor illumination.
Did I mention that this was shot in three-strip Technicolor?
One of the great classic adventure films, suitable for all ages.
Only one problem.
Like some of their other catalog titles, Disney has seen fit to only allow those who subscribe to the Disney Movie Club to own it, unless you wish to pay exorbitant Amazon or eBay prices, and purchase second hand from those who join the club, have no interest in the film, and just want the coupons that come with the releases.
This is a huge pity, as the film, and the immense amount of labor by those involved in its restoration needs to be viewed and acknowledged by the public.
If you've missed this one, or think that you've seen in on home video (it was released in a cut version), now's your chance.
If you can find a copy.
Image - 5
Audio - 5
4k Up-rez - 5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Highly Recommended
RAH
But it's all UK studio bound, along with location photography in Cornwall, England.
https://www.visitcornwall.com/beaches
The film was directed by Byron Haskin.
If you check his CV, you'll find that he started his career in the silent era as a cinematographer, and did a bit of directing in 1927.
His work as cinematographer includes The Sea Beast, an late silent adaptation of Moby Dick, with John Barrymore and Dolores Costello, with a two-color Technicolor sequence.
Mid-career, he worked in special photographic effects at WB, before going into direction full time in 1948.
His most notable film as director - the 1953 War of the Worlds for Paramount.
The film Bobby Driscoll (if you don't know his life story, look it up and have Kleenex brand facial tissues at the ready), Robert Newton (who became linked to the role, and the casting, going back to Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn), and the extraordinary Finlay Currie (still haven't seen Great Expectations?).
The archival crew at Disney went back to the original nitrate negatives, and masters for a full-on restoration of Treasure Island, and their work is obvious in every meticulous frame.
As the original negatives were conformed as single strand, all printer functions are duped in (and always have been), so that the generation loss at those times is expected.
Color goes from superb to glorious, and it should be, as the film was photographed by the great Freddie Young, with location work and studio interiors, shot at Denham, matching nicely.
The money shot in this film, or at least to me, the quintessential money shot, is Bobby Driscoll hiding in the apple barrel, surrounded by shafts of Technicolor illumination.
Did I mention that this was shot in three-strip Technicolor?
One of the great classic adventure films, suitable for all ages.
Only one problem.
Like some of their other catalog titles, Disney has seen fit to only allow those who subscribe to the Disney Movie Club to own it, unless you wish to pay exorbitant Amazon or eBay prices, and purchase second hand from those who join the club, have no interest in the film, and just want the coupons that come with the releases.
This is a huge pity, as the film, and the immense amount of labor by those involved in its restoration needs to be viewed and acknowledged by the public.
If you've missed this one, or think that you've seen in on home video (it was released in a cut version), now's your chance.
If you can find a copy.
Image - 5
Audio - 5
4k Up-rez - 5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Highly Recommended
RAH