Treasure Island (1977 TV series)

Treasure Island
DVD cover
Based on	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Screenplay by	John Lucarotti
Directed by	Michael E. Briant
Starring	Alfred Burke Ashley Knight Jack Watson David Collings Anthony Bate Thorley Walters Roy Boyd Patrick Troughton Paul Copley
Composer	Carl Davis
Country of origin	United Kingdom United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	4
Original release
Release	16 October (1977-10-16) – 6 November 1977 (1977-11-06)

Treasure Island is a 1977 television adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel. It was filmed in 1977 on location in Plymouth and Dartmouth (Devon), and in Corsica, and also at BBC Television Centre at Wood Lane, London.

Plot

Jim Hawkins discovers a treasure map and embarks on a journey to find the treasure, but pirates led by Long John Silver have plans to take the treasure for themselves by way of mutiny. This four-episode adaptation by John Lucarotti, while particularly faithful to the original, adds an expanded narrative concerning the declining Daniel Hawkins, as well as clarifying Squire Trelawney's naiveté in trusting Blandly and Silver.

This takes place in the first episode; Billy Bones tempts Jim's father into arranging a two-man treasure voyage, the corrupt shipping agent Ezra Blandly guesses their intentions and tips off Silver, who hoodwinks and then cruelly tortures the information out of a hapless alcoholic Mr Arrow. Billy Bones plans founder, and Hawkins snr catches pneumonia in the rain, which finishes him.

Cast

• Alfred Burke as Long John Silver
• Ashley Knight as Jim Hawkins
• Jack Watson as Capt. Billy Bones
• David Collings as Blind Pew
• Thorley Walters as Squire John Trelawney
• Anthony Bate as Dr. David Livesey
• Roy Boyd as George Merry
• Patrick Troughton as Israel Hands
• Stephen Greif as Job Anderson
• Talfryn Thomas as Tom Morgan
• Paul Copley as Ben Gunn
• Tim Condren as Seamus O'Brien
• Richard Beale as Capt. Alexander Smollett
• Roy Evans as Richard Joyce
• Brian Croucher as John Hunter
• Royston Tickner as Tom Redruth
• Edward Peel as Abraham Grey
• Jo Kendall as Sarah Hawkins
• Terry Scully as Daniel Hawkins
• Christopher Burgess as Black Dog
• Ena Cabayo as Louisa Silver
• Stephen Boswell as Dick Johnson
• John Baskcomb as Ezra Blandly
• Keith Bartlett as John
• Max Faulkner as Sgt. Dance
• Linal Haft as Joshua Arrow
• Henry Knowles as Bill
• Derrick Slater as Tom
• Clive Wood as Dirk
• John Dearth as Jeb

External links

• Director Michael E Briant on his career, making Treasure Island and working with Alfred Burke
• Treasure Island at IMDb