Treasure Island(2012 TV series)

Treasure Islandis a two-part British television drama adaptation of the novelTreasure Island(1883) byRobert Louis Stevenson.The screenplay was written by Stewart Harcourt, produced by Laurie Borg and directed bySteve Barron.It was made byBSkyBand first shown in the United Kingdom onSky1on 1 & 2 January 2012.It was re-released a year later onPickon the 14 February 2013 and 21 February 2013.

Treasure Island
UK DVD Cover
Based on	Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Screenplay by	Stewart Harcourt
Directed by	Steve Barron
Starring	Eddie Izzard Toby Regbo Rupert Penry-Jones Daniel Mays Philip Glenister Donald Sutherland Elijah Wood Shirley Henderson
Theme music composer	Antony Genn Martin Slattery
Country of origin	United Kingdom Ireland
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Alan Moloney Laurie Borg
Cinematography	Ulf Brantås
Editor	Alex Mackie
Running time	180 minutes
Production companies	Kindle Entertainment MNG Films Parallel Film Productions
Original release
Network	Sky1
Release	1 January(2012-01-01)– 2 January 2012(2012-01-02)(UK)

Plot

YoungJim Hawkins(Toby Regbo) discovers a map to a legendary island of treasure belonging to the infamousCaptain Flint(Donald Sutherland) and embarks on a journey aboard the shipHispaniolato find it; however, the Enigma ticLong John Silver(Eddie Izzard) and crew have other plans.

Cast

• Eddie IzzardasLong John Silver,formerly Captain Flint's quartermaster and latterly landlord of the Spyglass Inn, cook on theHispaniola,and leader of the mutineers. In this adaptation he loses his leg after Flint fires a cannon at his crew to get them off the ship.
• Philip GlenisterasCaptain Smollett,captain of theHispaniola
• Rupert Penry-JonesasSquire John Trelawney,the leader of the expedition, a greedy, stupid man who betrays his comrades. Rather different from his portrayal in the book, in which he is something of a buffoon but is described as "the most liberal of men".
• Toby RegboasJim Hawkins,son of the proprietors of the Admiral Benbow inn and theHispaniola'scabin boy
• Daniel MaysasDr. David Livesey,the ship's doctor, an old friend of Jim's parents. A former army surgeon who fought at Fontenoy, in the book he is always sensible and brave, but in this adaptation is initially something of a coward (though he later proves to be quite brave).
• Reda Katebas Dujon, the second mate of theHispaniola.Dujon was invented for this adaptation.
• Donald SutherlandasCaptain Flint,a legendary pirate. Flint does not appear in the book, but is only spoken of. In this adaptation he appears in a prologue.
• Elijah WoodasBen Gunn,a former member of Flint's crew marooned on Treasure Island three years before after he persuaded his crewmates on another ship to search for the treasure. When they could not find it, they left him there. In this adaptation, he is portrayed as a Yankee, although this is not specified in the book.
• David HarewoodasBilly Bones,formerly Flint's first mate, who precipitates the whole adventure by dying in the Admiral Benbow inn. In this adaptation he is portrayed as Jamaican.
• Julian Barrattas Redruth. In the book, Tom Redruth was Trelawney's elderly gamekeeper and accompanied the expedition to Treasure Island, where he was killed. In this adaptation, he is Trelawney's ruthless agent; he remains in England, where he repossesses the Admiral Benbow from Meg Hawkins.
• Shirley Hendersonas Meg Hawkins, Jim Hawkins' mother, recently widowed landlady of the Admiral Benbow inn. Her first name is not given in the book.
• Nina Sosanyaas Alibe Silver, Silver's wife, who flees to the Admiral Benbow to get away from Black Dog and befriends Meg Hawkins. The character has essentially been invented for this adaptation, although the book does state that Silver has an (unseen) wife, a "woman of colour" whom he leaves in charge of his inn.
• Geoff BellasIsrael Hands,formerly Captain Flint's gunner, later a crewman on theHispaniolaand one of the leaders of the mutineers. In the book he serves as theHispaniola'scoxswain and is described as a good seaman, but in this adaptation this role has been taken over by Abraham Gray and Silver says that Hands is a poor seaman (although a good gunner).
• Shaun Parkesas George Merry, a former member of Flint's crew and boatswain (and later mate) of theHispaniolaand a mutineer. In the book he is a simple crewman (although also a former member of Flint's crew) and leads the discontent against Silver's leadership.
• Keith Allenas Blind Pew, a former member of Flint's crew, now a blind beggar
• Sean Gilderas Black Dog, a former member of Flint's crew
• Barnaby Kayas Tom Morgan, a former member of Flint's crew and later ofHispaniola'sand a mutineer. He is described in the book, in which he was also a member of Flint's crew, as elderly and "mahogany-faced" (although it is not specified whether this means he is heavily tanned or black).
• Clinton Blake as Freddie Arrow, theHispaniola'sfirst mate. In the book he is the only mate, an appalling officer who disappears one night (presumably fallen overboard while drunk), but in this adaptation (in which he is portrayed as Jamaican) he dies after being keel-hauled by Trelawney after striking him (also while drunk). He is not given a first name in the book.
• Tom Fisheras Abraham Gray, theHispaniola'scoxswainand the only survivor among the seamen who refuse to join the mutineers. In the book, Gray (the carpenter's mate, not the coxswain, as Hands holds that position) initially joins the mutineers, but then defects after Captain Smollett appeals to his better nature.
• Madhur Mittalas Dick Johnson, a young former member of Flint's crew and later a crewman on theHispaniolaand one of the mutineers. In the book, Johnson is the youngest hand on theHispaniolaand is persuaded to join the mutiny by Silver. He is not a former member of Flint's crew.
• David Wilmotas William O'Brien, one of the mutineers. His first name is not given in the book.
• Chu Omambalaas Job Anderson, one of Flint's crew who later serves on theHispaniola.In the book he is the ship's boatswain and effectively takes over as mate after Arrow disappears, but in this adaptation this role has been taken over by George Merry. The book does not say whether or not he was a member of Flint's crew.
• Lorenzo Grozco as Allardyce, one of Flint's crew who helps him bury his treasure and whose skeleton is later used as a pointer by Flint.
• Alfredo Salgado as Jeremiah Darby, one of Flint's crew who helps him bury his treasure. He is not named in the book.
• Ruaidhri Conroyas John Hunter, one of Trelawney's servants, who accompanies the expedition and is killed on Treasure Island.
• Mal Whyte as Richard Joyce, Trelawney's valet, who accompanies the expedition and is killed on Treasure Island.
• Tom Wuas Joe Thoby, a Chinese seaman on theHispaniolawho refuses to join the mutiny, whereupon Silver kills him. In the book this is a man named Tom, an old friend of Silver's.
• Damien Hannaway as Alan Tab, a crewman of theHispaniolakilled by the mutineers after he refuses to join them. His surname is not given in the book.
• Siobhan O'Kelly as Mrs Livesey, now deceased and only appearing in flashback
• Tommy O'Neill as Salt

Reception

The series was moderately well received by critics, with praise towards its production values and cast, but some criticism leveled at the direction and changes to the original story.

Sam Wollaston ofThe Guardianwrote, "They've changed it, not just unnecessarily but unquestionably for the worse, and that's a travesty. Robert Louis Stevenson, Captain Flint, Davy Jones, will be turning in their graves/lockers."Rachel Ward ofThe Telegraph,however, called it "an imaginitive take", said "Izzard excels as both villain and hero, and brings his trademark humour to the role ('Let’s parle'), though it would have been nice to hear a few more squawks from his pet parrot", and praised the action.

External links

• Treasure IslandatIMDb
• Treasure Islandat Sky 1