Treasure Island (1938 film)

1938 Soviet film

Treasure Island

Directed by| Vladimir Vaynshtok
Written by|

* Robert Louis Stevenson (novel)
* Oleg Leonidov
* Vladimir Vaynshtok

Based on| Treasure Island
1883 novel
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Starring|

* Osip Abdulov
* Mikhail Klimov
* Nikolai Cherkasov

Cinematography| Mikhail Kirillov
Edited by| M. Shitova
Music by| Nikita Bogoslovsky

Production
company

Gorky Film Studio

Release date

* 5 January 1938 (1938-01-05)

Running time

| 92 minutes
Country| Soviet Union
Language| Russian

Treasure Island (Russian: Остров сокровищ, romanized: Ostrov sokrovishch) is a 1938 Soviet adventure film directed by Vladimir Vaynshtok and starring Osip Abdulov, Mikhail Klimov and Nikolai Cherkasov. It is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island. The film was one of several British literary classics turned into films in the Soviet Union during the era. A number of changes were made to introduce anti-British elements and to promote leninist-marxist ideology. The book's character of Jim Hawkins is transformed into a young woman named Jenny, and the characters are attempting to find the treasure in order to fund an Irish and anti-British rebellion.[1] An English language version was directed by David Bradley.

## Plot summary

[edit]

Set at the end of the 18th century, the story reinterprets the events of Treasure Island, diverging significantly from the original novel. Irish rebels in need of funds to purchase weapons discover a map of Treasure Island among the belongings of pirate Billy Bones, who was killed by another pirate. Jenny, the daughter of an innkeeper, and Dr. Livesey, one of the rebellion leaders, join forces with Captain Smollett and financier Trelawney to outfit a ship, the Hispaniola. Unbeknownst to them, many crew members are pirates. Disguised as a boy, Jenny signs on as a cabin boy under the name Jim to accompany the voyage.

As the search for treasure unfolds, Trelawney betrays the group by siding with the pirates. After numerous perilous adventures, Dr. Livesey, Jenny (who reveals her true identity), and their allies find the treasure. However, Jenny is captured by the pirates and held aboard the Hispaniola under the watch of Israel Hands and George Merry. The pirates fight among themselves, with Hands killing Merry and attacking Jenny. Dr. Livesey saves her by shooting Hands.

The heroes capture the ship's boatswain, Long John Silver, but he resists and is killed in a duel with Captain Smollett. The rebels abandon the remaining pirates on the deserted island and return to Ireland with the treasure to secure weapons and continue their uprising.

## Cast

[edit]

* Klavdiya Pugachova as Jenny Hawkins
* Osip Abdulov as John Silver
* Mikhail Klimov as Trelawney
* Nikolai Cherkasov as Billy Bones
* Aleksandr Bykov as Captain Smollett
* Iona Bij-Brodsky as George Mari
* Pyotr Galadzhev as Ben Gunn
* Aleksandr Levshin
* Nikolai Michurin
* Mikhail Tsaryov as Dr. Livesey
* Vladimir Yershov
* L. Meshcherin
* V. Yakushenko

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Dobrenko & Balina p.243

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Evgeny Dobrenko & Marina Balina. The Cambridge Companion to Twentieth-Century Russian Literature. Cambridge University Press, 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Treasure Island at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island

Characters|

* Billy Bones
* Captain Alexander Smollett
* Captain Flint
* Ben Gunn
* Israel Hands
* Jim Hawkins
* Dr. Livesey (1988 film adaptation)
* Long John Silver
* Squire Trelawney

Films|

* Treasure Island (1918)
* Treasure Island (1920)
* Treasure Island (1934)
* The Secret of Treasure Island (1938)
* Treasure Island (1938)
* Treasure Island (1950)
* Long John Silver (1954)
* Return to Treasure Island (1954)
* Between God, the Devil and a Winchester (1968)
* Franco, Ciccio e il pirata Barbanera (1969)
* Animal Treasure Island (1971)
* Treasure Island (1971)
* Treasure Island (1972)
* Treasure Island (1973)
* Treasure Planet (1982)
* Treasure Island (1982)
* Treasure Island (1986)
* Treasure Island (1988)
* Treasure Island (1990)
* Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
* Treasure Island (1999)
* Treasure Planet (2002) (soundtrack)
* Pirates of Treasure Island (2006)
* Doraemon: Nobita's Treasure Island (2018)

Television|

* The Adventures of Long John Silver (1954)
* Treasure Island (1966)
* Treasure Island (1977)
* Treasure Island (1978)
* Return to Treasure Island (1986)
* Treasure Island in Outer Space (1987)
* The Legends of Treasure Island (1993)
* Ken Russell's Treasure Island (1995)
* Treasure Island (2012)
* Black Sails (2014)

Video games|

* Pirate Adventure (1978)
* Treasure Island (1984)
* Muppet Treasure Island (1996)
* Treasure Planet: Battle at Procyon (2002)
* Destination: Treasure Island (2006)

Other adaptations
and sequels|

* Shin Takarajima (1947 manga)
* Pieces of Eight (1985 musical)
* Jim Hawkins and the Curse of Treasure Island (2001 novel)
* The Resurrection Casket (2006 novel)
* Long John Silver (2007 comic)
* Silver (2012 novel)

Related|

* Black Spot
* Legend of the Cybermen
* "Shiver my timbers"
* "Dead Man's Chest"

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