Treasure Island (1988 film)

1988 Soviet cartoon film

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Treasure Island

DVD cover

Russian: Ostrov sokrovishch
Based on| Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Written by| Yuri Alikov
David Cherkassky
Directed by| David Cherkassky
Starring|

* Papernyi Yevhen
* Viktor Andrienko
* Bessarab Valeriy
* Yury Yakovlev
* Armen Dzhigarkhanyan

Music by| Volodymyr Bystryakov
Country of origin| Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Original language| Russian
Production
Animator| Radna Sakhaltuev
Running time|

* 107 minutes
* 72 minutes (U.S.)

Production company| Kievnauchfilm
Original release
Release| 15 September 1986 (1986-09-15) –
24 October 1988 (1988-10-24)

Treasure Island (Russian: Остров Сокровищ, romanized: Ostrov Sokrovishch) is a Soviet Ukraine two-part live-action/animated adventure comedy television film adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island (1883). It was created by the studio Kievnauchfilm in-between 1986 and 1988. The film features mostly traditional animation with some related live action sequences.

The first part, Captain Flint's Map, aired in 1986; the second, Captain Flint's Treasure, aired in 1988. Subsequent airings would combine them into one program. The film won the Grand Prize in Minsk, 1987, the Grand Prize in Kyiv, 1989, and the 1st Prize in International Cinema Festival of Television films in Czechoslovakia.

The film was released in America under the name The Return to Treasure Island, direct-to-video in-between 1989 and 1992. The live action sections were removed, and it is 34 minutes shorter than the Soviet version.[1] It features the voices of Jan Rabson and Steve Bulen.

## Plot

[edit]

Throughout the movie, character introductions are shown through dossier-like cards, which, among other traits, label them as "not married" (a reference to Seventeen Moments of Spring). Live-action songs are also played after certain scenes to present morals about drugs and exercise to the audience.

### Captain Flint's Map

[edit]

The film begins with a comedic live-action segment where a pirate, Captain Flint, attempts to defend himself from other pirates who seek his treasure map. Billy Bones, an allergic and alcoholic pirate, in animated form, surprise-attacks Flint and takes the map.

On a stormy night, Bones, with his cat friend, arrives at the Admiral Benbow Inn. He asks the innkeeper, Jim Hawkins, to notify him should an old one-legged sailor arrive, unaware that a pirate gang led by a blind, but vicious pirate, known as Blind Pew, is spying on them. Pew, along with Bones' former shipmate Black Dog, revisits the inn the next morning. Black Dog demands the map from Bones, but after a fight, Bones tricks him, where Black Dog runs off into the countryside, assuming that Bones has escaped. Dr. Livesey, an always-jubilant doctor, hospitalizes Bones after his sneezing knocks a ceiling plank loose, injuring him, and, along with his alcoholism, also causes a stroke. Afterward, Bones warns Hawkins that the locked chest contained in his room is in danger of being stolen, charging him to flee with it to Livesey, currently residing at the estate of Squire Trelawney, for protection, should the pirates return.

Sometime later, Pew revisits the inn, and gravely presents Bones with a black spot, which warns Bones of a visit from the pirate gang at 10 PM. Bones panics, further warning Hawkins of the importance of Flint's map contained in the chest. With a final sneeze, and his alcoholism caught up to him, Bones dies of another stroke. Fearing the pirates' arrival, Hawkins takes the Black Spot, and the map from the chest, and flees from the inn. Pew, Black Dog, and the rest of the pirate gang return to raid Bones' chest for the map, but discover only gold coins inside. Hawkins quickly sets forth on horseback toward Trelawney's estate. The pirates notice, but fail to stop him from afar. Everyone, except for Pew, decides to cut their losses, taking the money from Bones' chest. Pew tries to persuade the pirates to find the map, but accidentally trips himself into a barrel, and careens off a sheer cliff to his death in the ocean, presumably drowning in the process, much to their sadness.

Hawkins arrives at the estate and meets with Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney, presenting them with the map. The two decide to search for a crew to hunt for the treasure, and the three travel by coach to Bristol. Arriving by morning, the trio stops at the Spyglass Inn, looking to meet with the inn's owner, Long John Silver. A pirate patron provokes Hawkins, who fearlessly fights him back. Despite the apparent difference in strength, Hawkins somehow easily overpowers the pirate, scaring off the rest of the patrons in the process. Trelawney calls on Silver, who offers his ship, the Hispaniola, and his crew (who turn out to be Pew's pirate gang in disguise), for the voyage.

Following the lead of Smollett, the ship's stiff-backed captain, the crew sets up and casts off for the island. During the night, Silver and his crew meet in the ship's armory. Hawkins, awakened by their footsteps, sneaks into the armory as well, and eavesdrops on them. There, the film concludes as Hawkins learns that Silver was Captain Flint's right-hand man, and also learns of their plan to mutiny against Smollett and steal the treasure for themselves.

### Captain Flint's Treasure

[edit]

Continuing from the first part, Hawkins sneaks back to Livesey, Trelawney, and Smollett, to inform them of Silver's mutiny. Smollett proposes they play dumb for the time being, but the four are unaware that one of Silver's men is listening, who then notifies Silver that Hawkins, Livesey, Trelawney, and Smollett know of his plan.

The next day, the Hispanola arrives at Treasure Island, and Smollett allows shore leave for Silver and his men. To keep Hawkins, Smollett, Trelawney, and Livesey from leaving, Silver secretly places them under guard. Despite this, Hawkins escapes, absconds a dinghy, and attempts to row to the island alone, but Silver and a complement of the crew chase after him. While hiding from them, Hawkins encounters Ben Gunn, a former member of Flint's crew. Gunn explains that he and the rest of his crew killed Flint, betraying him for the treasure. Three years later, Gunn returned with the crew and led a search for the treasure, but ended up finding nothing. Out of the crew's displeasure, Gunn was left marooned on the island. Finding that he is in good company, Gunn agrees to help Hawkins find the treasure.

Back on the ship, Livesey spots Hawkins, Silver's crew, and an abandoned fortress on the island. Livesey, Trelawney, and Smollett then sneak away, stealing another of the ship's dinghies. One of Silver's men notices their escape, and the crew attempts to sink the dinghy. The three heroes arrive safely on the island and take shelter in the fortress. Silver follows them as they arrive, and demands they surrender. An hour later, Silver and several of his men attack the fortress. The heroes are victorious after Trelawney tricks Silver's men into running off of a cliff.

That night, Gunn reveals the location of the already-exhumed treasure to Livesey. Finding Livesey's bed empty and assuming that he has a plan, Hawkins attempts his own plan, and returns to the Hispanola. There, he encounters Israel Hands, one of Silver's men, and is forced into a fight. Hawkins defeats Hands and returns to the fort, where Silver and his remaining men are lying in wait. Silver captures Hawkins, and explains that Livesey gave him the map, then left with Smollett and Trelawney. The pirates attempt to mutiny against Silver, losing confidence in their leader's recent command, but Silver makes a private deal with Hawkins to protect each other, and an open deal with the pirates where he reveals that he has the map to the treasure.

At daybreak, they find the burial spot indicated on the map, but Livesey, Gunn, Trelawney, and Smollett have set up an ambush. The pirates, sans Silver, attempt to escape by running, but encounter Livesey, who examines them, and finds that their pipe smoking has deteriorated their health. When the pirates realize this, compounded with their exhaustion from running, they die on-the-spot. Successful in their mission, the remaining crew loads the treasure onto the ship and sets sail back to England.

The film ends featuring some of the animated main characters alongside their voice actors in live-action. After the credits, the live-action pirate crew finds the hidden treasure and opens the chest, only to find a spring-loaded sign saying "The End".

## Cast

[edit]

### Voice cast

[edit]

* Valeriy Bessarab [ru] as Jim Hawkins
* Armen Dzhigarkhanyan as Long John Silver
* Viktor Andriyenko [ru] as Captain Smollett and Billy Bones
* Evgeniy Papernyy [ru] as Dr. Livesey and "dossier" storyteller
* Borys Voznyuk [ru] as Squire Trelawney
* Yury Yakovlev as Ben Gunn
* Grigory Tolchinsky [ru] as Black Dog
* Georgy Kyshko [ru] as Blind Pew
* Volodymyr Bystryakov [ru] as Blind Pew's dog
* Volodymyr Zadniprovskyy [uk] as the "cowardish pirate"

### Live-action cast

[edit]

* Instrumental ensemble VIA (ВИА) and the theater company "Grotesque":
* Valeriy Chyhlyayev [ru] as Leading Pirate/Captain Flint
* Yuri Nevganonny as Captain Flint in Ben Gunn's story
* Viktor Andriyenko [ru]
* Anatoly Dyachenko [ru]
* Vyacheslav Dubinin [ru]
* Mikhail Tserishenko [ru]
* Alexander Levit
* Vitali Vasilkov [ru]
* Semyon Grigoriev
* David Cherkassky
* Vladimir Chiglyayev
* Oleg Sheremenko

## Background

[edit]

Treasure Island was a collaboration between director David Cherkassky, and cartoonist Radna Sakhaltuev. Their previous collaborations included the films Adventures of Captain Wrongel and Doctor Aybolit.

The film features musical interludes with live actors that explain, for example, the evils of drinking alcohol or smoking. These scenes were added to help meet the deadline for the cartoon and were filmed at night.[2]

The film was released in two parts. The first, Captain Flint's Map, aired in 1986; the second, Captain Flint's Treasure, aired in 1988.

In 2012, Russian Parliament passed a law that prohibited exhibition of films to minors that included smoking or alcohol consumption, actions which the pirates do many times in the film. A public outcry over this prohibition resulted in an exemption for "movies that have significant historical and cultural value", including Treasure Island.

## Home video

[edit]

On 16 March 2006, a Russian DVD by Krupny Plan (Region 0) that contains the original Russian edit of the film with restored images and a Dolby Digital 5.1 sound mix (as well as with the original mono sound). This version contains no bonus material, no subtitles, and is Russian only.

An export version of the Russian edit of the film by RUSCICO (Region 0) is available under the title Treasure Island. This version contains Russian (5.1 and 1.0), English, and French (5.1 with one voice voiceover translation) soundtracks as well as several subtitle languages (English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish). The picture was not restored for this edition.

A United States direct-to-video cut from between 1989 and 1992 was published in the US under the title Return to Treasure Island on DVD (Region 1). It is 34 minutes shorter than the Soviet version. The picture was not restored. However, the English audio has been remastered in 5.1. The edit does not contain any Russian audio. The VHS edition was distributed by Video Treasures.

## Legacy

[edit]

Treasure Island won the Grand Prize in Minsk, 1987, the Grand Prize in Kyiv, 1989, and the 1st Prize on International Cinema Festival of Television films in Czechoslovakia.

In 2005, Ukrainian game development studio Action Forms made an official PC adventure game adaptation of Treasure Island. Director David Cherkassky, original voice cast members Yevhen Paperny and Viktor Andriyenko, and original animators from the film participated in the development of the game.[3]

In August 2022, the character Dr. Livesey became the subject of an international internet meme, in which his confident gait whilst entering the Spyglass Inn, with Hawkins and Trelawney, is set to the phonk track "Why Not" by Ghostface Playa.[4]

DR LIVESEY ROM AND DEATH EDITION is a 2023 bullet hell shooter game created by Russian publisher Agafonoff Official Group that features characters and animations from the film.[5]

## See also

[edit]

* 1980s portal
* Children's literature portal
* Films portal

* List of animated feature films of 1988

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Southern, Nathan (14 October 2008). "The Return to Treasure Island (1989/1992)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 1645522. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
2. ^ Konstantinova, Anna (19 July 2020). Закулисные секреты недетского советского мультфильма «Остров сокровищ», который и через 30 лет смотрят с удовольствием [Behind-the-scenes secrets of the non-children's Soviet cartoon "Treasure Island", which even after 30 years is watched with pleasure]. kulturologia.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
3. ^ Остров сокровищ - официальный сайт проекта [Treasure Island - official project site] (in Russian). Kyiv, Ukraine: Action Forms. 25 November 2005. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2022 - via 1C Company.
4. ^ Spoyk (21 August 2022). Как доктор Ливси из "Острова сокровищ" стал популярным зарубежным мемом [How Dr. Livesey from Treasure Island became a popular foreign meme]. Shazoo (in Russian). Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
5. ^ "Save 72% on DR LIVESEY ROM AND DEATH EDITION on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2023-08-10.

## External links

[edit]

* Treasure Island at IMDb
* Treasure Island at Animator.ru

* 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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