Savage Messiah: Ken Russell > Savage Messiah: Ken Russell
Ken Russels Treasure Island
BoyScoutKevin:
Typical Ken and untypical Ken
Typical
1. Russell as the film's narrator.
2. Georgina Hale as Mrs. Hawkins. Ken likes to use the same actors he used in his previous films.
Atypical
1. Blind Pew is played by a black actor. You don't find many black actors in Ken's films.
2. Poncy. The gay pirate. The stereotypical gay pirate. While non-heterosexual characters are often portrayed in Ken's films. Seldom are they played as stereotypes, as they are here.
Next time: not in the book and in the book
BoyScoutKevin:
--- Quote from: Iain Fisher on March 05, 2019, 11:31:50 PM ---I agree on the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, a great book with so many memorable scenes- the old pirate at the Admiral Benbow Inn, the black spot, Long John Silver as the friendly cook, the boy hiding with the apples etc etc.
I like his other novels as well, Dr Jekyll and Mister Hyde (it would be great to read it not knowing the story in advance), and the Scots dialect novels Kidnapped and Catriona.
A lot of the Treasure Island films are pretty boring, I can't remember which ones I have seen. I did note that Oliver Reed is in one, playing Billy Bones.
--- End quote ---
No wonder, I don't remember Oliver Reed, as he appeared in the version with Charlton Heston as Silver. I think one of the few film versions I have never seen. It might be worthwhile for me to see if I can find it and watch it, as it also stars Christian Bale as Jim, Christopher Lee as Pew, Richard Johnson as the squire, Julian Glover as the doctor, and Peter Postlethwaite as Merry.
Iain Fisher:
I agree on the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, a great book with so many memorable scenes- the old pirate at the Admiral Benbow Inn, the black spot, Long John Silver as the friendly cook, the boy hiding with the apples etc etc.
I like his other novels as well, Dr Jekyll and Mister Hyde (it would be great to read it not knowing the story in advance), and the Scots dialect novels Kidnapped and Catriona.
A lot of the Treasure Island films are pretty boring, I can't remember which ones I have seen. I did note that Oliver Reed is in one, playing Billy Bones.
BoyScoutKevin:
Realism and anachronisms
While Ken's biographical and historical films, such as . . .
Prisoner of Honor -- Gothic -- Valentino -- Lisztomania -- Mahler -- Savage Messiah -- The Devils -- and The Music Lover . . .
have their moments of reality, and . . .
The Boyfriend
. . .which is somewhat exaggerated, is still a fairly realistic look at what goes on on stage and behind the scenes, and while . . .
Lair of the White Worm
. . . is even more exaggerated, there are moments of reality in it. Unlike . . .
Ken Russell's Treasure Island
. . . which is filled with anachronisms. If we date the story in the film from 1765, which the film does.
Anachronisms
cola -- dynamite -- a rifle that fires multiple times without reloading -- slot machines -- stethoscopes -- t-shirts
. . . are all products of the 19th century. And while the . . .
whistle
. . . dates back to the time of the Ancient Greeks, the metal one in the film, again dates back to the 19th century.
Not anachronisms
There are something things seen in the film that may seem like an anachronism, but may not be, such as . . .
bingo, 16th century Italy -- the cuckoo clock, 18th century Germany --
and while the use of tobacco in Europe dates to the 16th century, the cigar in Europe dates to the middle of the 18th century, so it may or may not be an anachronism.
Next time: typical and atypical Ken
BoyScoutKevin:
Introduction
Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island," which I hold is one of the greatest sea stories ever written, and one of the few books I can read over and over again.
And one of the most filmed books ever written. With . . .
Wallace Beery as Long John Silver. Seen
Robert Newton as Long John Silver. Seen
Orson Welles as Long John Silver. Seen
Charlton Heston as Long John Silver. Unseen
Jack Palance as Long John Silver. Seen
The last is a version I dislike, because it turned Long John Silver from the villain in the story to the hero of the story.
And then there are the variations of the story.
the western Scalawag with Kirk Douglas as the Long John Silver type of character
the animated Treasure Planet with Brian Murray voicing the Long John Silver type of character
and Muppets Treasure Island with Tim Curry as Long John Silver. More on this later.
Next time: realism and anachronisms
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