Treasure Island

Treasure Island, original title Die Schatzinsel, is a German-French mini-series, produced for German television station ZDF in 1966. The screenplay by Walter Ulbrich, who also co-produced the film, remains largely close to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic 1883 novel Treasure Island. Plot The first part Der alte Freibeuter ("The Old Pirate", about 80 minutes) tells the relationship between Jim and Billy Bones, as well as the dangerous adventures with the pirates at the Hawkins Inn. It ends with Squire Trelawney chartering a boat in Bristol. The second part Der Schiffskoch ("The Ship's cook", about 88 minutes) introduces Long John Silver and the other pirates, as well as the preparations for the journey. At sea, Jim overhears at night that Silver is a pirate and informs the non-pirate crew members. The third part Das Blockhaus ("The Block House", about 91 minutes) tells the start of the fight on Treasure Island and the non-pirates hiding in the wooden house, as well as introducing Ben Gunn. The fourth part Die Entscheidung ("The Decision", about 84 minutes) shows Jim Hawkins entering the Hispaniola and his fight with Israel Hands, as well as the final outcome which is close to the book. Cast Michael Ande as Jim Hawkins Ivor Dean as Long John Silver Georges Riquier as Dr. David Livesey Jacques Dacqmine as Squire John Trelawney Jacques Monod as Captain Alexander Smollet Dante Maggio as Billy Bones Jean Mauvais as Blinder Pew / James Brandon Sylvain Lévignac as Black Dog Jacques Godin as Israel Hands Dominique Maurin as Tom Purcell Jean Saudray as Ben Gunn Ilsemarie Schnering as Jim Hawkins' mother François Darbon as Marc Hawkins, Jim's father Hellmut Lange as the narrator Background After successful adaptions of Robinson Crusoe and Don Quijote, Treasure Island was the third in a row of sixteen television adventures mini-series by ZDF between 1964 and 1983. It was filmed at the Lake Garda with an international cast and crew. Michael Ande, who portrayed Jim, suffered a serious accident during filming and had to be doubled in some scenes. It was produced on 35 mm film with many small details and even in colour, although colour television was introduced on German television only in 1967 (so the first screening had to be in black and white).