Along with George C. Scott's performance as Scrooge in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Charlton Heston's performance as Long John Silver will go down as one of the highlights of 20th century television. In an utterly amazing turn, Heston metamorphosizes chameleon-like into one of literature's most enduring villains. This is the kind of performance that needs to be seen to be believed- and believe it you will! Had Heston chosen, he could very well have become one of The Silver Screen's leading villains. (THE THREE MUSKETEERS and THE FOUR MUSKETEERS are also offered in evidence.) Superb writing and direction by Fraser Heston in aid of must also be noted. Must-see telemovie.

In a commentary to the DVD of Treasure Island director Fraser Heston said that the genesis of this film was as a lad he heard Charlton Heston read the story to him. Robert Louis Stevenson's classic is an adventure story that has appealed to know about 15 generations and Fraser got to hear his father read the story playing all the parts with different accents. I'm betting this was the genesis of Charlton Heston's interpretation of Long John Silver. If so this film was about 35 years in the making.

Not to dismiss the Wallace Beery/Jackie Cooper version or the Walt Disney version with Robert Newton and Bobby Driscoll, but Fraser Heston's version is a darker version. The other two concentrated on the relationship that develops between Silver and the lad Jim Hawkins with Silver as rogue and surrogate father figure to straight arrow Hawkins. This version emphasizes a very ruthless Silver and a much older Hawkins than either Driscoll or Cooper were played by Christian Bale. Young Bale is no kid the adults have to protect, he aids in the fighting and is if not mature very capable.

The other parts of the legendary adventure are filled most capably with seasoned veterans like Oliver Reed as Captain Billy Bones, Richard Johnson as Squire Trelawney, Julian Glover as Dr. Livesey, and Isla Blair as the widow Hawkins. Most important and unforgettable is Christopher Lee as Blind Pew. Most of these people worked with Charlton Heston before so it was a family shoot in every sense of the word.

Charlton Heston's interpretation of Long John Silver is unique and maybe closer to what Robert Louis Stevenson had in mind. But what a treat young Fraser Heston had to see that one man show of Treasure Island his father put on. If only cameras had been rolling.

I have always loved Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, it is such a great story and a real page-turner. Of the four versions I've seen so far- this, 1950, the Muppet film and the recent one aired over the Christmas break- I do agree with those that say this is the best one.

The wonderful story is still as compelling as before, throughout here it is well paced and interesting. The dialogue is witty and complex as well as maintaining the basic feel of the book's prose. Add to that assured direction, authentic locations that are rich in atmosphere, sumptuous costuming and photography, energetic action sequences and a music score that is both rousing and with a Celtic lilt and you have a treasure. But you cannot mention the cast mentioning this Treasure Island. To me at least three cast members are definitive, they are Charlton Heston as Long John Silver, Christian Bale as Jim Hawkins and Nicolas Amer as Ben Gunn.

Heston is perfectly cast in a role he was born to play, his interpretation is charismatic and complex being both menacing and human, and it is easily one of my favourite performances of his. Likewise with Bale, whose appealing, never overly-sentimental and easy-to-identify-with Jim Hawkins has only been surpassed I feel by his performances in American Psycho and Empire of the Sun. Amer's Ben Gunn is both amusing and poignant, a perfect balance and the only performance of the character so far I've seen to have that perfect balance.

That's not all. We also have Richard Johnson's generous Squire Trelawny and Julian Glover's gutsy Dr Livesey, as well the most vivid and most dangerous Billy Bones in Oliver Reed, a genuinely scary Blind Pew in Christopher Lee, an excellent Clive Wood as Captain Smollet and standout turns from Pete Postlethwaite, Isla Blair and Michael Halsey.

Overall, a fantastic version, both as an adaptation and on its own terms with a wonderful cast especially. 10/10 Bethany Cox