Treasure Island (Die Schatzinsel) (1966)

Treasure Island Die Schatzinsel L'Île au trésor Movie Poster Country France Germany Directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner Release Date 25 December 1966 – 1 January 1967 Language French German Studio Deropa Films Edumat Productions Franco London Films Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF) Tele München Fernseh Produktionsgesellschaft (TMG) Teledis Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) Distributor ZDF Enterprises Main Cast Character Actor Jim Hawkins Michael Ande Long John Silver Ivor Dean Dr. David Livesey Georges Riquier Squire John Trelawney Jacques Dacqmine Captain Alexander Smollet Jacques Monod Billy Bones Dante Maggio Blinder Pew / James Brandon Jean Mauvais Black Dog Sylvain Lévignac Ben Gunn Jean Saudray Marc Hawkins François Darbon

Treasure Island is a 1966 television adventure four-part miniseries directed by director Wolfgang Liebeneiner which is based on the novel of the same name by Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson. The series was broadcast in 13 parts in France and East Germany. The story is set in 18th-century Bristol. There, Jim Hawkins spends his youth in an old inn. One day, a guest appears who entangles Jim in an adventure he had not even dared to dream of until then. The stranger's name is Bill Bones, he lets himself be called "Captain", he looks pretty worn out, he guards his sailor's chest like a treasure, and he only appreciates the solitude of the old inn because he hopes to be safe here from some old pals. When a stroke puts an end to Bones' wildlife, Jim realizes that he and his mother are in grave danger because of the box. He takes a black package from the dead man's belongings. Just in time, he is able to leave the house with his mother and hide. At close range, they both witness Bones' cronies searching and demolishing the inn. The police can't prevent them from escaping by ship at sea. In the black parcel, Jim finds a map of an island with exact details of where Flint, a bloodthirsty pirate, has buried his treasure. An adventurous treasure hunt begins.

In the USA, the series was released in 1970. However, the 360-minute series was shortened to 84 minutes for the theatrical version, which meant that large parts of the plot fell victim to the shears. In addition, the film's score was replaced with a rocking one. Despite its failure in the U.S., the theatrical version made it to video in the 1980s.

The following weapons were used in the miniseries Treasure Island:

Pistols

Saxon Flintlock Pistol

Billy Bones (Dante Maggio) owns two Saxon flintlock pistols. Jim Hawkins' mother (Ilsemarie Schnering) and Jim (Michael Ande) are seen handling them at the end of Ep. 01 "Der alter Freibeuter".

18th Century Saxon flintlock pistol

Billy Bones takes one of his pistol.

He holds it at the ready.

Jim Hawkins' mother is about to remove the pistols from the chest...

...and gives them to Jim (Ep. 01).

Kentucky Flintlock Pistol

Squire John Trelawney (Jacques Dacqmine) is seen holding a Kentucky Flintlock Pistol.

Kentucky Flintlock, reproduction made by Pedersoli - .50 caliber

John Trelawney with his Kentucky pistol.

A view of the left side.

Jim cleans the barrel of the Kentucky pistol.

John Trelawney holds his Kentucky pistol (Ep. 03).

Double-barrelled Percussion Pistol

Several Double-barrelled Percussion Pistols are wielded by Captain Alexander Smollet (Jacques Monod), Dr. David Livesey (Georges Riquier), and Jim. The use of percussion weapons in 1758 is clearly an anachronism.

French double-barrelled percussion pistol, circa 1830 - .59 caliber

Smollet holds his pistol.

Dr. Livesey with a Double-barrelled pistol in his right hand (Ep. 03).

Jim looks inside the two barrels.

The pistol rests on his legs (Ep. 04).

Chatellerault Gendarmerie

In Ep. 03 "Das Blockhaus", Dr. David Livesey and Joyce (Guy Saint-Jean) are seen with Chatellerault Gendarmerie‎ pistols. Long John Silver (Ivor Dean) uses one in the fourth episode.

Chatellerault Gendarmerie Pistol - .58 cal

Dr. Livesey takes the Chatellerault Gendarmerie.

Joyce readies his Gendarmerie pistol (Ep. 03)

Long John Silver takes his pistol from his pocket (Ep. 04)

Double Barreled Percussion Pocket Pistol

A double-barreled percussion pocket pistol is given by Long John Silver to Jim in Ep. 04 "Die Entscheidung".

Percussion Pocket Pistol

Dr. David Livesey is seen with a Percussion Pocket Pistol tucked in his belt in Ep. 04 "Die Entscheidung".

Percussion pocket pistol c. 1840 - 11mm

Unknown Pistols

Italian (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies) Percussion cap pistol, converted from flintlock, circa mid-19th century - .69 caliber (17.7mm)

(Ep. 03)

(Ep. 04)

Muskets

Remington M1863 Zouave

What appear to be Remington 1863 Zouave rifles are used by various characters throughout the series.

Remington Model 1863 Zouave Rifle - .58 Minie ball

A British soldier in Bristol guards the gallows.

Three rifles on the wall of the cabin.

Gray carries two rifles (Ep. 02)

Trelawney checks the sights...

...and the barrel of one of the rifles.

Capt. Smollet armed with a Zouave rifle.

Trelawney aims his rifle (Ep. 03)

Charleville Mle. 1822

After they land on the island, all long arms change to Charleville Muskets which are mostly percussion cap variants. Notable characters are Hunter (Aldo Marini), Abraham Gray (Leroy Haynes), Redruth (Lucien Hubert), Dr. Livesey, Squire John Trelawney, Captain Alexander Smollet, and Ben Gunn (Jean Saudray).

Charleville Mousquet Modèle 1777 - .69 caliber; for comparison

Charleville Mousquet Modèle 1822 (Percussion Convertion) - .69 caliber

Dr. Livesey carries a Charleville.

Hunter holds Livesey's musket.

Trelawney looks at his musket.

Capt. Smollet stands with his Charleville.

Later on, he holds it at the ready.

Jim prepares to load Joyce's musket.

This one is a flintlock variant.

He gives it to Joyce (Ep. 03)

All of Silver's men carry their muskets (Ep. 04)

Other

Cannon

A naval cannon is seen onboard the Hispanola.

Naval cannon - 18th century

Jim looks curiously at the cannon (Ep. 02)

The cannon being prepared to fire.

Tom Morgan (Roger Lumont) fired the cannon (Ep. 03)