Treasure Island

This Gorky Studio production of Stevenson's romance is played chiefly for derring-do, and judging from the battle in the Admiral Benbow director/co-writer Fridman has seen a few spaghetti Westerns. Creditable re-creation of 18th century English life, plus plausible West Country dubbing for the British release print; but the attractive voyage out is too long for a pirate tale, and Jim's account of how none of his companions gained lasting happiness from his doubloons makes for a flat finish (as well as leaving us in no doubt about where the movie came from).