Adventures of Long John Silver, The

1 9 5 5 (Australia)
26 x 30 minute episodes

This early series – produced and filmed in Australia by overseas interests before Australia even had television – was based very loosely on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel Treasure Island and featured Long John Silver (Robert Newton), his young cabin boy pal Jim Hawkins (Kit Taylor) and their ship, the Faithful, located on the island of Porto Bello on the Spanish Main.

There they worked for British Governor Strong (Harvey Adams) to thwart the advance of the perfidious Spaniards and keep the island safe in the hands of The Crown.

Treasure hunting was thus reduced to an occasional pastime, but off-duty, Silver was frequently to be found in the pub of Miss Purity Pinker (Connie Gilchrist), the Cask & Anchor Inn.

The Adventures of Long John Silver was chiefly notable for the theatrical performance of Robert Newton in the grog-swilling, shiver-me-timbers title role which he already played in the movies Treasure Island (1950) and Long John Silver (1954). The character was toned down considerably for television and was now portrayed as a likeable rogue rather than the ruthless schemer and murderer of Stevenson’s novel. Robert Newton died shortly after finishing this series.

The series was filmed at Pageoord Studios in Sydney by producer Joseph Kaufman. Although filmed in colour, the series was given its UK transmission in black and white.

Episodes were also edited into two feature films for cinema release in the US – South Sea Pirates and Under The Black Flag.

Long John Silver
Robert Newton
Jim Hawkins
Kit Taylor
Miss Purity Pinker
Connie Gilchrist
Governor Strong
Harvey Adams