Ritorno all'isola del tesoro

Return To Treasure Island was the farewell film for noted character actor Porter Hall. But aside from a chance for Hall to play one of his sniveling rat villain type characters once more and for Tab Hunter to go around bare chested for most of the film there's not much else to recommend this film.

Hunter also narrates the film from flashback, he's a graduate student and his contention is that there's more treasure to be found on Treasure Island. The famous Robert Louis Stevenson novel is treated as a factual account of a voyage. He interests a descendent of Jim Hawkins played by Dawn Addams in taking a look for some more. There is also a flashback showing Captain Flint coming back to bury some more so we know this to be true.

Unfortunately they also interest some greedy villains like Hall, like the blind James Seay who has his own gang of pirates 20th century style.

Hunter looks fabulous, Addams who is scantily clad herself look pretty good, something for everyone's prurient interest. Too bad they weren't provided with a decent story and the acting is amateurish.

Hunter did have sex appeal though. Otherwise this film would have sunk his career without a trace.

Here is a contemporary sequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island" (1883). We begin with a brief flashback to the 1700s, which serves to link the old treasure map to the present. In 1954, the map is in the possession of beautiful Dawn Addams (as Jamesina "Jamie" Hawkins), a direct descendant of "Jim Hawkins" (the original story's young hero). The map's worth is suddenly realized, leading to the titular return. On the island, Ms. Addams meets handsome archaeologist Tab Hunter (as Clive Stone)...

Mr. Hunter is also the story's star and narrator. He shaves off his beard for Addams (and keeps his shirt off for viewers). She keeps her shirt on, except for a brief bath scene (which is modestly shot for the viewer). The attractive couple kiss and hold hands while battling Porter Hall (as Maximillian "Maxie" Harris) and his sadistic blind henchman James Seay (as Felix Newman). Everyone wants the treasure. Directed by veteran E.A. DuPont, this production relies mostly on the attractiveness of Hunter and Addams.

*** Return to Treasure Island (6/30/54) E.A. DuPont ~ Tab Hunter, Dawn Addams, Porter Hall, James Seay

I will forever remember the director - German born director - Ewald Andre Dupont for the amazing STEEL LADY, his masterpiece for me and also for the amusing and not bad at all NEANDERTHAL MAN. I don't know the rest of his filmography, I guess mostly made in Europe. And this one was totally unknown to me. It is not that uninteresting but the directing is lousy, corny, despite Tab Hunter and Dawn Adams presences. Poor dudes, they do what they can to give some energy, some stamina to this poor script. The producers seem to have lost all inspiration. But I did not get really bored, just amused by the clumsy efforts to try getting this story exciting. I repeat, it's still worth watching for rare gems diggers. Maybe not treasure though, because this one is definitely not a treasure item. Just a cute little gem. Nothing else.

Derring-do hampered by lackadaisical direction and a less then gripping story. Still not bad in a colorful Saturday morning matinée way with a handsome hero and lovely leading lady.

Part of the problem is that after an initial skirmish the villains and the supposedly imperiled couple rarely intersect, it's almost as if they are on separate islands in their search for the loot until the very last minute. Even at a brief 75 minute running time it seems to take everyone forever to achieve the goal of tracking down the loot.

As an actor and narrator Tab Hunter is very beautiful. His blonde shirtless attractiveness is a nice distraction but his line readings are so flat and his reactions to almost every situation so non-reactive he makes you yearn for the over the top scenery chewing of Robert Newton in the original Treasure Island.

The best thing about this film is the young, lovely Dawn Addams. As you read earlier, she is a direct descendant of Jim Hawkins, and along with a young Tab Hunter, follows a map that will lead her to the treasure.

Bad guys are in the mix, too. Our young heroine is captured by the bullies and whipped to make her tell where the map is. She refuses and must now figure a way to escape their clutches.

A typical B movie shot in color,it was released to 1954 audiences at a time when this type of fare was quite popular. B movies were a staple of Hollywood up until about the late 1950s.

If you can find it, it will take you back to a good time in moviedom.