Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 18 December 1954, page 3


London Critics Severe

On 'Long John'

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

LONDON, Dec. 17.—The Australian-made film "Long John Silver" has come under a broadside from most London film critics.

Only the "Daily Mirror" critic has a really good word to say for it. "Ideal Christ-mas fare for kids from nine to 90," he says. "Robert Newton, ranting and rolling his eyes, is in his element as a lovable, rascally pirate chief. Jim Hawkins is well played by Kit Taylor, of Sydney."

"The Times" says: "Con-fused, dull, repetitive, over-long and, while full of action, yet contrives to give the im-pression that nothing is hap-pening. . . . Long John is a villain, to be sure, but New-ton hints that the villainy is all put on as an act, not to entertain the audience and children, but some amused satiric streak within his own nature."

"Evening Standard": "Let us hope that this unfortunate picture will end sequels for all

time."

"Daily Herald": A rehash of a sequel in which all the glorious ingredients of the original are like Monday's re-hash. Nothing quite comes off. . . . Stale stuff."

"Daily Express": "Far too long for the concentration of

children."

"News Chronicle": "Robert Newton would appear to have told the cameraman, 'Don't shoot till you see the whites of my eyes.' "