Die Schatzinsel

A live-action six-part West German/French adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel. Although not directly faithful, it is a highly liberal and stylised re-imagining that blends the pirate adventure with the popular genre of the time: the Euro-Western. In place of the novel's 18th-century setting is a distinct 19th-century 'Wild West' with cowboy style wardrobe and firearms. The central premise remains: a young man, Jim Hawkins, comes into possession of a treasure map and embarks on a voyage to a remote island.

Die Schatzinsel (1966-1967) is a West German and French four-part miniseries created by Walter Ulbrich for ZDF, a stylised live-action adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel. Rather than the novel's 18th-century seafaring world, it places the story in a nineteenth-century Wild West of cowboy wardrobe, revolvers and frontier towns, blending pirate adventure with the euro-western fashion of its day. Michael Ande plays Jim Hawkins, a young man who comes into possession of a treasure map and sets out on a voyage toward a remote island, while Jacques Dacqmine appears as Squire John Trelawney and Georges Riquier as Dr David Livesey, the trusted adults who join the quest. Jean Mauvais plays James Brandon, and Ilsemarie Schnering appears as Mrs. Hawkins. Each episode runs about eighty-five minutes and is built around the escalating dangers of the hunt, with ambushes, shootouts and a rough crew of treasure seekers. The tone is atmospheric and earnest, with stark realism and a sense of genuine peril. Fans of the 1950 Treasure Island film, the classic Zorro serials and Once Upon a Time in the West will find resonance in its blend of swashbuckling adventure and dusty frontier style.

• Treasure Island (1950)shared adventure tone, pirate treasure quest, stylized period reimagining
• Once Upon a Time in the Westeuro-western style, wild west recasting of a classic adventure
• Zorroadventure serial with stylized wardrobe and western trappings

Created by

Walter Ulbrich

Release Date

1966-12-25

Episode runtime

85 min

Rating

7.9 / 10 (30)

What is Die Schatzinsel about?

A young man who inherits a treasure map sets out on a dangerous voyage to a remote island in this stylised wild west retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure.

What is Die Schatzinsel like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Die Schatzinsel as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Die Schatzinsel violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Die Schatzinsel as mild.

Which shows are like Die Schatzinsel?

Shows with a similar feel include Treasure Island (1950), Once Upon a Time in the West, and Zorro.

How long is Die Schatzinsel?

Die Schatzinsel: 1 season, 4 episodes.

Is Die Schatzinsel still running?

No, Die Schatzinsel has ended.