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Dr. Livesey
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Dr. David Livesey /ˈlɪvsɪ/ is a fictional character in the novel Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson. As well as doctor he is a magistrate, an important man in the rural society of south-west England where the story begins; his social position is marked by his always wearing a white wig - even in the harsh conditions of the island where the story later takes place. Some years previously, he had been in the British army which fought (and lost) the 1745 Battle of Fontenoy.
The doctor's first appearance in the book is when he comes to the "Admiral Benbow". There he demonstrates his courage and strength of character when the pirate Billy Bones attempts to bully him. On Bones's subsequent death and the discovery of the treasure map, Dr. Livesey is soon in with Squire Trelawney's plans to recover Flint's hoard. Dr. Livesey is much the cooler-headed of the two and would have kept the purpose of the Hispaniola's voyage secret if he had had his way.
When Jim Hawkins discovers the pirates' plot, it is to the doctor that he goes to see. Livesey keeps his head in the crisis and lets none of the crew see that he has just been given dreadful news. Thanks to his cool temperament, he, Captain Alexander Smollett, and the squire are able to plan their escape with the few men they can trust. The doctor himself narrates their subsequent flight from the ship and the establishing of their camp in the old stockade on the island.
Later, when Silver and the pirates attack, the doctor fights well (he is a battle-hardened veteran, having served at Fontenoy as a younger man) and, with Captain Smollett wounded, takes responsibility for the safety of the expedition. Acting on Jim's account of his earlier adventures, he goes to find Ben Gunn and succeeds in winning the castaway's loyalty, no doubt helped by the fortunate circumstance of having a small Parmesan cheese in his possession (a foodstuff Gunn has been pining for through three years of living on goat meat). He negotiates a truce with Silver by surrendering the treasure map which he (but not Silver) now knows to be useless, and during the consequent fight at the site of the plundered cache he arrives opportunely to orchestrate the rescue of Jim and, as it turns out, Silver.
Doctor Livesey, though at one point earning a merited rebuke from Captain Smollett for inattention to his post, likely has the largest share of the credit for the expedition's success. He can very well be considered the hero of the story. Without him the whole expedition would have been a disaster.
Devoted to his Hippocratic Oath, Dr. Livesey feels duty-bound to treat wounded and ill pirates, even though they are enemies who tried to kill him and might try again.
Robert Stevenson does not describe Dr Livesey, he lets the Dr describe himself in actions. He is intelligent, brave and cool-headed; qualities which win the day against the cunning and ruthlessness of his formidable adversary Silver.
Played by the actors
Filmography of Dr. Livesey (4 films)
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, 3hDirected by Steve Barron
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Adventure
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Pirate films, Films about disabilities, L'Or
Actors Toby Regbo, Eddie Izzard, Rupert Penry-Jones, Daniel Mays, Philip Glenister, Donald Sutherland
Rating61%
Young Jim Hawkins (Toby Regbo) discovers a map to a legendary island of treasure belonging to the infamous Captain Flint (Donald Sutherland), and embarks on a journey abroad the ship Hispaniola to find it, however, the enigmatic Long John Silver (Eddie Izzard) and crew have other plans.
Treasure Island (1990)
Directed by Fraser Clarke Heston
Genres Adventure
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Pirate films, Films about disabilities, L'Or
Actors Charlton Heston, Christian Bale, Oliver Reed, Christopher Lee, Julian Glover, Pete Postlethwaite
Rating69%
Jim Hawkins (Christian Bale) discovers a treasure map and embarks on a journey to find the treasure, but pirates led by Long John Silver (Charlton Heston) have plans to take the treasure for themselves by way of mutiny.
Treasure Island (1972)
, 1h34Directed by Antonio Margheriti, John Hough, Andrea Bianchi
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Adventure
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Pirate films, Films about disabilities, L'Or
Actors Orson Welles, Walter Slezak, Rik Battaglia, Lionel Stander, Ángel del Pozo, Michel Garland
Rating57%
Jim Hawkins (Kim Burfield) is a young boy who works at a pub with his mother (Maria Rohm). When a drunken old sailor named Billy Bones (Lionel Stander) comes in for a drink and dies, Jim gets his hands on a map which shows the whereabouts of pirate Captain Flint's treasure. Immediately taking action, he then enlists the help of Squire Trelawney (Walter Slezak) and Dr. Livesey (Angel DelPozo) to join him as he locates the island on the map. Together, they join a ship commanded by Captain Smollett (Rik Battaglia) that will lead them to their destination. Word of the treasure map gets around and most of the crew are recruited with the help of the ship's cook, Long John Silver (Orson Welles), an ex-pirate who had sailed with Captain Flint and intends to get the treasure by mutiny and murder. Already on the island is a marooned pirate, Ben Gunn, who has spent his time on the island gathering the treasure. With his help Jim, the Squire, the Doctor, the Captain and a number of loyal crewmen outwit the pirates, killing most of them in gun battles. Silver is captured, but escapes, when the ship reaches harbour in the West Indies. Much of the plot and the linking narrative - spoken by Jim Hawkins - is faithful to the original book.
Treasure Island (1950)
, 1h36Directed by Byron Haskin
Origin USA
Genres Adventure
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Pirate films, Films about disabilities, Children's films, L'Or
Actors Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Finlay Currie, Walter Fitzgerald, Denis O'Dea
Rating68%
In the West Coast of England in 1765, a young boy called Jim Hawkins lives with his mother in a tiny country inn which they run. Captain William Bones, a sickly lodger, gives Hawkins a treasure map after being visited by two pirates, the second of whom gives the captain a note marked with the black spot. That same night Bones is found dead at the inn, and Hawkins shows Squire Trelawney the map. Trelawney recognises the map as belonging to the buccaneer Captain Flint and bankrolls a voyage to discover the pirate's lost treasure. Trelawney hires Captain Smollett and his ship, the Hispaniola, bringing along his friend Dr. Livesey as the ship's doctor and Hawkins as the cabin boy.