Golden Age Classics: of Human Bondage (1949) / Treasure Island (1952)

Of Human Bondage (1949, B&W): Philip, an insecure, club-footed young man from Paris moves to London to study medicine. In a local pub he meets a conniving waitress, Mildred, and falls for her. Neglecting his studies, he pawns his microscope to court the woman. After Philip proposes marriage, he discovers that Mildred has already accepted a similar offer from a wealthier suitor. Months later, a pregnant and abandoned Mildred comes crawling back to Philip, initiating a downward spiral of dependency and betrayal that destroys what is left of Philip's life.

A youthful Charlton Heston, still years away from his iconic starring roles in The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur, is excellent as the ill- fated lover in this TV adaptation of the classic 1934 novel of human frailty and despair by W. Somerset Maugham.

Starring Charlton Heston, Felicia Montealege, Faith Brook; Directed by Paul Nickell.

Treasure Island (1952, B&W): Sword-wielding Billy Bones barges into an inn, toting a treasure map. Demanding a room, Bones befriends young JIm Hawkins, paying the boy to keep his eye out for pirates. When some suspicious men descend upon the inn, Hawkins escapes with the map. The boy boards a ship to search for gold on Treasure Island, but dreaded scoundrel Long John Silver takes control of the ship. Realizing that the one-legged Silver can't be trusted, Hawkins is plunged into a dangerous race to reach the treasure first!

Albert Dekker portrays Captain Billy Bones in this TV adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson adventure classic, rivaling his famous role in Dr. Cyclops (1940). Franklin J. Schaffner went on to become a mainstream Hollywood film director, most remembered for Planet of the Apes (1968), Patton (1970) and Papillon (1973).

Starring Albert Dekker, Francis L. Sullivan, Peter Avarmo; Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.

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