pbolla80 This is a good Disney film; not a great one. The film has two major assets: the Florida location and Peter Ustinov. He was the reason I checked it out over a decade ago in the first place. If anything, he is the only reason to see it. The plot follows a boy (Johnny Duran) trying to find a treasure in the Florida keys that his late father buried; along the way he encounters four adventurers (Robert Foxworth, Joan Hackett, Peter Ustinov and Billy Atmore) who join him on his quest. And of course they are being pursued by a bad guy (Vic Morrow, a fine but wasted talent, like Joan Hackett, he passed away before his time). A great adult cast supporting a boy and his treasure hunt. Merely meant for kids; but I finally got it on DVD, with some scenes added that were not on the video!! Dub Taylor has a brief but comic role as Sheriff Forbes. This movie is just good fun. Ustinov, of course, had more success with Blackbeard 10 years earlier.

bkoganbing Although Treasure of Matecumbe is listed as a theatrical film, it seems that it plays more like a couple of episodes from The Wonderful World of Disney.The only reason to watch it is for Peter Ustinov who is having a great old time playing the traveling patent medicine man. This is his second film for Disney the first being Blackbeard's Ghost which was infinitely better.Young Johnny Doran is told about a fabulous treasure hidden on Matecumbe island in the Florida Keys. He makes a Huckleberry Finn like journey on the river from Kentucky with a young black kid Billy Atmore who Doran's family would have recently owned. Along the way the two plucky lads pick up Robert Foxworth who is Doran's rascally Uncle Jim. Joan Hackett a young bride running from a hideous marriage and Ustinov.Vic Morrow is the chief villain here leading a band of cutthroats seeking the Treasure of Matecumbe for themselves. Our intrepid band of five has more escapes from them and other villains than used to be in one of those old time movie serials. In fact Treasure of Matecumbe feels like one of them. Foxworth and Ustinov have two unbelievable escapes from certain death.Morrow and his gang have an interesting fate in store for them which I won't reveal, but if you see the movie and think about its logical implications with the terminology used, it definitely isn't Disney type material.For the juvenile trade and for fans of Peter Ustinov only.

gridoon A prettily photographed, occasionally enjoyable but rather leisurely paced Disney adventure. It features an amusing Peter Ustinov (as a good-hearted quack), some pretty good special effects (except for a mosquito attack, which looks awful) and a few unusually adult elements (one character is nearly executed by the Ku Klux Klan). The two leading kids are not irritating at all, and the film is agreeable enough, but too long and not very compelling story-wise. (**1/2)

jamie-81 This is a great film that will keep the kids interested. The friendship between Davie and Thad is immeasurable. And the bonds that form between the adults and kids is something that is surely missed in today's cinema. Outstanding performances by Peter Ustinov and the late great Joan Hackett. On a personal note: Ms. Hackett may you rest in peace. You are surely missed....!