A family fleeing from the despotic regime of Napoleon is chased off course by a band of pirates. They are then shipwrecked on a tropical island where they begin a new and adventurous life. Based on the book by Johann Wyss.
Directed by
Ken Annakin
Written by
Lowell S. Hawley (screenplay); Johann David Wyss (novel).
Starring
John Mills (Father Robinson); Dorothy McGuire (Mother Robinson); James MacArthur (Fritz Robinson); Janet Munro (Roberta 'Bertie'); Sessue Hayakawa (Kuala, Pirate Chief); Tommy Kirk (Ernst Robinson); Kevin Corcoran (Francis Robinson); Cecil Parker (Captain Moreland); Andy Ho (Auban); Milton Reid (Big Pirate); Larry Taylor (Pirate). Please contact SFC to add other cast members and characters.
Important: the following essays and comments are authored by Soul Food Cinema readers. Whilst the Editor prays for the spiritual integrity of all content of this site, it should be noted that these represent personal opinions and carry no official endorsement. If you consider any content to be a misrepresentation of Catholic teaching, please contact SFC. May God bless you and enlighten you in your reading.
-
Articles, Essays and Reviews
-
Please contact SFC if you are interested in submitting an essay on this film.
-
Readers' Comments and Opinions
-
Click the link to comment on this film. You may like to copy the film title and year (as given above) to your clipboard now for pasting into the following form.
-
A Good fun family film
Mark Banks (United Kingdom)
Opinion: Recommended
I watched Swiss Family Robinson on the back of it featuring in both Channel 4's Top-100 family films and the New York Times' Top-100 Children's films; and on reflection they both appear to have made a good choice - the film has now gone into my own Top-100 family films. Little expense was spared by Disney in the making of Swiss Family Robinson; the sets, costumes, cast and location all come together to great effect, the like of which I cannot think has been repeated since. Jurassic Park would perhaps be the closest rival, but whereas in Spielberg's epic the danger comes in prehistoric form, in Swiss Family Robinson the danger comes mainly from the Pirates out to re-capture their hostage - Hayley Mills, as previously disguised as the ship's boy. However sharp-toothed danger does also come from the island's resident tiger. On the downsides, I have to say the young Francis Robinson did come annoying close to being a little too perky for two hours worth of feature film, but recalling the young Joey in 'Shane' somewhat placated me on that one. Fritz's younger brother Ernst also came close to being annoying, though the chemistry and in-fighting between the two brothers made up for their short-comings. Final word surely has to go to the animal racing and pirate fighting towards the end of the film though - good old fashioned farce guaranteed to keep children entertained and amused 50 years on from its filming; a good fun climax to a good family film.
