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Swiss Family Robinson

"From the BEST "Best Seller" in Fiction History!"

1940-02-08 Adventure 1hr 33m

A family setting out for a new life across the sea is shipwrecked on a deserted island. The family members collaborate to create a home for themselves in the jungle environment.

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Swiss Family Robinson
Disney Plus

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Storyline

A family setting out for a new life across the sea is shipwrecked on a deserted island. The family members collaborate to create a home for themselves in the jungle environment.

  • Released
    1940-02-08
  • Revenue
    n/a
  • Budget
    n/a
  • Runtime
    1hr 33m
  • Genre
    Adventure
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    0
  • Production
    RKO Radio Pictures

Crew

Edward Ludwig
Director
C. Graham Baker
Writer
C. Graham Baker
Producer
Keywords:
island based on novel or book shipwreck 18th century swiss family robinson

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Cast

Thomas Mitchell

Thomas Mitchell
William Robinson
Edna Best

Edna Best
Elizabeth Robinson
Freddie Bartholomew

Freddie Bartholomew
Jack Robinson
Terry Kilburn

Terry Kilburn
Ernest Robinson
Tim Holt

Tim Holt
Fritz Robinson
Bobbie Quillan

Bobbie Quillan
Francis Robinson
Christian Rub

Christian Rub
Thoren
John Wray

John Wray
Ramsey
Herbert Rawlinson

Herbert Rawlinson
Captain
Jack Stoney

Jack Stoney
Seaman
Orson Welles

Orson Welles
Opening Narrator

Videos and Photos

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Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson
Swiss Family Robinson

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Swiss Family Robinson
reviewer avatar

A Review by r96sk 7

Written by r96sk on 2020-06-26

I thought I'd give this a watch before watching the Disney remake, given they are both on the latter's streaming service. I like 1940's <em>... read more

I thought I'd give this a watch before watching the Disney remake, given they are both on the latter's streaming service. I like 1940's <em>'Swiss Family Robinson'</em>, though there are many ways it could be improved upon which is what I hope the 1960 production does. This one, made by RKO Pictures, is enjoyable. The action sequences look decent enough, the acting is solid while the premise is very intriguing. I rate the film almost from start-to-finish, the moments which make up that last part disappoints unfortunately - the ending doesn't really make sense. Thomas Mitchell (William) and Freddie Bartholomew (Jack) are my standout characters, both of those two give good performances. Edna Best & Co. are all fine, though. It's with Best's character that makes the finale poor in my eyes. I won't spoil what happens, but it doesn't work in my opinion - especially in connection with what else occurs. Those criticisms of mine stop me from placing this higher. However, it is still an entertaining flick from 1940.

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 6

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-03-27

Based on Johann Wyss' tale and relying heavily on a wonderful soundtrack, this is a much more faithful adaptation of the story of a well-to-... read more

Based on Johann Wyss' tale and relying heavily on a wonderful soundtrack, this is a much more faithful adaptation of the story of a well-to-do Swiss clockmaker and his family who decide to escape a Europe beset by the Napoleonic wars and start anew in New Guinea. En route they are shipwrecked by a storm and have to make do on a desert island. They cannibalise what's left of their ship and start to make a new home with astonishing - slightly incredible - adeptness. The cast gel well, though as per the book, not without their demons. Edna Best "Mrs. Robinson" struggles the most as her gay society life has been replaced by a much grittier survival-based existence; the rather over-indulged boys are growing older, but not necessarily wiser (or nicer) and this causes their father (Thomas Mitchell) to have headaches all around. There is some degree of triumph from considerable adversity for the family as they discover that they can rise to the challenges - despite foul weather and poisonous spiders. At times it plays almost like a silent film - with Schubert's "Quartet in A Minor" substituting for the dialogue in a suitably rousing fashion... It rarely gets an outing these days, but if you get an opportunity you should watch it.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by r96sk

I thought I'd give this a watch before watching the Disney remake, given they are both on the latter's streaming service. I like 1940's <em>'Swiss Family Robinson'</em>, though there are many ways it could be improved upon which is what I h...

reviewer avatar

A Review by r96sk 7

Written by r96sk on 2020-06-26

I thought I'd give this a watch before watching the Disney remake, given they are both on the latter's streaming service. I like 1940's <em>'Swiss Family Robinson'</em>, though there are many ways it ...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 6

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-03-27

Based on Johann Wyss' tale and relying heavily on a wonderful soundtrack, this is a much more faithful adaptation of the story of a well-to-do Swiss clockmaker and his family who decide to escape a Eu...

read more