Swiss Family Robinson (Vault Disney Collection)
by Ken Annakin
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DVD details
Actor: Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Janet Munro, John Mills, Sessue HayakawaDirector: Ken Annakin
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 126 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-05-07
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Video
DVD Reviews of Swiss Family Robinson (Vault Disney Collection)
DVD Review: great family movie
Summary: 5 Stars
what can i say that hasn't been said about this classic. it's a great family movie. great way the family comes together to defend itself. great way the boys are entrusted to go out and work for themselves to find a solution. lots of fun and excitement. is a little violent/graphic for a family movie, but no surprises over anything else.DVD Review: File under 'whimsical farce'.
Summary: 2 Stars
Pass on this one, unless you have fond memories of it from childhood or you're buying it for kids. And this from a big Disney fan, but this was not one of Uncle Walt's better efforts.
The storyline just stretches simple logic one time too many, ok for children, they won't care. But it will leave most adults rolling their eyes. The first leap of faith comes when our brave castaways tow tons of equipment from the wrecked ship, then build the sort of treehouse you only see illustrated in a Dr. Seuss story. The not-so-humble abode is complete with running water and a pipe organ....For crying out loud, if all that energy had been spent on building a boat, they've could have been off the island already. But then, we wouldn't have a story, would we?
Can you say 'Gilligan's Island'?
And somehow, animals not native to any Pacific island are roaming around, including zebra and elephants. And incredibly, they're not afraid of humans. Heck, the family even learns to ride and race ostriches! Only in a Disney film....
Among other distractions....as is so often the case in family films of this ilk, the writer(s) seem to go out of their way to put in at least one character that's so annoying, you want to strangle them. And here, it's the family's youngest son, Francis. A prime candidate for Ritalin who runs his mouth constantly and gets in more trouble than any normal kid would. The other is the subplot involving the two oldest brothers, Ernst and Fritz (Tommy Kirk and James MacArthur), who were getting along nicely until they get their first whiff of female tail in the form of pixie-ish redhead Roberta (Janet Munro), who had been disguised as a cabin boy to protect her from the pirates. Now the boys are sniping at one another and even trade blows, more than once, thanks to those vicious male hormones, and the fact that Roberta is the only available girl on the island. One might argue there's a grain of truth here, but far too much time was spent on the brothers' rivalry.
The final assault of the pirates advancing on the family's hilltop stronghold just dissolves into stupidity. One of the first weapons the Robinsons unleash are some crossbows, which magically, only hit the pirates in their backsides. Not a single mortal wound! This is soon followed by an avalanche of rocks...some almost as large as a house, but again, the pirates get back up and keep coming. A barrage of coconut grenades proves only mildly distracting (what, no coconut shell shrapnel??), and even another avalanche, this time palm logs weighing thousands of pounds, fails to kill the pirates. It's only when our intrepid heroes break out the rifles do they actually start taking out some of the bad guys. Director Ken Annakin may have played this for laughs, but it just came off as silly.
I don't know....sometimes a film just hits you the wrong way and this one did. I didn't like it, even as a kid. On the plus side, it's a very family-friendly film. Something that's getting rare nowadays. And it IS a Disney production. Nicely photographed with exotic locations and rich, vibrant color. It's a shame that Dorothy McGuire, a lovely and talented actress, didn't have a larger role here. All told, not a bad film, but certainly more for children than adults looking for good entertainment.
DVD Review: The tree house movie was (is) great.
Summary: 5 Stars
As a paperboy working for the San Diego Tribune from 1959 to 1962 I was fortunate to be treated to a free movie from time to time; a guest of the Union/Tribune. There were several movies that we saw as a result of the generosity of the paper and Swiss Family Robinson was one of those. I saw this movie several times and loved it each time I did so.
The Robinson family, made up of father Robinson (John Mills), mother Robinson (Dorthy McGuire), Fritz (James MacArthur), Ernst (Tommy Kirk), Francis (Kevin Corcoran) was sailing to some destination I can't recall when their ship is caught in a storm and smashed on a reef. The crew and other passengers are all gone, leaving the Robinson's to fend for themselves. Fortunately, the reef upon which they wrecked was part of an island paradise. They soon make rafts and load them with provisions from the destroyed ship and find themselves marooned rather comfortably upon their deserted island. With astounding creativity and ingenuity they turn a spectacular tree into a tree house to end all tree houses. In fact, when I introduced my youngest daughter to the VHS version of the movie in the late 80's she referred to Swiss Family Robinson as the "tree house" movie.
Eventually, in an attempt to fully explore their new home, Fritz and Ernst set out to circumnavigate the island. On this outing they discover Roberta (Janet Munro) disguised as a cabin boy in the clutches of pirates. Helping him (her) escape they make their way back to their tree house. They eventually have to face their pirate visitors at the end of the movie in a climatic and gripping show down.
Directed by Ken Annakin, Swiss Family Robinson, like Third Man on the Mountain, and other wonderful Disney movies, is a testament to wholesome family movies that are exciting and hold the audience's attention without resorting to adult themes to boost profits. The 50's and early 60's were years that were truly magic at the Disney studios.
I highly recommend Swiss Family Robinson to be shared with your children. It is best viewed as a family.
Peace always.
DVD Review: Everything it was advertised to be....
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this as a gift for my daughter's birthday in Decemter (I shop VERY early)DVD Review: Wonderful World of Disney
Summary: 5 Stars
I grew up watching this movie during the Wonderful World of Disney night on TV. This was one of my favorite of all the "old" Disney movies. It has all the characteristics of great movies; trouble, adaptation, resolution, good vs. evil, and a happy ending. Watching this movie brings back good memories of being a child. The characters don't diminish over time, but only grow greater and truer for today. Yes, it's Disney. In the modern era, it's missing the f/x and computer special effects, but it is a refreshing film that grants us view into humanity. The scenery alone is beautiful. A great, timeless movie to share with your family and students. Portrays old-fashioned values that could use a revival in today's society.
Description of Swiss Family Robinson (Vault Disney Collection)
One of Disney's biggest and most fondly remembered hits, the spectacular screen version of the literary classic SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is full of breathtaking South Seas scenery, hundreds of exotic animals, and treacherous pirates. This heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a "civilized" community. But the ultimate challenge lies ahead when a band of cutthroat pirates threaten to destroy the Robinson's Makeshift paradise. Capture the thrills, romance, and fun of this unforgettable Disney film!The Disney touch is all over this grand, colorful version of the Johann Wyss adventure of a European family set off for the new world of New Guinea. The film opens on a ship jostled and torn by a raging storm while a family struggles to make it through alive. Tossed into a reef near a deserted tropical island, father John Mills takes charge and the family soon turns their island prison into a veritable paradise. Their multilevel tree house, built in record time, is complete with running water and a working pipe organ scavenged from the ship, while their grand yard is abloom in English roses. As a tale of hardship and pioneer pluck, the tale is pure fantasy, but as entertainment it's energetic and appealing. The island is impossibly populated by ostriches, zebras, lions, and elephants, a private zoo that delights the youngest boy and offers plenty of comic relief. The two older brothers discover even wilder life when they rescue the prisoner of oriental pirates (led by hard-bitten Sessue Hayakawa). There's little real danger anywhere in the film--even the climactic battle with the pirates is a cartoonish affair, with coconut bombs and nonlethal booby traps, until the final desperate, deadly moments. Hardly a faithful adaptation of the novel, but a lush, beautifully photographed film and an entertaining adventure safe for all ages. Dorothy McGuire costars as the proper, worry-prone mother. (Ages 5 and older) --Sean Axmaker
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