Swiss Family Robinson

"Why don't we put up a distress flag?"

"Don't you think we look distressed enough? Anyone who sees a ship stuck on the rocks might possibly guess it's in trouble."

The Robinson family leave their home in Bern, Switzerland for a new life in New Guinea.  Their ship is attacked by pirates and caught in a terrible storm.  When the storm subsides, they discover that the crew is gone and they are shipwrecked.  An island is nearby and Father (Mills) suggests they build a raft and go to shore.

On the island, they build an elaborate treehouse to protect them from the wild.  Mother (McGuire) still hopes they will be rescued, but her sons want to explore the island.  Fritz (MacArthur), the oldest son is resourceful, Ernst (Kirk) is the brains of the family, and Francis (Corcoran) wants to go on adventures and catch different animals.  Can they survive the wild and evade pirates until they get rescued?


We watched this film many times during my childhood.  My brother and I loved the film and all of the animals and always dreamed of living in a tree house like the family.  It is a classic Disney film, that featured many Disney favorites.

The film does not translate as well in modern times... and this film could not be made the same way today.  The main problem is the treatment of the animals, which were not as strict as they are now.  The movie was filmed in Tobago and looks great.

Apparently the story is based on a book ("The Swiss Robinson" written by Johann David Wyss).  And the story has been adapted for TV movies on several occasions.  It is an interesting story, and gave the filmmakers lots of freedom for adaptation.

The film works so well because you love the characters.  English actor John Mills is a compelling lead, who starred in future Disney films alongside his daughter Hayley Mills.  Doroth McGuire starred in several Disney films and is best known for playing the mother in Old Yeller, alongside Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran who  played her sons again in this film.  James MacArthur went on to star in Hawaii Five-O.  Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran were Disney regulars, who made several movies together.  And Janet Munro starred in several other Disney films including Darby O'Gill and the Little People.

I love the ending with the big battle and the family festival.

Swiss Family Robinson (1960) 126 minutes
Director: Ken Annakin
Starring: John Mills as Father Robinson
Dorothy McGuire as Mother Robinson
James MacArthur as Fritz Robinson
Janet Munro as Roberta
Sessue Hayakawa as Kuala, Pirate Chief
Tommy Kirk as Ernst Robinson
Kevin Corcoran as Francis Robinson
Cecil Parker as Captain Moreland
Andy Ho as Auban