Released 1960
Directed by
Ken Annakin
Music by
William Alwyn
Hello Disney
film lovers!! Well tis the season for
holidays, crowded shopping malls, and hot chocolate keeping you warm on those
cold winter days (at least here in Ohio).
Disney movies offer me a mental vacation from everyday life, part of
what I consider to be the Magic of Disney.
Whether visiting the parks, surfing the website, or watching the films,
Disney studios has shown us time and again how they are able to take us from
everyday life and move us into a world of magic and adventure. This month’s film is certainly no exception: Swiss
Family Robinson. Released in
December of 1960, we follow a family on their way to find a new life in New
Guinea when a storm hits and they become shipwrecked and stranded on an
uncharted, tropical island. Father,
Mother and their three boys Fritz, Ernst, and Francis use their wits and what
little supplies they can salvage to survive wild animals, elements and even pirates
in this 1960 classic. Very much a
precursor to Survivor!! Like most
of Disney’s films, Swiss Family Robinson is based on the novel of the
same title written by Johann David Wyss in the 19th century (though it
was later revealed in the interviews on the DVD that much of the content was
scrapped). Swiss Family boasts a
star-studded cast, many of which have several Disney film credits to their
names. Here is the short list:
·
Father Robinson is played by the well-known
British actor John Mills, who would share a Disney legacy of films with his
daughter Hayley (known for her roles in Pollyanna and The Parent Trap).
·
Mother Robinson is played by Dorothy McGuire,
who had earlier played the role of Katie Coates in Old Yeller alongside
the Robinson’s middle son played by Tommy Kirk
·
The oldest son, Fritz, was played by James
MacArthur. If the name seems to ring a
bell perhaps you may remember him from the TV series Hawaii Five-O … That’s
right … Book’em Dano!
·
As mentioned earlier the middle son, Ernst was played
by Tommy Kirk, who had a long career working with Disney. Along with Old Yeller, Tommy was a
member of the original Mickey Mouse Club as Joe Hardy in The Hardy Boy
Mysteries, Merlin Jones in The Misadventures of Merlin Jones and The
Monkey’s Uncle, Biff Hawk in The Absent-minded Professor, with a
slew of other roles listed to his credit.
·
The youngest son Francis, would also become a
staple of Disney films including Old Yeller, Boy Blue in Babes in
Toyland, Toby Tyler, and Moochie in the TV series The New
Adventures of Spin and Marty.
·
The young heroine rescued by Fritz and Ernst,
Alberta or Bertie as she’s called, is played by Janet Munro, who made her
appearance a year earlier alongside Sean Connery in Darby O’Gill and the
Little People (which is slated for a future review).
Phew …
That’s a lot of star power in one film!!
Now that we've had a look into the cast let’s dive into film!!
Just like
last month’s film, this movie takes me back to the days of Beta tape. The hours I would spend watching this movie
wishing to live in the house just like the Robinson family and living off the
land and sea. Watching it now I see a classic hallmark of Disney films; the
Disney studios manages to create films that have an appeal to all ages. Swiss Family Robinson is broken into
three parts. I’ve affectionately named
them Arrival/Survival, Coming of Age, and Robinson Family Takes a Stand. Part one we see the family face their fears
on this unknown island full of wild animals and learn to not only survive but
live with the land. As Father Robinson
says “Everything we need, right here at our fingertips.” In the second part, Fritz and Ernst decide to
explore the island, rescuing young Roberta and no doubt releasing the hormones
of teenage boys, and finally the family meets the pirates head (for those
observant viewers you may have realized the pirates have played a role
throughout the movie, first driving the family’s ship into the storm, then
kidnapping Roberta and her grandfather, and now finally facing the family head
on). I feel as though I've grown up with
the family, and just as they learned to cope and survive on a new land, I too
now face the unknown and new (sometimes hostile) areas, be it a new city, new
job, or just a new set of people to meet.
Swiss
Family Robinson: Quite literally a family adventure, following The Robinson Family as their plans
for a new world crash against the reef and they forge their own paths.
Perfect for:
A family film night, the adventurer in your family, and those of you looking for some
of the best movie stars from the 1960’s.
Most likely
character you’ll see in the parks: While
not a speaking character in the film, Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney Resort
in Orlando has a replica of the Swiss Family Robinson tree house. For those of you on the west coast I’m afraid
you are out of luck as the tree house was converted to the home of another
beloved character of Disney: Tarzan.
Well
everyone. Another month, another blog
post come to pass. I am hoping you are
enjoying this blog as much as I am. All
I ask is that you come along with me and keep your mind open to the magic and
allow this blog to grow. If you have a
favorite movie you’d like review please leave a comment down below, and to all
of you … Happy Holidays!!
January
2014’s film: Cinderella
Make it a
magical day! -Patrick A
