Robinson Crusoe (1954)

Robinson Crusoe
Directed by Luis Buñuel
Written by Hugo Butler and Luis Buñuel from the novel by Daniel Defoe
1954/Mexico
Producciones Tepeyac/Oscar Dancingers Production
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Robinson Crusoe: If anyone in England met such an odd creature as I was in my 18th year of solitude, it must either have frightened them or caused a great deal of laughter.[/box]

This is an entertaining retelling of the classic adventure story.  Director Buñuel keeps his surrealistic tendencies in check for the most part but there are some delicious traces here and there.

Robinson Crusoe (Dan O’Herlihy) has set to sea against the advice of his father.  On a voyage to collect slave from Africa a violent storm drives his ship westward and sinks it. Crusoe manages to swim to shore.  This turns out to be a desert island.  Fortunately, the wreck of the ship has washed up on some rocks and he is able to retrieve a number of supplies.  He discovers a couple of more survivors, a cat and a dog named Rex.

Crusoe’s days are busy with making a home for himself despite the fact that he was born a gentleman that never picked up a tool in his life.  He becomes quite skilled and clever at contriving ways to be comfortable.  The only thing he cannot conquer is his profound loneliness.

The death of Rex makes matters even worse.  Shortly thereafter, Crusoe discovers he has company.  These are cannibals from a nearby island who apparently have transferred a tribal war to Crusoe’s island.  Crusoe saves the life of a man who is being hunted down and names him Friday (Jaime Fernández).  He tells Friday his name is “Master”.  Trust is gradually built between the two until Crusoe finally has a friend (and servant).  Will
Crusoe survive to see England again?

Buñuel reveals himself to be quite capable at directing action.  More interesting is his very ironic treatment of the many religious references in the novel.  There’s also quite a commentary on the class system.  I enjoyed this.  I thought the English version I watched might have been dubbed but discovered that the script was written and spoken by the actors in English.  Fans of the book could do far worse.

Dan O’Hirlihy was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor.

English-language trailer