Swiss Family Robinson
Directed by Ken Annakin
Written by Lowell S. Hawley from a novel by Johann David Wyss
1960/USA
Walt Disney Productions
Repeat viewing?/Netflix rental
[box] Father Robinson: The world is full of nice, ordinary little people who live in nice, ordinary little houses on the ground. But didn’t you ever dream of a house up on a tree top?[/box]
This fun fantasy/adventure is for the whole family.
A Swiss family is shipwrecked en route to colonial New Guinea when its ship is attacked by pirates. Father (John Mills), Mother (Dorothy Maguire), Fritz (James MacArthur), Ernst and little Francis find refuge in a deserted island. This island is also a jungle paradise, with plenty to eat and drink. Exotic animals hail from all four corners of the globe thanks to a freak of geology.
The Robinsons are nothing if not resourceful and soon they have a home in the trees equipped with every convenience. The only thing missing is a girl to occupy the attention of the growing boys. Never fear, one soon appears in the form of Roberta (Pamela Munro). Continuing threats from the pirates keep life lively. With Sessue Hayakawa as chief pirate.
I honestly don’t know whether I saw this as a child or not. For sure I visited the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse in Disneyland on multiple occasions and must have seen clips. Anyway, the movie contains many wholesome delights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2b9MQ7vGL4
Trailer
