Die Insel der Verlorenen

I had never before seen any version of this film, nor have I read the book.

My mother tells me that she first saw this film when she was 10 (1946) and simply loved it. She hadn't seen it since.

In the 70's she wondered what had become of this film and wrote to Frazier Thomas, host of "Family Classics", in Chicago.

His response stated that Walt Disney purchased this film when his 1960 version came out and locked it away never to be seen again.

She recently mentioned it again so I looked it up, and to my surprise, found it.

Swiss family Robinson is a good 1940 children's film. But that is all!

Thomas Mitchells acting is as good as always, and the boys did a good job acting like wealthy brats reformed by their ordeal.

Did anybody notice that the youngest boy, Francis Robinson, played by Baby Bobbie Quillan, was a girl? I didn't.

I think Edna Best could have done better as Elizabeth Robinson. Her acting was stiff and boring, though it may not have been entirely her fault, this is a 1940 film set in 1820.

The story is ridiculous, most children's stories are, and there's too much religion for me, but I can look past these points.

The special effects are dated but are reasonable for their day.

This film is obviously a low budget production. It needs a good disaster scene when the captain and crew are washed overboard and more adventure on the island.

If you are into nostalgia take a look.

Saw this "Thomas Mitchell" Swiss FR years, decades ago broadcasted on TV. In fact during the 50's and 60's this wonderful movie would be shown often. It was just a great kids adventure movie, and is simply the best of them all. Would be great to see it now, but...

Family (dad, mom, four boys) heading for Australia from England during the early part of the 19th century are shipwrecked on an island in the south Pacific and do their best to survive. Concentrate on Thomas Mitchell's usual fine performance and less on the 1940 vintage special effects, and very poor print quality (typically available) and there is some entertainment to be had of here. The lush "island" surroundings would have been enhanced by filming in color...but I have a suspicion this was not a very big budget picture and it would have been more obvious how many of the scenes were filmed on a sound stage in front of a rear projection screen. Even the island looks like a matte painting. Don't look for bedraggled, miserable Robinson Crusoes either, for generally, the Swiss Family have most of the comforts of an Andy Hardy home...so much for hokey 1930's family film realism.

I also remember this movie from my childhood. I thought that all copies were destroyed. I would love to see it again. If there is a copy out there I would love to know where. This movie may be a little outdated, but for kids it would be great. If the story and the cast remained with me for 50+ years, it might also remain with the kids of today. Thomas Mitchell was a great actor, but I agree that the wife in this movie left a little to be desired. There are also a lot of animals for the little kids to enjoy. It's a basic, clean adventure where you don't have to worry what you child is watching, which is something rare in these days. I recommend highly.

Aside from the reviews I have read about this film, I am making the following statements because, I saw this film when it first came out in the theaters.

My most memorable (mental picture) of this movie is of a young boy, perhaps 12 years of age - riding an Ostrich. The family is on an island due to the ship they were on being wrecked, and they made it to shore, from that point on it is nothing but fun, the way they get organized, children being children, animals being animals, and the Mother and Father trying to cope with it all, they are a truly brave couple, and they fight the good fight together. Well acted, and directed, it left me with plenty of good memories, it is a true SHAME if it is no longer available to be seen.

Thanks to all who made this movie, so that I could enjoy it many years past.