Robinson Crusoe siglo XX

Another very enjoyable but light as a feather, Disney movie. Dick Van Dyke is very capable in this type of role, it's all high energy and feel good stuff. This type of picture has almost died a death (in modern times) but not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Strange to think that this was filmed on the USS Kitty Hawk, an Aircraft Carrier destined for the Vietnam War.

The Aircraft Carrier in this movie is USS Kitty Hawk. I was a radioman stationed on the 'Hawk when Disney came aboard in San Diego and filmed some launches and recoveries. When we returned to San Diego the Disney crew left to go make the movie, and Kitty Hawk left for the Western Pacific and Viet Nam. When we returned eight months later, the world premiere of Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN was held right there on the ship. Disney studios came aboard and turned Hangar Bay #1 into quite a nice theater. Having been an usher in theaters in my home town of Las Vegas NV, I was assigned some ushering duty for that premiere (and I got to meet Dick van Dyke and Nancy Kwan!) Not the "greatest" movie of all time, but very entertaining.

Okay, I'm looking at this thing through the gauze of nostalgia. I haven't seen it all the way through since that long-ago day in 1966 when I bought a ticket at a local movie theater and watched it.

I remember that I laughed throughout this. Dick Van Dyke has always been a favorite of mine and he was in top-form for this film. Richard Deacon ("The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Leave It to Beaver" among other things) provides narration. He had an excellent voice.

While flying over a remote area of the Pacific Ocean, a U. S. Navy pilot named "Lt. Robin Crusoe" (Dick Van Dyke) is forced to bail out after his fighter jet develops engine problems. After drifting at sea for several days without food or water, he eventually washes ashore on a deserted island and, thanks to his remarkable survival skills, makes the most of the situation. However, as time passes, he becomes increasingly lonely. It is then that he discovers the remnants of a Japanese submarine and, to his delight, finds a friendly chimpanzee named Floyd residing inside. Yet, it isn't until he finds human footprints on his island that he realizes he is not truly alone. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this could have been a much better movie had it not relied so heavily on the slapstick comedy provided by Dick Van Dyke--especially considering that much of the comedy fell flat. On a more positive note, having an attractive actress like Nancy Kwan (as "Wednesday") along with the beautiful tropical scenery definitely enhanced what, in my opinion, would have been a rather drab comedy otherwise.

I really liked this movie. I think it was the first Dick Van Dyke movie I can remember seeing. It was hilarious. I highly recommend it for a rollicking good time!