Les aventures de Robinson Crusoë

I have always loved this show, and I think has has been said many times before, anyone who was a 60's child in Britain couldn't have missed this, and whenever the theme came up, it sent tingles up the spine.

A simple film on a low budget, but with outstanding talents all round, it is well worth finding. The acting and direction really stand out, and the cinematography in black and white only helps to give it that quality edge. It is now confirmed that Network DVD is releasing it on DVD on June 18th 2007 after a very long wait. It is also worth noting that the haunting score is also now available in an expanded CD from Silva Screen. The original soundtrack was in mono, but it seems there was such a demand for this piece, that the composers recently recreated a medley with a full orchestra in stereo, and all those memories come flying back to the long hot summers as a kid.

Watch it, and I guarantee there won't be a dry eye in the house.

I have just watched this again for the first time since it appeared on TV which has to be almost 40 years ago. Although a nostalgic trip back in time, this version will always stand the test of time. The black and white monochrome gives a timeless quality which sometimes colour cannot.

The day to day detail of Robinson Crusoe's mind-numbing existence and how he is able to overcome the many obstacles taken for granted is brilliantly worked. By inter-cutting flashbacks until the time when his life on the island begins to take shape, momentum is never lost.

The haunting musical score adds an integral dimension to the overall fascination of the series.

The French production team and main actor Robert Hoffman deserve much praise for the achievement created here. Not only a cult classic, this TV series, like the book, is now one all of its own.

This one is part of me. I can't view this without my rose-tinted spectacles at hand – I was of the UK generation that grew up watching this on BBC1 throughout the '60's. The first episode of the 13 part series was first broadcast on Tuesday 5.0pm 12th October 1965 the whole series being multi-repeated, the last showing I remember watching was in Summer 1975. I also remember it was on in the mornings before coverage of the Olympic Games in 1972 – except the school holidays finished with a couple of parts still to go – and someone at the BBC got paid for such expert planning!

This version of Defoe's story of Robinson Crusoe was French filmed in the Canary Islands in 1964 and is admirably told with flashbacks, narration and occasional dubbing into English. Crusoe's adventures include travelling to sea, getting enslaved by Arabs, becoming a big Brazilian capitalist, getting shipwrecked and on 16th September 1697 stranded on a desert island for over 6 years or 5.5 hours running time. During his stay he (and we) learn how to do many many things: keeping a goat in a baobab tree, killing and cooking a bird, checking the size of canoes before building them, joinery and tailoring etc – but most important by the end of the journey he's a more decent man. The death of faithful Dick almost traumatised a generation and left me heartbroken back then, the beautiful scenes still get to me in grizzled middle age. I suppose it's the introduction of Friday into the story and Crusoe's initial attitude to him which are faithful to the book that would cause the biggest problems to a lot of serious people nowadays (more than the b&w film and Lee Payant's marvellous narration) and probably is the reason why it will never be shown again on any of our wonderfully diverse UK TV channels. It's a shame because it means generations since have missed out and that unless they buy the DVD kids and adults of all races will miss the best filmed version of the story.

I haven't even mentioned the music! The tunes composed for the English version were knockout, utterly memorable and even though repeated endlessly throughout the series they never pall. I recommend anyone interested to bypass the current set of TV taste-setters and go and get these five and a half hours of middlebrow brilliance!

Having bought the now out of print series of Robinson Crusoe on video and being amazed to take this journey back to 60's childhood I can't work out why the series is not being made more public.Rumours of a dvd have been around for at least 2yrs but nothing forthcoming.The 60's generation can not wait forever !

I have just had the chance to watch this series again after very many years and I was genuinely surprised at how well it has stood the test of time.I expected it to be corny and if I am totally honest,I really thought that I would give up on it early on as it didn't live up to the memory I had of it as a young lad.I am glad that the series proved me wrong.

I won't drone on about the story as I guess that you all know it so well.What I will mention is that the production values stand up very well indeed and the story races along, although it does drag at times when Robinson is looking back on his life.The series really comes into it's own when Robinson meets up with Friday,although it is late in the series when this happens.One thing that I will say is that you do wish that it was in colour as the locations look fabulous.

As the lead actor,Robert Hoffmann is impossibly handsome and suits the role very well.It is a bit of a surprise that he didn't become a major star after this.Friday is played with great charm by the actor who's name escapes me.I will give nothing away but although the series was aimed at the children's market there is plenty here for adults to enjoy.OK,so there are some flaws along the way including the most inept bunch of pirate's you will ever see in the last episode,but on the whole it is so well made that you can forgive any little niggles you may have.

I must say that in the penultimate episode there are scenes that will break even the most hard of hearts and they are done with much skill and dare I say it very well acted throughout.No words are needed,the actions and looks of the actor's say it all.The narration by Lee Payant fits the bill also.

This was a very pleasant surprise to me after all these years and it is a series that I could definitely sit through again.