Swiss Family Robinson

One of fourteen films from 1940 nominated for a best special effects Academy Award, Swiss Family Robinson captures the great moment from the Wyss novel were the family escapes a crippled ship, rowing a makeshift raft to a nearby island, while cows, pigs and other livestock swim along side them.

For its time, this is a successful mix of multiple effects techniques: a miniature raft (with stick-figure people) in a studio tank ocean; in the background a miniature ship lodged against rocks; puppet animals bobbing in the water, heading to a matte painting tropical island. The rear-screen work and cross-cutting to a live-action section of ship make for an exciting scene.

Later in the film, as huge trees topple in a thunderstorm, one recalls how effective these b&w FX scenes can be - - even though to modern eyes the illusions are obvious.

The film has heart and captures the spirit of the book but cannot compare with the entertainment and fun of Disney's version of 1960. The sparse thrills include Kilburn's ride on an ostrich and his encounter with cave spiders.

Thomas Mitchell as the father acts with conviction, and the brothers are well-cast.

For years, this film was as lost as the Robinsons...kudos to Disney Plus for allowing a modern generation to discover its charms.

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.

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 thought I'd give this a watch before watching the Disney remake, given they are both on the latter's streaming service. I like 1940's 'Swiss Family Robinson', though there are many ways it could be improved upon which is what I hope the 1960 production does.

This one, made by RKO Pictures, is enjoyable. The action sequences look decent enough, the acting is solid while the premise is very intriguing. I rate the film almost from start-to-finish, the moments which make up that last part disappoints unfortunately - the ending doesn't really make sense.

Thomas Mitchell (William) and Freddie Bartholomew (Jack) are my standout characters, both of those two give good performances. Edna Best & Co. are all fine, though. It's with Best's character that makes the finale poor in my eyes. I won't spoil what happens, but it doesn't work in my opinion - especially in connection with what else occurs.

Those criticisms of mine stop me from placing this higher. However, it is still an entertaining flick from 1940.

While there is a slight personal preference for the 1960 Disney film, which is much more familiar to me, this 1940 film adaptation of 'Swiss Family Robinson' should be better known and unfortunately can only really be found on a too darkly lit and blurry VHS. It is a film worthy of a DVD, and a remastered one at that.

As an adaptation of the book (which is a very fun, suspenseful and thought-provoking read), this is the more faithful adaptation with more of the book's events intact, better performances from the kids generally and a darker tone. For me though, the later Disney film is better made, has the better played Elizabeth, has a more fitting music score especially in the opening storm sequence (not knocking the music here though) and who cannot resist that treehouse?

Judging it as a standalone and moving on from the VHS issues, the only problems this reviewer found with the film were some draggy pacing in parts and Edna Best's stiff and overacted Elizabeth. Although the VHS does the production values no justice, the settings and costumes are very nicely mounted and it's nicely photographed. The Oscar-nominated special effects in the storm sequences impress and the storm sequences themselves though a touch overlong are spectacularly authentic with a real sense of danger.

'Swiss Family Robinson' is rousingly and lusciously scored, securely directed and intelligently scripted. There is more of the book's story here, and scenes like the salvage trips to the reef-bound brig, the lessons in candle-making and ostrich-taking, the recipe for Elizabeth's fish stew are portrayed in an amusing and exciting manner, same with the spider bite which does have a good deal of suspense. The characters have lost none of their charm and appeal, while the animals are sweet and well trained.

Best aside, the acting is good with a perfectly cast Thomas Mitchell and a delightful Freddie Bartholomew coming out on top. An uncredited Orson Welles brings his distinctive booming voice to the narration, which doesn't make the mistake of being over-used or over-explanatory.

In conclusion, very well done and unfortunately unjustly forgotten. 8/10 Bethany Cox