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Swiss Family Robinson
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Old-fashioned family adventure has some threat, stereotypes.
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Swiss Family Robinson
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What's the Story?
In SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, wealthy William Robinson (Thomas Mitchell) worries that his sons are not growing up with the right morals and life experience. So he decides to move his family from London to Australia. While en route there is a storm at sea and their ship is wrecked, leaving them the only survivors on an uninhabited island. Slowly, the Robinsons must learn new skills and work together to make a new life without the trappings they've grown used to.
Is It Any Good?
Made two decades before the beloved 1960s Disney adaptation, starring John Mills and Dorothy McGuire, this is an enjoyable retelling of the classic story. That said, this black and white 1940 version of Swiss Family Robinson lacks the energy and joy found in its successor. The performances are all solid. Mitchell holds the film together as the well-meaning patriarch of the family. While three-year-old Bobbie Quillan is a surprising standout as the youngest member of the Robinson clan.
Though the special effects were incredibly limited in the early '40s compared to the CGI of today, the storm scene at sea is impressively handled, as is the second onslaught that topples the famous tree house from its perch. The characters' reactions, however, are underplayed to the point of complacency, which takes away from any sense of realism or true danger. As in the '60s version, the tree house itself is ridiculously and gloriously high-spec -- with a full piano no less. This lends the film a storybook feel that is built upon by whimsical scenes such as a child riding an ostrich and a gigantic spider's web that wouldn't look out of place in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Visually impressive for its time, this adaptation still proves reliable family entertainment, but is lacking the flair that might have made it a classic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lessons learned by the characters in Swiss Family Robinson. What did each character discover about life and themselves? What character strengths did they need to show? Can you think of a time when you've had to show these traits?
What did the film reveal about society at the time? Did the characters fall into any stereotypes, and how were those challenged as the film went on? Why must we be careful of stereotypes?
How do you think you'd have handled the situation the Robinson children found themselves in?
Have you read the original book or seen any other versions of this story? How did this movie compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 8, 1940
- On DVD or streaming: October 14, 2019
- Cast: Thomas Mitchell , Edna Best , Freddie Bartholomew
- Director: Edward Ludwig
- Studio: Disney+
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures , Book Characters , Brothers and Sisters , Horses and Farm Animals
- Character Strengths: Courage , Teamwork
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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