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The Swiss Family Robinson

This week, I watched Disney’s The Swiss Family Robinson. The Swiss Family Robinson is based on a book by Johann David Wyss. Made in the 1960’s, the movie is a about a family who gets shipwrecked on an island after they are attacked by pirates. Father Robinson, Mother Robinson and their three sons Fritz, Ernst and Frances create a new life together on the island and build themselves a home. A crazy awesome home. Mother Robinson worries about her sons missing out on marriage and having their own families, when, suddenly, two prisoners are captured by the very same pirates and taken to the island. Eldest sons Fritz and Ernst are able to rescue one of the prisoners, a young woman. Soon, the family is preparing for a pirate attack, while the eldest Robinson son, Fritz, and the young woman, Roberta, fall in love.
It was halfway through the movie that I realized I had seen the movie as a child. I could only recall two scenes, but that didn’t stop my friend and I from being able to guess every scene before it happened. The movie is classic Disney, very predictable. I did enjoy it in some ways because I did feel like I was reliving my childhood.
I was surprised to find that both the editing and the dialogue were sub par in the film. I noticed that the Robinson family constantly addressed one another by name, even if there were only two of them in the scene (ex. “Fritz! Look over there!). They would also repeat one another’s dialogue, as well as saying exactly what they were doing. At one point, Fritz is being attached by a snake and Roberta says to ‘get the knife’ and then Fritz, struggling for air, says to ‘get the knife,’ and finally Ernst, rummaging through his stuff says: “I’m getting the knife!”
I also noticed that they would often reuse shots, such as one they film Roberta racing on a zebra, it’s almost as if she’s not moving because every time they cut back to her she’s in the same spot riding on a zebra. As well, I noticed when the Robinson’s two dogs were attacking a tiger, the wide shot was of the dogs clearly on top of this tiger, biting and attacking him. In the close ups, it would be just a shot of one of the dogs barking at the camera or a shot of the tiger roaring at the camera. And then they’d cut back to this intense fighting scene between the three of them. That was difficult to put up with and very jarring to watch.
I don’t want to say it, but I probably wouldn’t recommend this movie unless you’re putting it on for a child, or, if you are a child. The cynic in me was bothered by mankind’s superiority complex with the Robinson boys constantly catching wildlife and using them for labor as well as their own entertainment. Also, it blatantly showed women as fragile, emotional beings unworthy of the life that men provide for them. It was also annoying that the Robinson family was so smart. There is no way that two teen boys could design a pipe system for fresh water. Also, they could barely get themselves and two dogs onto a raft to the island without sinking – how did they get an organ from the wrecked ship to the island and into a tree? Only one of the keys was out of tune! I enjoyed the movie, but I guess I’ve lost touch with my Disney-magination.

 

Below is a movie clip from the film showing the youngest son, Frances, casually capturing a baby elephant.  Followed by, the part I discussed about the two dogs attacking the tiger.  I think Mrs. Robinson forgot her line because she hesitates “Don’t you know you might’ve been…EATEN?!”

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