THE ADVENTURE OF ADVENTURES!

During the Napoleonic Wars, a ship carrying a Swiss family is attacked by pirates, which leaves them stranded on an uninhabited tropical island.

Previously filmed in 1940, this early 19th century tale became the basis for one of Disney’s most beloved family films. Many decades later, audiences may find certain ingredients tough to swallow, including racial stereotypes and the treatment of animals, including zebras, elephants and tigers.

However, it’s also a charming story that triggers one’s imagination as the family creates a new life on the island. Beautiful locations, an engaging cast and plenty of thrills.

1960-U.S. 126 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Ken Annakin. Screenplay: Lowell S. Hawley. Novel: Johann David Wyss. Cinematography: Harry Waxman. Cast: John Mills (Father Robinson), Dorothy McGuire (Mother Robinson), James MacArthur (Fritz Robinson), Janet Munro, Sessue Hayakawa, Tommy Kirk. 

Trivia: The story was filmed as three TV series, one in Canada (1974-1975) and two in the U.S., in 1975-1976 and in 1998. Also adapted as a film, The New Swiss Family Robinson (1999).

Last word: “If a scorpion doesn’t bite me during the night I get into the car, and if it doesn’t skid off the edge of a cliff, I reach the mangrove swamp. I walk through; and if I’m not sucked in by a quick-sand, eaten alive by land crabs, or bitten by a snake, I reach the beach. I change on the beach, trying to avoid being devoured by insects, and walk into the sea. If there are no sharks or barracudas about, we get the shot and then do the whole thing in reverse, providing, of course, we haven’t died of sunstroke in the meantime.” (Mills on the difficulties of shooting the film, Turner Classic Movies)