Aedonerre
I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.
Brendon Jones
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Quiet Muffin
This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
jdev3611
Purchased a VHS copy of this film from AMAZON years ago. The quality is the worst I have ever seen. I should have returned it. Almost unwatchable. My memories of this film go back to grammar school and watching it in the auditorium of my catholic school in West Philadelphia. I remember the scary giant spider scene! Disney should restore the film and release it to the public. Disney has historical interesting films like this and Song of the South which they refuse to release in the United States for silly reasons . The actors in this film did an excellent job of giving the viewer the feel of being on an island and the thought of never returning to civilized life
dbborroughs
SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON in the pre-Disney edition starred Thomas Mitchell as the father who ships off his family in the hopes of making his children men. Its an often good looking film that is much too slow to really be of much interest. Frankly part of the problem is that the film takes 20 minutes to get to the point where the family ends up on the island. and by then you just want then to get on with it. The rest of them film is them building and rebuilding their shelters as storms come. The high point of the film is a spider bite late in the game. I can kind of see why my mom loved this film but I also know why its fallen by the wayside. 5 out of 10
wsureck
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.
lousvr
Saw this "Thomas Mitchell" Swiss FR years, decades ago broadcasted on TV. In fact during the 50's and 60's this wonderful movie would be shown often. It was just a great kids adventure movie, and is simply the best of them all. Would be great to see it now, but...
