Robinson Crusoe (1954)

The classical story of Robinson Crusoe, a man who is dragged to a desert island after a shipwreck

Director:

Luis Buñuel

Writers:

Daniel Defoe (novel), Hugo Butler (screenplay),

Stars:

Dan O'Herlihy, Jaime Fernández, Felipe de Alba

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dan O'Herlihy	...	Robinson Crusoe / Crusoe's father (as Daniel O'Herlihy)
Jaime Fernández	...	Friday
Felipe de Alba	...	Captain Oberzo
Chel López	...	Bosun
José Chávez	...	Pirate
Emilio Garibay	...	Leaders of the Mutiny

Storyline

On 30 September 1659, the aristocratic British Robinson Crusoe's ship sinks and he miraculously survives on a deserted island somewhere in South America. He retrieves a dog, Rex, and cat, Sam, from the shipwreck together with some supplies, weapons, clothes and tools and builds a shelter. He soon learns how to survive by cooking, farming, harvesting the crops. Then the loneliness begins to haunt him, especially after the loss of Rex. When he sees a group of cannibals in the island, tension and fear become part of his life. Later he saves the life of a savage that was going to be eaten by the cannibals; he names him Friday and they become friends. When Robinson Crusoe sees Caucasians on the island, he finds that Captain Oberzo was the victim of a mutiny and he helps him to retrieve his ship.

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Plot Keywords:

island | cat | shipwreck | cannibal | mutiny | 

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Taglines:

EVERY THRILL-SWEPT PAGE BLAZES TO LIFE ON THE SCREEN! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Details

Country:

Mexico

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

5 August 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Filming Locations:

Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Oscar Dancigers Production, Producciones Tepeyac

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Sound System)

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Luis Buñuel's first all-English film; the script was also written in English, but according to Dan O'Herlihy Bunuel only directed him in Spanish.

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Goofs

While Robinson always wore goatskin moccasins everywhere, when he first encountered the cannibal footprint on the sand beach, he compared his bare footprint to it without taking off the moccasin.

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Quotes

Crusoe's father: [as an apparition] My boy, you should not leave your native country.

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Connections

Version of Robinson Crusoe (1973)

User Reviews

Not What You Might Expect

For viewers who might be most familiar with Luis Bunuel's work in surreal films such as The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, his approach here might be surprising. It's a mostly straightforward retelling of the Defoe story, although with a few dream-like touches. Bunuel was in exile from Spain and facing McCarthyism in the U.S. when he made this film (his first in English and his first in color), making the Crusoe metaphor a very personal one. So it's his personal reinterpretation, and has lots to offer regarding man's relationship with God, and his views on morality.

This film has been almost impossible to see for a very long time, but in May 2004, VCI Entertainment announced a deal to distribute it. It's well worth your time, whether you're a student of Bunuel or Defoe, or just a student of the important questions of life.