Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

Director:

Ken Annakin

Writers:

Lowell S. Hawley (screenplay)
Johann David Wyss (novel)

Release Date:

21 December 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family

Tagline:

THE ADVENTURE OF ADVENTURES! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A wise old settler poop is shipwrecked on a muter kin island.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Pirate | Desert Island | Tropical Island | Survival

Cast

John Mills	...	Father Robinson
Dorothy McGuire	...	Mother Robinson
James MacArthur	...	Fritz Robinson
Janet Munro	...	Roberta 'Bertie'
Sessue Hayakawa	...	Kuala, Pirate Chief
Tommy Kirk	...	Ernst Robinson
Kevin Corcoran	...	Francis Robinson
Cecil Parker	...	Captain Moreland
Andy Ho	...	Auban
Milton Reid	...	Big Pirate
Larry Taylor	...	Pirate

Directed by
Ken Annakin

Writing credits
Lowell S. Hawley		(screenplay)
Johann David Wyss		(novel "Swiss Family Robinson") (as Johann Wyss)

Produced by
Bill Anderson	....	producer
Basil Keys	....	associate producer
Walt Disney	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
William Alwyn

Cinematography by
Harry Waxman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Boita

Production Design by
John Howell

Set Decoration by
Jack Stephens

Costume Design by
Julie Harris

Makeup Department
Eileen Bates	....	hair stylist
Bill Lodge	....	makeup artist
Charles Nash	....	makeup artist

Production Management
William Hill	....	production manager (as Bill Hill)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yakima Canutt	....	second unit director
René Dupont	....	assistant director

Art Department
John Hoesli	....	assistant art director
John L. Jensen	....	sketch artist (as John L.Jensen)
Peter Murton	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
John Dennis	....	sound recordist (as John S.Dennis)
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist (as Gordon K.McCallum)
Les Wiggins	....	sound editor (as Leslie Wiggins)

Special Effects by
Danny Lee	....	special effects (as Dan Lee)
Walter Stones	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Peter Ellenshaw	....	matte artist

Stunts
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Courtney	....	stunts (uncredited)
Evelyn Finley	....	stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fez Reynolds	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arnim Tardieu	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Beeson	....	additional photography

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor
Buddy Baker	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Paul J. Smith	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Walt Disney	....	presenter
Fez Reynolds	....	animal trainer: zebra (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Productions (as A Walt Disney Production)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Distribution Company (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (as Buena Vista DISTRIBUTION CO.,INC.)
• RKO (1961) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Distribution Company (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• Buena Vista Distribution Company (1972) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (1999) (UK) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Gativideo (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Company (UK)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo | Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1968) | Norway:7 (original rating) (cut version) | UK:U (video rating) (1988) (1999) (2003 DVD audio commentary) | UK:U (tv rating) | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | UK:U | West Germany:6 | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Bacolet Beach, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

The anaconda was actually pregnant during filming.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Father is lighting the bombs using a torch it loses ignition and gains it again throughout the scene.

Quotes:

[Reflecting on their island paradise]
Mother:It's wonderful for today, but what about tomorrow?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Walt: The Man Behind the Myth (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Swisskapolka

Memories unrecoverable

There are some films made for children (or, more correctly, featuring children) that have lasted and retain their appeal, such as 'Whistle Down the Wind' or 'The Railway Children'. The 1960 production 'Swiss Family Robinson' was pitched at eight year olds then but is unlikely to satisfy a modern-day eight-year-old. Certainly it should be avoided by any 1960-era eight year old (now 60 year old) tempted to believe the charm can be conjured a second time. In the hands of an imaginative director, the story has elements that might have been made into something lasting. Nothing about this production, however, suggests those involved felt conviction for what they are doing. It looks, sadly, like a cash register in celluloid.