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Robinson Crusoe

  • 1997
  • PG-13
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Pierce Brosnan in Robinson Crusoe (1997)
Trailer
Play trailer1:02
1 Video
65 Photos
Sea AdventureSurvivalAdventureDrama

1703: Robinson Crusoe has to leave Scotland for a year, but after months sailing, a storm wrecks his ship. He ends up as only survivor on a desolate island.1703: Robinson Crusoe has to leave Scotland for a year, but after months sailing, a storm wrecks his ship. He ends up as only survivor on a desolate island.1703: Robinson Crusoe has to leave Scotland for a year, but after months sailing, a storm wrecks his ship. He ends up as only survivor on a desolate island.

  • Directors
    • Rod Hardy
    • George Miller
  • Writers
    • Daniel Defoe
    • Christopher Lofton
    • Tracy Keenan Wynn
  • Stars
    • Pierce Brosnan
    • William Takaku
    • Polly Walker
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Rod Hardy
      • George Miller
    • Writers
      • Daniel Defoe
      • Christopher Lofton
      • Tracy Keenan Wynn
    • Stars
      • Pierce Brosnan
      • William Takaku
      • Polly Walker
    • 55User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Robinson Crusoe
    Trailer 1:02
    Robinson Crusoe

    Photos65

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    Top cast13

    Edit
    Pierce Brosnan
    Pierce Brosnan
    • Robinson Crusoe
    William Takaku
    • Man Friday
    Polly Walker
    Polly Walker
    • Mary McGregor
    Ian Hart
    Ian Hart
    • Daniel Defoe
    James Frain
    James Frain
    • Robert…
    Damian Lewis
    Damian Lewis
    • Patrick Connor
    Ben Robertson
    • James…
    Martin Grace
    Martin Grace
    • Captain Braga
    Sean Brosnan
    Sean Brosnan
    • Cabin Boy
    Lysette Anthony
    Lysette Anthony
    • Mrs. Crusoe
    Tim McMullan
    Tim McMullan
    • Crusoe's Second
    • (as Tim McMulian)
    Mal Tobias
    • Patrick Connor's Second
    Jim Clark
    Jim Clark
    • Slave Ship Captain
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Rod Hardy
      • George Miller
    • Writers
      • Daniel Defoe
      • Christopher Lofton
      • Tracy Keenan Wynn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews55

    6.013.8K
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    Featured reviews

    7stamper

    What this is (in the aspect of: Is this what Defoe wrote?) I do NOT care, How it is, I CARE

    And how is it. It is good. The story, about friendship and loneliness and also society as it was then, is good of course even if it is slightly modified. But I do not care if it is, for the actors are good and the filmmaking is too. I especially like William Takaku (Friday). He is very good and plays his role perfectly and he is of course in the best scenes of the movie, which actually doesn't start until Crusoe meets Friday. Before that meeting there are some scenes of lesser quality. But there are far more good or very good scenes, favourite scenes are: the burial, the readying of the boat, the last fight scene on the island, the last shot plus the afterwards inserted text and especially the DUEL at the end.

    7 out of 10
    9ergomane

    Nice little movie.

    I really don't understand people who always complain about "it's not accurate to book". If it would be 100% accurate to book it would SUCK big time. Somethings just don't work on movies that worked on the book and vice versa. For a good example, Lord of The Rings - Fellowship of the Ring, Bombadil wouldn't work on the movie at all.

    As a TV movie, this is very well done, for example the storm and shipwreck scene felt great. And overall the scenery is great and all settings are made with care and look very real.

    Actors do pretty good job, though maybe little overacting from time to time, but nothing to complain really. I liked Brosnan's Scottish accent it gave a spice to the character and made more real.

    The movie is about love and friendship, and really worked on me. I highly recommend everyone who like about adventure movies.
    7bkoganbing

    Until civilization intrudes

    Although this is far from a faithful adaption of Daniel Defoe's classic novel from the 18th century, this version of Robinson Crusoe holds up fairly well and captures what that polemic writer was trying to say about cultures and how they clash. A number of assumptions about what his character Crusoe had about the superiority of his civilization are shattered.

    Two men from totally different worlds manage to communicate and establish a friendship. To be sure it is one of necessity as Crusoe is cut off from his world and Friday, the cannibal he befriends is exiled from his tribe. Still they do get along until civilization intrudes.

    Pierce Brosnan is in the title role and aborigine actor William Takaku plays Friday. Defoe himself is written into the film as he is given a purported journal written by Crusoe and as he reads it Brosnan narrates the story. Defoe is played by Ian Hart and Defoe as political polemicist as well as novelist had some advanced views considering the time he lived in.

    Brosnan and Takaku do very well in their roles. It's a good story with moral if not plot intact.
    5ma-cortes

    Average rendition freely based on the known novel by Daniel Defoe , well starred by Pierce Brosnan

    A mediocre adaptation stars Pierce Brosnan: Robinson Crusoe , telling the well-known story of how a Brit becomes stranded on a desert island . As Robinson escaping from England aboard a ship , after killing a man .Then , a wreckage happens and Robinson washes at a mysterious island .There he frees a native , William Takaku , who is nicknamed Friday .

    So-so recounting about the classy castaway novel with the loner Robinson who meets his pal Friday , retelling their adventures and unfortunes . While sticking some incidents close to original tale , others are utterly fictious. Being narrated under his point of view . The picture has nothing to do with the classic original by Daniel Defoe , taking freely parts here and there ; but where are the thrills and chills? . The movie relies heavily on the relationship between Robinson and Friday , charting the peculiar treatment the native receives of the civilized man ; as Robinson teaches English language to the escaped native until evil slave traders spoil the fun . Pierce Brosnan gives a passable acting as the distressed castaway stranded on a deserted island and he tries to civilize the proud native Friday . It boasts a good secondary cast with very brief interventions from notorious secondary actors such as Polly Walker , Ian Hart , Damian Lewis and James Frain. The motion picture produced by Robert Halmi and was regularly directed by George Miller : The man from snowy river , Zeus and Roxanna , Aviator , Neverending story 2 , and by Rod Hardy , a Tv usual filmmaker : Mentalist , Librarians , Supernatural , Covert affairs , Mental , Doll house , X files and occassionally for cinema : December boys , Two for Texas , Over the hill, Thrist.

    Other retelling of this prestigious novel are the following ones : silent version 1927 narrated by Don Carney . Mr Robinson Crusoe 1932 with Douglas Fairbanks . Robinson Crusoe of mystery island 1936 by Max Wright . Robinson Crusoe by Luis Buñuel with Dan O'Herlihy .Sci-fi interpretation of Defoe classic titled Robinson Crusoe on Mars , 1964 , by Byron Haskin with Adam West . British rendition titled Man Friday 1975 by Jack Gold with Peter 0'Toole , Richard Roundtree .Robinson Crusoe and the Tiger 1972 by Rene Cardona with Hugo Stiglitz . Castaway by Nicolas Roeg with Oliver Reed . Robinson Crusoe TV series 2008 with Philip Winchester , Sam Neill
    6Thomas_Dachsel

    Nice entertainment, but you won't miss anything...

    This is a condensed (only 90 minutes!) film version of the ageless classic, with lots of modifications though. I give kudos to the impeccable work of the actors, and directing and editing seem to work equally well for a very nice entertainment experience.

    However, as soon as I start comparing this version to the original book, I feel an immense let-down as so many things have been changed (I won't give a list because it would be just way too long). I liked the look of Robinson's island a lot, and all the buildings and mechanical contraptions were nicely designed. But for the most part, the plot was just *too* smooth, leaving out most of the meditative moments and the setbacks that the "original" Robinson experiences in the book. For such a compact film version of the long book, some cuts had to be made, though.

    I won't give away the ending, but it was a) way too different from the book and b) way too brief, it even felt forced to some degree. There's lots of nice scenery, however. So there are much worse ways to kill off 90 minutes...

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filmed in 1994, copyrighted in 1996 and released overseas in 1997. Never released theatrically in the U.S., nor in the UK.
    • Goofs
      Friday refers to Crusoe by name before Crusoe tells it to him.
    • Quotes

      [mourning the loss of Crusoe's dog, Skipper]

      Man Friday: Skipper go to Crusoe's God?

      Robinson Crusoe: No. Dogs don't have mortal souls. Only men have mortal souls.

      Man Friday: Too bad. Good dog.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Diagnosis Murder: Alienated (1998)

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Robinson Crusoe?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 12, 1997 (Singapore)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe
    • Filming locations
      • Papua New Guinea
    • Production companies
      • Miramax
      • RHI Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $183,886
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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