Swiss Family Robinson (Vault Disney Collection) Reviews

• Loaded special DVD deserves more than 5 stars

  
  By A6GMEO3VRY51S on 2003-02-03
  MOVIE REVIEW
  I strongly recommend! Originally released in 1960, the film returned to theatres 4 times in later years. This is absolutely one of the most fun family films the Walt Disney Studios ever made. There is truly something for everyone... comedy, action, adventure, drama, romance, and suspense. Even at 126 minutes in length, it does not feel too long. Starting in the aftermath of a shipwreck, the Swiss family rebuilds their life on an uncharted tropical island. They use the wealth of salvage in livestock, tools, guns, furniture, wood, and more to build a safe home in the trees, complete with running water and other conveniences. The mother and father begin an idealic exhistance with their 3 boys aged 9, 16, and 18. But one day the older boys decide to take a canoe and survey the rest of the island. They stumble across pirates that are attacking the crew of a ship, and rescue the captain's daughter, bringing the wrath of the pirates on them since they are discovered.
  
  Directed by Ken Annakin, the movie was filmed on location on the caribbean island of Tobago. While the production went way over budget for a total cost of $4 million, Walt did not get upset with his production team at the time since the film was looking to be success when he reviewed clips from the set. As it turned out, with subsequent theatre releases, television, and video airing, the film has turned out to be one of the top-grossing films from Disney.
  
  The tropical scenery is spectacular as they filmed all over the island; waterfalls, forests, grass plains, flowers, beaches, cliffs, mountains, oceans, streams, and much more. Contributing a tremendous amount to the exotic locale of the movie are animals, pirates, ships, and a tree house to beat all tree houses ever made. Similar to the role the submarine "Nautilus" filled in the earlier film "20,000 Leagues Below the Sea", the tree house becomes a star in it's own right. The wonderful and inventive home designed by the castaways and from the ships salvage is incredible to behold.
  
  Featuring a wonderful cast and crew assembled by Walt himself, Mr. Disney liked to stick with actors he knew could relate to a broad audience. Most of the actors in this film appeared in other Disney movies over the years, many times with other actors from this film. Hayley Mills (Pollyana, Parent Trap, That Darn Cat, Summer Magic, In Search of the Castaways, The Moon-Spinners), Dorothy McGuire (Old Yeller, Summer Magic), John Mills (Did not appear in other Disney movies, but was Hayley's real life father), James MacArthur (Light in the Forest, Third Man on the Mountain, Kidnapped), Kevin Corcoran (A Tiger Walks, Savage Sam, Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Bon Voyage, Babes in Toyland, Toby Tyler, Pollyanna), Tommy Kirk (Probably the most proficient of all with Savage Sam, Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Moon Pilot, Bon Voayage, Son of Flubber, The Absent-Minded Professor, Misadventure of Merlin Jones, The Monkeys Uncle, Babes in Toyland), and Janet Munroe (Darby O'Gill and the Little People, Third Man on the Mountain). Most of these actors also appeared in movies for the Disney television series as well.
  
  
  VAULT DISNEY DVD VERSION
  The 2 disc DVD treatment that Disney gave this film is perfect, starting with great packaging and case. It is in Widescreen, the first widescreen release outside of theatres for the film in fact. And what a difference it makes in the beautiful location island vistas of the film. The film has been cleaned up and remastered to its original brilliance with lush colors, great image and depth, it just sparkles. The DVD transfer itself is very well done, a high quality job. The audio is very clean and crisp.
  
  
  DVD EXTRAS
  The extras on this DVD are what really make the best version released of this film, and they are not all listed here at Amazon or even on the packaging. You have to hunt them down and get creative with your remote. So let me help by telling you what to look for if you buy this... For starters they have the original cartoon that was released with the movie, "Sea Salts" allowing you to see this with the kids the way that it is meant to be seen. There is a 2 minute "1960 Disney Studio Album", a montage of projects, attractions, shows, and films being made and released that year. There is an audio commentary as an alternate track that features comments from cast and crew.
  
  Next we have 23 minutes from a vintage Walt Disney television "Wonderful World of Disney" episode titled "Escape to Paradise", that show the making of the film behind the scenes. Up next is the original 1960 movie theatre trailers for the film, and the 1960 televison spots to advertise the film. Then there are "Storyboard to Scene Comparisons"; a seperate "Storyboard Gallery"; and a 2 minute "Production Gallery" of photo stills from behind the scenes at location. Another gallery is full of production stills; Next is "Biographies" on 8 principle actors; and then "Concept Art" on the films pre-production design work.
  
  As if that's not enough a featurette titled "Adventure in the Making" was made just for this set, and at 49:00 minutes long it is very complete and satisfying, with recent interviews of the original cast and crew. There is great behind the scenes original footage in this piece, and the folks regale us with funny stories of the filming days. Peter Elleshaw (matte artist), Ken Annakin (director), Danny Lee (special effects), and actors John Mills, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran are all here for modern interviews. ANOTHER short 4 minute featurette that was also made just for this set is "Swiss Family Treehouse", narrated by Hayley Mills. It is the pre-opening footage and the actual Opening Ceremony of the "Swiss Family Robinson's Tree House" attraction (now gone, replaced with Tarzans Tree House) at the Disneyland Park. Walt himself is there and it is evident he is really enjoying himself in this must-see footage.
  
  Included on the set is a very nice 12 minute interview with James MacArthur, who appeared in this film and 3 others for Disney along with a TV movie. This features great video as well. There is a "Pirates" music video sing along featuring pirate themed clips from Disney films, TV shows, cartoons, and the theme park attraction "Pirates of the Caribbean", all set to the Disney tune of "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirates Life For Me". An unusual or unexpected extra is a featurette that has 20 minutes of excerpts from a 1940 non-Disney version of the story.
  
  The set has Audio Archives set to photos from the film, including 2 Interactive Sound Studios, 2 songs from the film, original 1960 radio spots. Another real treat is the complete LP soundtrack of the original "Storybook Album" of the movie released in 1960.
  
  SUMMARY
  I really enjoyed this DVD, and this film really got the best of treatment by Disney. They simply outdid themselves and I am one grateful viewer. I wish all the really good classic Disney films got at least some of this royal treatment. They have a reputation as the best studio about protecting their old source material, archives, etc, but they are not always generous in using it for their DVD's so I can really appreciate the effort here by the decision makers. Thank you Disney for this compilation that really honors this gem of a film the way it should be!!!! My highest recommendation if you are considering buying this DVD.
  
  
  

• FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY...

  
  By A1L43KWWR05PCS on 2001-08-06
  You can't get much more wholesome than this. This film definitely has the Disney stamp all over it. The Swiss Family Robinson are on their way to New Guinea. Chased by pirates on the high seas, their ship runs up against a reef, and they find themselves shipwrecked by a deserted tropical island. They manage to get themselves and all their belongings and animals ashore, intact and none the worse for wear. They even survive a shark attack.

  The mother, played by the lovely Dorothy MaGuire, is always clean, perfectly groomed and coiffed. The father, played by the wonderful English actor, John Mills, is positively cheerful the entire film. Talk about optimism. His three sons, played by the hunky James MacArthur, the adorable Tommy Kirk, and the cute-as-a-button Kevin Corcoran, work tirelessly to make their new home into an island paradise. In record time, they build a multi-level house to die for, high up in the trees. Somehow, they manage to get a pipe organ off the wrecked ship, ashore, and up into their multi-level tree house, so that they can sing Christmas Carols at the appropriate time. Kevin Corcoran even has a baby elephant for a pet, and they parade around their sculpted lawn which is surrounded by what appears to be an English garden.

  After a while, two of the boys set out on a home made sail boat to check the terrain around the island. Their boat capsizes and crashes on the rocks, when they notice pirates ashore, the very same ones who had bothered them before. Now, the pirates appear to be holding two males captive, an old man and a young boy. The two Robinson boys help the young boy escape, while the older man tells them to leave him, as he will be ransomed.

  The boys go off with their young companion in tow, while chased by the pirates. They manage to thwart the pirates and get back to the safety of their home on the other side of the island. In the meantime, they discover that the "boy" is really a girl, delightfully played by Janet Munro, and the older man was her grandfather. The two older boys are sweet on her, which causes a little fun loving tension. As the pirates are now aware that they are on the island, they set up all sorts of ingenious defenses. When the pirates do come a calling, they capably battle off a horde of pirates without injury to themselves.

  Just as the pirates are in flight, a ship comes to the rescue led by the grandfather, who seems to have been ransomed and rescued in no time, and managed to get a sailing ship to the island to recue them, lickety split. Who in their right mind, however, would ever want to be rescued from this magical island, where nothing can possibly go wrong, and everyone loves each other. Pure Disney fantasy, this film is a lot of fun to watch and, better yet, can be enjoyed by the whole family.
  
  

• Great Disney Movie

  
  By A2AOZQ3WTNVVOK on 2006-08-22
  Walt Disney had a winner with this adaptation of the book of the same title by Johann David Wyss. The book itself was a fantasy with bits and pieces of the new world aggregated onto a single island in the Pacific. The book fantasy makes for a rousing adventure as a family is wrecked and abandoned near a tropical paradise.
  
  We meet the Robinson's at the beginning of the movie. The Late Dorothy McGuire, who also appeared in Disney's "Summer Magic," "Old Yeller," "Friendly Persuasion," and numerous other movies and television shows, plays Mother Robinson. The Late Sir John Mills, one of the most beloved actors in England and father of Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills, plays Father Robinson. James MacArthur, who has been in a number of other Disney films and was Danno in Hawaii Five-O, plays Fritz Robinson. Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran, also Disney regulars, play Ernst and Francis Robinson. The Robinson's begin the movie in deep trouble. They are below decks on a sailing ship that was headed toward New Guinea. As we later learn, the ship was going to New Guinea when pirates appeared. The captain evaded the pirates, but ran into a storm. The crew then abandoned ship, leaving the Robinson's behind.
  
  The Robinson's wreck on a reef not far from a beautiful tropical island. The island is paradise, but paradise with the most interesting collection of wild animals imaginable. There are zebras, hyenas, a tiger, at least one snake that was an anaconda according to the book, a baby elephant, and ostriches. Imagine a circus train wrecking on this island and you will get the general picture. The island also proves to be a very nice play to live, especially after the family recovers as much as possible from the wrecked ship.
  
  The family builds a marvelous tree house with running water and a master bedroom suite. Soon there are sidewalks, games, and a castle of sorts. Fritz and Ernst encounter Roberta (played by the late Janet Munro), and in addition to surviving on the island, the family gets to witness two young men fighting over the only available girl.
  
  Life appears to be going well except for the danger of the pirates, whom the family encounters three times in the movie. Between the pirates, the wild animals, the shipwreck and fighting over Roberta, this movie is full of non-stop action!
  
  Walt Disney put pure magic into this adventure movie. The story is interesting and easy to follow. The family conquers adversity, remaining positive throughout. There is mild violence, but so mild that the movie was able to keep a G rating. I think this movie is a winner for all but the very youngest family members.
  
  This 2-disk release is filled with extras that are generally enjoyable. There is the short that went with the movie when it was originally released. There are interviews, making of, and all sorts of related tidbits that make this 2-disk set a must have for fans of this movie. The best part of all is that this movie is in wide screen, which is enough reason to throw away your old version, especially if you have a wide screen television.
  
  I have watched this movie in the theater, on television, and on VHS tape. As many times as I have watched this movie, I enjoy it each and every time. Take a trip into the adventuresome past for an outstanding and fun family movie adventure. Enjoy!
  
  
  

• Vault Disney DVD packed with extras for a low price

  
  By A349SDBAUDKWMS on 2002-05-20
  What a fantastic DVD this is. The Vault Disney series is wonderful, and I hope they give more films the same treatment soon. Not only is the film beautifully restored (in its original 2:35:1 theatrical aspect ratio, and with 5.1 THX surround sound), but the DVD itself is packed with delightful extras.

  There's a documentary about making "Swiss Family Robinson" that is nearly 50 minutes long and contains interviews with Sir John Mills, James MacArthur, Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran. There's a commentary track with the latter three contributing comments about the film. There's an additional interview with MacArthur about his film work, the original theatrical trailer and television spots, radio spots, the entire story album that came out with the film, a Donald Duck cartoon, and more! If you like "Swiss Family Robinson," get this DVD -- even if you already have the VHS tape. It's worth it just to finally have a widescreen version of this family-friendly classic (the better to view the wonderful island vistas), even if you don't figure all of the wonderful extras into the bargain.
  
  

• Classic Disney adventure -- Superlative DVD release

  
  By on 2002-05-29
  The folks at Walt Disney Home Video have put together four excellent new "Vault Disney" releases that truly showcase DVD technology at its best. "Swiss Family Robinson," one of Walt Disney's best-loved live-action adventures, benefits immensely from DVD technology, especially the wide-screen presentation and THX restored picture and sound quality. The widescreen alone would have satisfied most fans, so the plethora of extras on the supplemental disc are truly special. I have never seen a DVD with so many extras presented in such a creative and easily accessible way. Thank you to everyone at Walt Disney Home Video for this wonderful DVD. Hopefully, more titles will follow in this series (like Third Man on the Mountain, Darby O'Gill and the Little People, The Moonspinners, and Summer Magic) and ALL Disney DVD's will be released in their original theatrical ratios
  
  
• Not Disney's best, but entertaining
  By A1YD20Z43RESOQ on 2002-01-17
  Walt Disney basically threw out the Johann David Wyss story, kept the title, and instructed writers to compose a rousing adventure befitting the Disney standard. It was done. What we have here is not a moralizing tale but a swashbuckling adventure, starring John Mills (Hayley's dad) and Dorothy McGuire, along with Disney favorites James MacArthur, Tommy Kirk, Janet Munro and Kevin Cocoran as well as a great villain in Sessue Hayakawa. It's not Disney at his peak, but it does have many fun moments with a storm at sea, plenty of wild animals (unlikely on such an island, but who cares), a love story (two young guys fighting over one young woman) and a battle with pirates. And the DVD has two discs with plenty of extras. We hope this, too, is a standard of the new "Vault Disney" series. Disney DVDs are making great strides to include many of the extras available in the studio's library. 'Robinson' will appeal primarily to baby boomers who remember it from their childhood and their children, with whom they've shared their videotape of it for years.
  
  
• FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY...
  By A1L43KWWR05PCS on 2002-08-09
  You can't get much more wholesome than this. This film definitely has the Disney stamp all over it. The Swiss Family Robinson are on their way to New Guinea. Chased by pirates on the high seas, their ship runs up against a reef, and they find themselves shipwrecked by a deserted tropical island. They manage to get themselves and all their belongings and animals ashore, intact and none the worse for wear.

  The mother, played by the lovely Dorothy McGuire, is always clean, perfectly groomed and coiffed. The father, played by the wonderful English actor, John Mills, is positively cheerful the entire film. Talk about optimism. His three sons, played by the hunky James MacArthur, the adorable Tommy Kirk, and the cute-as-a-button Kevin Corcoran, work tirelessly to make their new home into an island paradise.

  In record time, they build a multi-level house to die for, high up in the trees. Somehow, they manage to get a pipe organ off the wrecked ship, ashore, and up into their multi-level tree house, so that they can sing Christmas Carols at the appropriate time. Kevin Corcoran even has a baby elephant for a pet, and they parade around their sculpted lawn, which is surrounded by what appears to be a beautifully manicured, English country garden.

  After a while, two of the boys set out on a home made sail boat to check the terrain around the island. They discover yet another casualty of the pirates' onslaught, delightfully played by Janet Munro. The two older boys are sweet on her, which causes a little fun loving tension. All is well, until the pirates come a-calling on the island, and all you know what breaks loose. Never fear. Rescue is on the way.

  Who in their right mind, however, would ever want to be rescued from this magical island, where nothing can possibly go wrong, and everyone loves each other? Pure Disney fantasy, this film is a lot of fun to watch and, better yet, can be enjoyed by the whole family.
  
  

• Old fashioned adventure
  By on 2000-04-07
  Overall, this is a wonderful movie that my 7-year-old son enjoys watching over and over and over again. It's old fashioned in ways that are both good and not so good: the action and adventure are much tamer than what's out there in today's hyper-violent movies. On the other hand, the attitudes toward women are pretty sexist and outdated, and the treatment of animals not the most sensitive. Nonetheless, it really is a terrific adventure move for children and adults.
  
  
• A great adventure
  By A20EEWWSFMZ1PN on 2002-06-02
  A family is shipwrecked on a seemingly uninhabited island. Using the remaining recourses of the wrecked ship they build an elaborate tree house. They have a realy nice Christmas scene. Then the adventure begins.
  
  This movie has a great family feel to it and I really liked the animal races; it is a classic Disney. The pirate attack scene was suspenseful. You are kept wondering if, and how they will get out of it.
  
  You can see John Mills play a more serious side with his real daughter Hayley Mills in "The Chalk Garden" (1964).
  
  
  
  
• Fun to watch over and over and over.....
  By on 1999-09-16
  I was renting this movie repeatedly for my two children (7 and 4). This is the ONLY movie they both enjoy watching again and again. It quickly became obvious this movie had to become a permanent addition to our video library.
  
  
• WONDERFILLED FOR KIDS...
  By AM2PV53UX1JEQ on 2000-09-07
  Though as an adult you may find yourself twitching a bit during this slightly overlong adventure tale, children from any era will find it mesmerizing. The Disney-ification of this classic Verne adventure tale is filled with innocent thrills, and features sets and adventures that make children drool -- they are, quite simply, fantasy adventures come to life. You will easily understand why the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse remains a fixture at the Magic Kingdom -- is it possible to conceive and imagine and create a more perfectly fabulous place for castaways to live? Dorothy Maguire and John Mills transcend some of the corn with their sturdy and oh-so-appealing portrayals of upright parents suddenly thrust into a terrifying -- and challenging -- new place to raise their children. How about that watering hole???
  
  
• This is why I have a home theater!
  By AVA9UG3SHUDAL on 2002-05-22
  This movie had my eight year old jumping out of his seat
  with excitement and laughing out loud. It was a little
  scarey for my five year old but nothing that would give
  her nightmares or anything like that. I enjoyed it, too.
  The opening sequence of a toy ship being blown across a
  tank of water by a big fan is a classic! You know it isn't
  a computer effect but it looks so realistic, it is just
  wonderful to watch. I almost gave this movie five stars,
  there aren't many movies for kids that are this good.
  
  
• A Classic...
  By A2G3KW0LRPRHLG on 2002-06-06
  This film was made back in the day when Disney knew how to make a live action film. Nowadays they just make that teeny-pop junk that only little 8 yr old girls go to see. But anyway, this film, "Swiss Family Robinson" was one of my most favorite films when I was growing up. Man, did I want to be on that island with them. Diving off waterfalls, capturing wild tigers and ofcourse, battling scirvy pirates with the aid of coconut bombs. If that ain't livin, I don't know what is. If you're like me and love the old tales of adventure like "Treasure Island", then this movie is a must buy. Speaking of "Treasure Island", Disney also did a great adaption of this story aswell, which I recommend highly. You might also want to look up a film Disney did called "Ship Wrecked", which was only made a little more than ten years ago I think, but is of the same calibur as "Swiss Family Robinson". Enjoy!
  
  
• When Disney really was DISNEY
  By A3ICHEO78NFE4Y on 2002-10-21
  I think it was very kids fantasy back in 1960 to have this wonderful life style of living like the Swiss Family Robinson. At least i know it was that way for me. I can't begin to tell you how many times i saw that film when i was a kid. I never had the chance to see it again until recently and when i did with the new 5.1 THX Sound i was blown away. Floods of memories came over my body and i felt like a kid again.This is a timeless classic for every kid young and old. This is also a lavash production produced by the magic of Walt Disney himself. Movies like this just don't exist anymore. This movie is pure, funny, romantic, with real life lessons of survival and wonderful fantasy. After seeing this movie now that i'm 54, i really find myself missing the great Mr. Disney. This is truly a wonderful addition to your collection and a wonderful part of Americana.
  
  
• A SWEEPING DISNEY EPIC
  By A1M9DQDGE07Q0U on 2003-03-05
  "Swiss Family Robinson" is one of those great live action Disney movies that never seems to get old. When a family is shipwrecked on a deserted isle they must keep body and soul together and ward off pirates from the mainland, just to stay alive.
  By far, this is the best represented of all of the "Vault Disney" series. The transfer for this DVD is by far the best this film has ever looked. Colors are rich, bold and vibrant. Having said that there is still some edge enhancement and shimering of fine details that distracts from time to time. A few scenes are very low in contrast in shadow delineation. The audio is stereophonic and very well represented, though dated. Interesting aside: the film's credits are framed in the 2:20 aspect ratio that the whole film was originally shot in but the rest of the feature falls back to a 2:35:1 aspect ratio - strange! As with all "Vault Disney" issued movies, there is a ton of great extra features to recommend this disc. That and a relatively clean transfer make for a fun night in front of the television for the whole family. Enjoy.
  
  
• I Love This Movie
  By A1WNJVA59HLMO5 on 2003-09-01
  I Just GOt My DVD on Saturday.

  I haven't even had time to look at all of the special features yet but I love the fact that when they put this out on DVD that they did a specail edition 2 Disc DVD. I always loved this movie with John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran. I suggest this movie to anyone who likes good clean Disney fun.

  Here is a breaf story line for anyone who has never watched this movie.

  The Robinsons get shipwrecked on a island. And they have all sorts of adventrues. This is just a great movie.
  
  

• A great adventure film
  By A309RPK3YWYV9Y on 2003-09-16
  I saw this movie about every other week growing up, and I still think it is the best of a slew of great Disney films from the 70's. I think anyone can appreciate this movie. It has a moral sensibility you dont find in movies these days and the pace and flow are very distinct as well. Disney flicks from this era are period pieces of a sort and they don't deliver the bang of a modern film. Even so, they resonate somehow and I heartily reccomend this one and others like Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, Hot Lead and Cold Feet, Bullwhip Griffin and a host of other Disney fare from that era. With all the new tools available to Hollywood today you can lose the ability to enjoy films like this, so buy some and pop them in the DVD player on a rainy afternoon.
  
  
• Idealistic Island Adventure
  By A3A03ETOTJRR0T on 2004-10-05
  "The Swiss Family Robinson" probably bears little relation to the novel by Johann Wyss, but Walt Disney's intention was to create an escapist fantasy for the family audience, not to faithfully recreate the novel evidently. A New Guinea-bound family is shipwrecked by pirates and manages to transport the booty from the partially-submerged ship to an island where they create their own paradise replete with Kon Tiki-style treehouse. It's innocuous and pleasant enough with some wonderful cinematography (especially in the dramatic opening of the shipwreck and then the journey on raft by the Robinson family to exotic shores -- really, the island of Tobago in the West Indies) and yet I felt their situation could have been given a tad more authenticity. Instead, they cavort carelessly on an island abounding with an improbable array of wild animals (including a tiger and speckled anaconda) and encounters become like mini-"thrill rides" that pop up and quickly end. For instance, no less than six hyenas surrounding a mud-submerged zebra are chased away with stones by our heroes as if they were dogs and then the scene is magically free of threat. Still, there is action and the action keeps things moving.
  
  Although I can certainly appreciate the "deserted island" fantasy here, I was nonetheless not entirely enchanted. Jane Wyman is predictably the reserved mother, tsking her adventurous boys (including father John Mills); Kevin Corcoran tries patience as the boisterous kid Frances (although I found his curiosity realistic enough) with his calculated cuteness. Still, it's a high quality production and kind of fun in spite of the two-dimensional characters, so I rate it highly. I love the song "My Heart is an Island" sung here by Jane Wyman and hearing it was a highlight. Disney made a lot of masterpieces like "Mary Poppins," not to mention so many of his animated films, and I'd say this is good, but not quite in that league of great.
  
  As for the extras: usually I don't like extras, particularly when cast members or directors talk over the film, but I must say the extras here were terrific. They include enjoyable, interesting commentary; a cartoon short; a mini sequence about Disney pirates; an entertaining film about the making of "Swiss Family Robinson"; and a short about the opening of Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse in Disneyland narrated by Hayley Mills. It rekindled many good memories in me of what a treat "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" had been, and I hope they could rerun the original show sometime season by season.
  
  
• and what about the animals ?
  By A23TEA0DJ19U0J on 2004-11-12
  Yes, I do agree, this is a HIGHLY enjoyable movie, and yes, the commentary track by , among others, the elusive Tommy Kirk is a great pleasure(a note to the man who asked where he had been all those years : Tommy was fired by nice uncle Walt when it was discovered that Tommy was(and is) gay...thereby of course being worse than a murderer or convicted crook in the eyes of hypocrytical family loving middle america....and he went into a decline of bad movies booze and drugs, but emerged from all that and is now quite a gay icon among certain circles....good to hear him in good cheer and forgiving for all that he had to endure)..BUT...what really ticks me OFF about this movie and makes me rate it only 3 stars is the blatant Cruelty to the animals..something that appears to have been widespread in those years and especially in uncle Walt's happy family company.
  A pig should NOT float mr. Annakin, and NO it is NOT funny to see the poor animal in agony, neither do I believe that it is healthy to have dogs fight with a TIGER !!! animals do NOT act, they are always themselves and violence is violence...scripted or not!! The zebra in the pit with the Hyena's is probably the most stomach turning piece of cruelty that happy bunch of macho men of the Disney crew perpetuated in the higher goal of a perfect movie(the script girls and his wife were a bit upset says Annakin in the commentary...but whoop-de-doo weren't they cry babies....aaah women!!)...so NO, I can't watch animals being FUNNY, because they are NOT...they are just suffering and waiting for the day they can be released from that living hell called fim making they had to endure take after take....just a little electric shock for the zebra laughs Annakin, why he had it administered to himself and it was HARMLESS....mmmm...pity they didn't turn up the voltage that time Ken !!
  
  
  
  
• A truely excellent film with great enjoyment for all the fam
  By on 1999-09-04
  Excellent, the characters are graet actors. I watched it over and over again as a child and now I am more grown up I can still watch it and respect it!!!!
  
  
• Fantastic!
  By on 2000-10-18
  This movie was one of my very favorites as a child. I still enjoy it because it has a little bit of everything. This is a movie the whole family will like!
  
  
• Swiss Family Robinson is a perfect movie for families!
  By A1V0TORJEOV4HK on 2001-06-21
  This movie starts out wonderfully as the swiss family Robinson are trapped in a room on a ship in a huge ship. The captain abandons the ship in fear it might sink but the boat merely crashes into some rocks. When the family gets out of the room, they notice that land is not to far away. They quickly build a tropical paradise. This movie is fun for children and families. It deserves the five stars I gave it.

  I recommend this film to fans of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Escape To Witch Mountain.
  
  

• A Great classic
  By AHAJOKPTCGT4N on 2001-07-11
  This is one of Disney's classic great non-animated movies! I've probably seen it at least 50 times since I was a young one, and still enjoy it on TV when it comes on. It's the story of a family stranded on an island, who work together to survive and fight off nasty pirates. The movie finishes with a climactic battle to defeat the pirates.

  As a boy, I absoulutely loved this! The battle scene at the end with the pirates is great, especially with all the slick traps they family set up for the bad guys. The little kid in the family is the usually AnnoyingDisneyKid, but that's alright, cuz he likes explosives.

  Thre's plenty of adventure and story here to keep adults and kids amused. No fear of watching this one with the young ones; it's clean.
  
  

• For pure escapism and adventure, this is one of the best.
  By A1O80PSB9GURAC on 2001-07-30
  "Swiss Family Robinson" is a rollicking entertainment from Walt Disney that's just about perfect for old-fashioned film-goers. The scenery, sets, and photography are lush and vigorous. I highly recommend "Swiss Family Robinson" to Disney fans or fans of high adventure films.
  
  
• Don't waste your time or money
  By A2JK84JKXYOY25 on 2003-10-20
  Don't bother wasting your time or money on this movie. I don't care about the quality of the cinematography, the quality of the story is what is lacking. From the elmination of Jack, one of the Robinson children, to the blatant disregard for absolutely any speck of information from the book, this film will make you cringe in horror. Rather, go get the original book, and curl up with your family and read. It's a better use of your time than watching this garbage. It doesn't deserve the one star I was forced to give it.
  
  
• Great Disney film!
  By AN953D8LD2XV5 on 2005-08-29
  This is one of the best Disney non-animated films ever. Some of the animal scenes are incredible. Highly recommended for all the family.
  
  
• THE "ULTIMATE" DISNEY FILM CLASSIC
  By A8V74RZY8TIRJ on 2006-05-17
  "Swiss Family Robinson" is one of those rare classic films that you never tire of visiting time and again. Walt Disney crafted his films with such care and attention to details, that all of his films carry a special kind of magic that most films fall short of achieving. Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson" surpasses the adventure film spectrum by combining the perils of an English family with the beauty of an island paradise, which is filmed in glorious technicolor and features a stellar cast. John Mills and Dorothy McGuire play the parents of three sons, James MacArthur, Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran. The story is loyal to the book and tells of the pirates, the discovery of a pretty, young girl, and the wonderful tree house. The entire cast is excellent in their roles and add to the film's charm. The 2-disc Vault Disney edition of this classic is awesome! And features informative interviews with cast members James MacArthur, Tommy Kirk, and Kevin Corcoran. "Swiss Family Robinson" is a must-own for Disney DVD collectors and classic film buffs alike, for this is one of those rare films that not only entertains, but becomes more enduring with each viewing.
  
  
• A classic that can be watched again and again...
  By A2VPZDOC3D1QPP on 2006-11-02
  This is a great movie for the whole family! We all love it!
  
  
• Horrible
  By ATKGAF8NWG6JL on 2007-01-30
  I bought this as a gift for my nephew because I loved the book as a chid and vaguely remembered a wonderful treehouse in the movie. I'm very glad I screened it first. The female characters are practically subhuman in intelligence and the story presentation is slow, boring, and illogical. I'm not very PC with old movies, but the sexism and animal abuse in this movie are way past my limits. Choose one of the other Disney re-releases instead. There are plenty of good ones to choose over this dog.
  
  
• Swiss Family Robinson CD
  By A3IS7UA4E8OEBU on 2007-02-19
  It was great fun. It helps to read the book first so that one can imagine before Disney presents their version.
  
  

• Treasure Island
• Pollyanna (Vault Disney Collection)
• 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (Special Edition)
• The Parent Trap (1961) and The Parent Trap II (1986): 2-Movie Collection (2-Disc Set)
• In Search of the Castaways