vincentlynch-moonoi When I was a kid and my grandmother would say, "Do you want to go see the Disney movie at the movie theater?", my answer was usually no; they were too "kiddish". Occasionally there were exceptions, and this film was one of those exceptions. It was a treat seeing it again on TCM 57 years later, and I think it's -- perhaps -- the best Disney film ever made. But it's not perfect.The good points: 1. A good story line with almost no "down time". The action moves right along, and you're constantly engaged in what is happening to the characters.2. Great scenery and photography (and yes, it was filmed mostly on location).3. Mostly very good acting. This is a wonderful role for John Mills, and it's a treat seeing Dorothy McGuire. They worked well together. James MacArthur is excellent (almost as good as he was in "Spencer's Mountain" with Henry Fonda). I never realized how good Tommy Kirk was as a child actor.The bad points: 1. It appeared to me that there was some cruelty to animals in this film.2. It's a family picture, so some things were handled a bit on the "everything will be all right" approach, which was fine. But through much of the battle with the pirates, the family wasn't taking things very seriously...and after all, they were fighting for their lives and to prevent the women from being raped.3. Disney was loathe to show any of the pirate really being harmed much, so it wasn't very dramatic in the that sense.4. Worst of all -- the presence of Kevin Corcoran. When I was a kid I always thought he was a little jerk. I still think that. Kid shoulda been put in a straight jacket! (Okay, that might be overstating it a bit, but not much). Totally distracting.However, the strong points of this film well outweigh the weak points. It's a fairly exciting movie, there's a touch of romance, good insights to the jealousy that can exist between siblings, and a very engaging story. And, at least in my view as a 68 year old, it's not just a film for kids. Some say this is Disney's finest movie; I tend to agree.

Python Hyena Swiss Family Robinson (1960): Dir: Ken Annakin / Cast: John Mills, Dorothy Maguire, James MacArthur, Tommy Kirk, Janet Munro: Entertaining adventure about family and perseverance. What "Swiss" represents I'm not sure but they could have called it Swiss Cheese Family Robinson and it still would have made the millions it made. A violent storm reduces a ship to wreckage but the family on board survive and make the best of island life. After building a tree house in the jungle the two oldest boys go exploring and encounter a band of pirates. Plenty of adventure and beautiful photography but one must wonder about the credibility of one family overcoming such an enemy. Directed by Ken Annakin who heightens the action to appeal to families. He is known as a director of family adventures and he hits success here. What works against it is its huge climax that is well made but it goes for the happy ending as oppose to logic. Among the cast are John Mills and Dorothy Maguire as the parental figures and the brains of the operation. Also with James MacArthur, and Tommy Kirk as the two boys whose adventure is cut short. Janet Munro plays the young lady whom is thought to be male when she is rescued. Her performance is the best in the film. Entertaining Disney adventure for families with a strong theme regarding oneness and making the best out of a bad situation. Score: 7 / 10

FilmBuff1994 Swiss Family Robinson is a good movie with a well written storyline and a good cast.The film has certainly aged but it still holds up pretty well as a family film,it has a lot of fun adventure,however there is little to no humour in this.My biggest problem with this movie was for a long period they started focusing on Fritz and Ernst Robinson,which I didn't like because they just weren't very professional actors and I didn't find their characters as likable as Father and Mother Robinson,although it was of course a good decision to go beyond the island.Its not an outstanding piece of filmmaking,but Swiss Family Robinson is enjoyable and I would recommend it as an easy to watch family film.After a family get shipwrecked on a tropical island they begin to live an idyllic life,until a group of pirates show up.Best Performance: John Mills Worst Performance: Tommy Kirk

Spikeopath The family Robinson are sailing their way to New Guinea, but as a storm rages and they are attacked by pirates, they wind up shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island. Having no means of escaping the island they set about making a new life in the hope that help will one day come sailing past. However, as adventurous as it at first seems to be, peril and pirates are never too far away!Full of Disney's live action touches, Swiss Family Robinson triumphs as an entertaining adventure because it avoids heavy leanings towards sentiment. With a story of this type, sourced from the popular novel by Johann Wyss, it would have been an easy mistake to make, but with one tiny moment of treacle aside, it's funny, intelligent and up there for all the family to enjoy. 7/10