Plus or Minus is a series detailing and analyzing every feature film now streaming on Disney+. It combines the unique history all these films share, their cultural impacts, and their qualities, or lack thereof. From timeless classics, to acquired hits, to DCOMs, no stone will be left unturned.
Plus or Minus continues with a look at the lesser-known Swiss Family Robinson. William Robinson, a Swiss father living in England, is frustrated over his family. His three sons have gone into different directions. The eldest is obsessed with Napoleon, the middle child is a fop, and the younger is obsessed with anything else. William Robinson blames the changing world of London on his family’s new direction. Therefore, he upends his family and moves off to Australia, hoping to find stronger, tighter values.
However, a horrible storm arrives and destroys the ship. Shipwrecked on a deserted island, the family must work together to create a new home, learning to work together and figure out that maybe living on this island is for the best.
The Film Disney Didn’t Want You To See
When most people hear “Swiss Family Robinson”, the first thing that comes to mind is Disney’s 1960 adaptation. Or perhaps the original 1812 novel written by Jonathan David Wyss. However, this 1940 adaptation garners little to no discussion. This is for a reason.
RKO’s adaptation saw decent reviews when it came out, although it did see an $180,000 loss. It even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Special Effects. However, this film saw obscurity once Disney hit the scene.
After viewing RKO’s production, Walt was inspired to produce his own adaptation of the story. Specifically, Disney, and director Ken Annakin, used the RKO version as an example of what not to do when it comes to the material. This meant Walt’s version would eschew soundstage productions and have a more realistic art direction.
And as a way to suppress any theatrical re-release or have people bring up comparisons to RKO’s work, Disney bought the rights to the 1940 film and hid it away for decades. For a long while, there was no legal way to watch this movie. In 2010, Turner Classic Movies made it available on DVD for a limited time, but a copy is pretty rare to find.
But lo and behold, Disney+ has finally given us the opportunity to see the film Walt hid for years.
A Hidden Treasure?
It’s honestly a depressing state the film went through. With a few arguable exceptions, all films deserve easy accessibility. Hiding a film away for so long, especially because of a fear of comparison, is awful stuff. However, regardless of its history, one question remains: is this good?
The one thing that does help the movie is its set design. It’s very clearly a soundstage, but it’s laid out very well. The Robinson mansion at the beginning is extravagant and lovely, while the island has plenty of danger and plays into the isolation of the characters.
This isolation also works thanks to the lead performer. Thomas Mitchell as William Robinson does great stuff here. His character is unlikable, but Mitchell brings some entertaining over-the-top energy here that makes him fun to watch for a time. Freddie Bartholomew as the flamboyant son Jack is also great, the clear star of the supporting cast.
The Major Flaws
Having said all that, there’s plenty of problems found in the script. Most notably, the pacing. It’s a bit of a slow burn, with little in the way of action. Maybe it’s because the 1960 film is the more iconic one, but there’s little in the way of excitement or fun, and there’s also little to be intrigued by. There’s elements there, but they’re sparse, and it just makes you wish the movie would end quicker.
It also doesn’t help that some of the intrigue of the story is hurt by the how unlikable Wilbur is. His want to move his family away seems reasonable. They are consumed by materials, and one son being in love with the dictator Napoleon definitely brought up interesting parallels in 1940.
The problem is his refusal to listen to others. There’s no moment he has a sit down with his wife or anything like that. And the way he forces his family to stay on the island becomes pretty uncomfortable. It would be understandable if the film calls him out over his actions, but it never really does. If anything, the film paints his actions in a positive light.
His decisions apparently make the family closer, but it doesn’t feel earned, so the plot feels hollow by the end.
Plus or Minus?
Choosing between Plus or Minus for Swiss Family Robinson was tough. There’s plenty to like from a production standpoint, but its unlikable hero and slow pace made this film a chore. I have not seen the 1960 Swiss Family Robinson, but I hope it’ll be more of what I am looking for.
I’m sure this will have its fans, but this was not for me. A mild Minus.
Next time: Fantasia, Walt Disney’s masterclass of music and animation. Will it be a Plus or Minus?