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{{short description|1932 film}}
⚫
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Mr. Robinson Crusoe
| name = Mr. Robinson Crusoe
| image = Mr-Robinson-Crusoe-1932.jpg
| image = Mr-Robinson-Crusoe-1932.jpg

| image_size =
| caption = movie poster
| caption = Movie poster
| director = [[A. Edward Sutherland]]
| director = [[A. Edward Sutherland]]
⚫
| producer = [[Douglas Fairbanks]]
| writer = [[Douglas Fairbanks]] (story)<br>[[Thomas J. Geraghty]] (adaptation)
| writer = [[Douglas Fairbanks]] (story)<br>[[Thomas J. Geraghty]] (adaptation)
⚫
| producer = Douglas Fairbanks
⚫
| music = [[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]]
| cinematography = [[Max Dupont]]
| cinematography = [[Max Dupont]]
| editing = [[Robert Kern]]
| editing = [[Robert Kern]]
⚫
| music = [[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]]
| distributor = [[United Artists]]
| distributor = [[United Artists]]
| released = {{Film date|1932|08|19}}
| released = {{Film date|1932|08|19}}
| runtime = 76 minutes<br>70 minutes (American DVD)<br>66 minutes (Ontario, Canada)
| runtime = 76 minutes<br>70 minutes (American DVD)<br>66 minutes (Ontario, Canada)
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English}}
| language = English
}}


'''''Mr. Robinson Crusoe''''' is a [[1932 in film|1932]] [[Pre-Code]] [[American film]]. It is one of the few "[[talkie]]" films starring [[Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.]] in his penultimate film role, who also produced the film and provided the story. The film was directed by [[A. Edward Sutherland]], a veteran [[silent film]] director, for Fairbanks's Elton Productions, and released by [[United Artists]]. Steve Drexel (played by Fairbanks) shows a fiery optimism and can-do spirit that matches the Fairbanks screen persona that appears in his most popular films.
'''''Mr. Robinson Crusoe''''' is a 1932 [[Pre-Code]] American film. It is one of the few "[[talkie]]" films starring [[Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.]], in his penultimate film role; Fairbanks also produced the film and provided the story during the [[Great Depression]]. The film was directed by [[A. Edward Sutherland]], a veteran [[silent film]] director, for Fairbanks's Elton Productions, and released by [[United Artists]]. Steve Drexel (played by Fairbanks) shows a fiery optimism and can-do spirit that matches the Fairbanks screen persona that appears in his most popular films.


The [[South Seas (genre)|South Seas]] comedy adventure featured location filming on [[Tahiti]]<ref>Vance, Jeffrey (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pg. 293. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.</ref> with [[working title]]s being ''Tropical Knight'', ''A Modern Robinson Crusoe'' and ''Robinson Crusoe of the South Seas''.
The [[South Seas (genre)|South Seas]] comedy adventure featured location filming on [[Tahiti]]<ref>Vance, Jeffrey (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pg. 293. {{ISBN|978-0-520-25667-5}}.</ref> with [[working title]]s being ''Tropical Knight'', ''A Modern Robinson Crusoe'' and ''Robinson Crusoe of the South Seas''.


==Plot summary==
==Plot==
The film opens with a title card that reads "From the time Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, man has vainly sought to find solace, comfort and earthly pleasures in an artificial world of his own creation. Down through the ages has come that eternal heritage of the urge in every man to turn his back on so-called civilization, to get back to nature and revel in the glories and freedom of a primitive paradise."
"From the time Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, man has vainly sought to find solace, comfort and earthly pleasures in an artificial world of his own creation. Down through the ages has come that eternal heritage of the urge in every man to turn his back on so-called civilization, to get back to nature and revel in the glories and freedom of a primitive paradise."


The Fairbanks character Steve Drexel voluntarily strands himself on a deserted island on a bet. He intends to re-create civilization (in the form of New York) and carves a comfortable home, complete with a sign reading [[52nd Street]] and [[Park Avenue (Manhattan)|Park Avenue]] out of the jungle. Drexel is joined by his dog, and befriended by a native monkey, parrot, and a wild goat that is captured in one of his traps. He attempts to cultivate a "head-hunter" native as his [[Man Friday]] from [[Robinson Crusoe]], but fails as the native escapes.
Steve Drexel voluntarily strands himself on a deserted island on a bet. He intends to re-create civilization (in the form of New York) and carves a comfortable home, complete with a sign reading [[52nd Street (Manhattan)|52nd Street]] and [[Park Avenue (Manhattan)|Park Avenue]] out of the jungle. Drexel is joined by his dog, and befriended by a native monkey, parrot, and a wild goat that is captured in one of his traps. He attempts to cultivate a "head-hunter" native as his [[Man Friday]] from [[Robinson Crusoe]], but fails as the native escapes.


A woman played by actress [[Maria Alba]] runs away from a marriage she does not want on a neighboring island and is trapped in one of his devices. He names her ''Saturday'' and she becomes the love interest of the film. In an attempt to communicate with Saturday, he tries [[German language|German]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and then [[Pig Latin]]. Over the course of the film, she slowly learns rudimentary English.
A woman runs away from a marriage she does not want on a neighboring island and is trapped in one of his devices. He names her ''Saturday'' and she becomes his love interest. Over time, she slowly learns rudimentary English.


Eventually, the natives on a nearby island attack the Fairbank's settlement at the behest of the men that bet against the main character. The hero defeats the hostile natives just as his friends arrive and he wins the bet. Coincidental to their arrival, a separate war party of natives (billed as head-hunters) arrives and attacks. Steve Drexel distracts them as his friends save his animals and head for the yacht. After a harrowing chase, he ends up escaping with his friends, animals and the girl Saturday on the yacht that brought him there. He takes her back to New York where she performs to an appreciative crowd in the [[Ziegfeld Follies]].
Eventually, the natives on a nearby island attack the Fairbank's settlement at the behest of the men that bet against Drexel. The hero defeats the hostile natives just as his friends arrive and he wins the bet. Coincidental to their arrival, a separate war party of natives arrives and attacks. Drexel distracts them as his friends save his animals and head for the yacht. After a harrowing chase, he ends up escaping with his friends, animals and the girl Saturday on the yacht that brought him there. He takes her back to New York, where she performs to an appreciative crowd in the [[Ziegfeld Follies]].

===Self Reliance===
The lead character exemplifies the can-do spirit of early twentieth-century America. Drexel launches his subjugation of the jungle by creating construction tools including an axe made from a sharpened shell lashed to a wooden branch. He uses the axe to make a shovel, plow, bow, arrows, saw, table, and many more items.

Drexel speaks to a monkey in much the same way [[Tom Hanks]] speaks to the volleyball in the later film ''[[Cast Away]]''. He explains to the monkey he learned his survival skills from his time in the [[Boy Scouts of America]] and [[Dan Beard]]'s ''[[American Boy's Handy Book]]''. At the time, the book was a popular young adult wilderness and outdoor survival skills manual.

In recreating civilization, the main character even creates an 18-hole [[golf course]] on the island.


==Cast==
==Cast==
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==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
During the filming the sound equipment failed and the film had to be dubbed back in California.<ref name="VanceP295">Vance, Jeffrey (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pg. 295. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.</ref>
During the filming the sound equipment failed and the film had to be dubbed back in California.<ref name="VanceP295">Vance, Jeffrey (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pg. 295. {{ISBN|978-0-520-25667-5}}.</ref>


[[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]] who had previously scored Fairbanks' ''[[Reaching for the Moon (1930 film)|Reaching for the Moon]]'' composed the score. Newman reused one of his musical themes for the 1937 film ''[[The Hurricane (1937 film)|The Hurricane]]'' where it became a popular song called ''[[Manakoora|Moon of Manakoora]]''.<ref name="VanceP295"/> Newman's score for ''The Hurricane'' was nominated for an Academy Award.
[[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]] who had previously scored Fairbanks' ''[[Reaching for the Moon (1930 film)|Reaching for the Moon]]'' composed the score. Newman reused one of his musical themes for the 1937 film ''[[The Hurricane (1937 film)|The Hurricane]]'' where it became a popular song called ''[[Manakoora|Moon of Manakoora]]''.<ref name="VanceP295"/> Newman's score for ''The Hurricane'' was nominated for an Academy Award.
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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*Vance, Jeffrey. Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.
*Vance, Jeffrey. Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-520-25667-5}}.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
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* {{YouTube|vDFamWU67cU|''Mr. Robinson Crusoe''}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0023243|title=Mr. Robinson Crusoe}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0023243|title=Mr. Robinson Crusoe}}
* {{Internet Archive film|id=mr_robinson_crusoe|name=Mr. Robinson Crusoe}}
* {{Internet Archive film|id=mr_robinson_crusoe|name=Mr. Robinson Crusoe}}
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{{A. Edward Sutherland}}
{{A. Edward Sutherland}}
{{Robinson Crusoe}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mister Robinson Crusoe}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mr. Robinson Crusoe}}
[[Category:1932 films]]
[[Category:1932 films]]
[[Category:1930s comedy films]]
[[Category:1932 comedy films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1932 adventure films]]
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[[Category:1930s adventure films]]
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[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Fictional castaways]]
[[Category:Films directed by A. Edward Sutherland]]
[[Category:Films directed by A. Edward Sutherland]]
[[Category:Films made before the MPAA Production Code]]
[[Category:Films set in Oceania]]
[[Category:Films set in Oceania]]
[[Category:United Artists films]]
[[Category:United Artists films]]
[[Category:American adventure comedy films]]
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[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
[[Category:1930s American films]]
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[[Category:1930s adventure comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language adventure comedy films]]

Latest revision as of 05:00, 4 October 2024

Mr. Robinson Crusoe
Movie poster
Directed byA. Edward Sutherland
Written byDouglas Fairbanks (story)
Thomas J. Geraghty (adaptation)
Produced byDouglas Fairbanks
CinematographyMax Dupont
Edited byRobert Kern
Music byAlfred Newman
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • August 19, 1932 (1932-08-19)
Running time
76 minutes
70 minutes (American DVD)
66 minutes (Ontario, Canada)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Mr. Robinson Crusoe is a 1932 Pre-Code American film. It is one of the few "talkie" films starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., in his penultimate film role; Fairbanks also produced the film and provided the story during the Great Depression. The film was directed by A. Edward Sutherland, a veteran silent film director, for Fairbanks's Elton Productions, and released by United Artists. Steve Drexel (played by Fairbanks) shows a fiery optimism and can-do spirit that matches the Fairbanks screen persona that appears in his most popular films.

The South Seas comedy adventure featured location filming on Tahiti[1] with working titles being Tropical Knight, A Modern Robinson Crusoe and Robinson Crusoe of the South Seas.

Plot

[edit]

"From the time Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, man has vainly sought to find solace, comfort and earthly pleasures in an artificial world of his own creation. Down through the ages has come that eternal heritage of the urge in every man to turn his back on so-called civilization, to get back to nature and revel in the glories and freedom of a primitive paradise."

Steve Drexel voluntarily strands himself on a deserted island on a bet. He intends to re-create civilization (in the form of New York) and carves a comfortable home, complete with a sign reading 52nd Street and Park Avenue out of the jungle. Drexel is joined by his dog, and befriended by a native monkey, parrot, and a wild goat that is captured in one of his traps. He attempts to cultivate a "head-hunter" native as his Man Friday from Robinson Crusoe, but fails as the native escapes.

A woman runs away from a marriage she does not want on a neighboring island and is trapped in one of his devices. He names her Saturday and she becomes his love interest. Over time, she slowly learns rudimentary English.

Eventually, the natives on a nearby island attack the Fairbank's settlement at the behest of the men that bet against Drexel. The hero defeats the hostile natives just as his friends arrive and he wins the bet. Coincidental to their arrival, a separate war party of natives arrives and attacks. Drexel distracts them as his friends save his animals and head for the yacht. After a harrowing chase, he ends up escaping with his friends, animals and the girl Saturday on the yacht that brought him there. He takes her back to New York, where she performs to an appreciative crowd in the Ziegfeld Follies.

Cast

[edit]

Soundtrack

[edit]

During the filming the sound equipment failed and the film had to be dubbed back in California.[2]

Alfred Newman who had previously scored Fairbanks' Reaching for the Moon composed the score. Newman reused one of his musical themes for the 1937 film The Hurricane where it became a popular song called Moon of Manakoora.[2] Newman's score for The Hurricane was nominated for an Academy Award.

Legacy

[edit]

Fairbanks biographer Jeffrey Vance writes "Mr. Robinson Crusoe, his last personal production, was designed to meet his responsibilities in the least demanding way. The film was conceived as an inexpensive travelogue masquerading as a narrative film...Free from the hated dialogue that had so confined his type of film, Fairbanks should have been in his element. And yet, despite the primarily visual aspect of the film, his customary ebullience is not in evidence; his character is a hypomanic middle-aged man."[2]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Vance, Jeffrey. Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Vance, Jeffrey (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pg. 293. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.
  2. ^ a b c Vance, Jeffrey (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pg. 295. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.
[edit]
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