Mr. Robinson Crusoe: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|1932 film}} |
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{{Infobox film |
{{Infobox film |
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| name = Mr. Robinson Crusoe |
| name = Mr. Robinson Crusoe |
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| image = Mr-Robinson-Crusoe-1932.jpg |
| image = Mr-Robinson-Crusoe-1932.jpg |
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| image_size = |
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| caption = |
| caption = Movie poster |
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| director = [[A. Edward Sutherland]] |
| director = [[A. Edward Sutherland]] |
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| writer = [[Douglas Fairbanks]] (story)<br>[[Thomas J. Geraghty]] (adaptation) |
| writer = [[Douglas Fairbanks]] (story)<br>[[Thomas J. Geraghty]] (adaptation) |
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| cinematography = [[Max Dupont]] |
| cinematography = [[Max Dupont]] |
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| editing = [[Robert Kern]] |
| editing = [[Robert Kern]] |
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| distributor = [[United Artists]] |
| distributor = [[United Artists]] |
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| released = {{Film date|1932|08|19}} |
| released = {{Film date|1932|08|19}} |
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| 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) |
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| country = United States |
| country = United States |
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| language = English}} |
| language = English |
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}} |
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'''''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 |
'''''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. |
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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 |
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''. |
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==Plot |
==Plot== |
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"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." |
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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. |
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A woman |
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. |
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Eventually, the natives on a nearby island attack the Fairbank's settlement at the behest of the men that bet against |
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]]. |
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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==Soundtrack== |
==Soundtrack== |
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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 |
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> |
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[[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== |
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*Vance, Jeffrey. Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2008. ISBN |
*Vance, Jeffrey. Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-520-25667-5}}. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{IMDb title|id=0023243|title=Mr. Robinson Crusoe}} |
* {{IMDb title|id=0023243|title=Mr. Robinson Crusoe}} |
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* {{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}} |
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{{Robinson Crusoe}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mister Robinson Crusoe}} |
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[[Category:1932 films]] |
[[Category:1932 films]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1932 comedy films]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1932 adventure films]] |
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[[Category:American black-and-white films]] |
[[Category:American black-and-white films]] |
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[[Category:Fictional castaways]] |
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[[Category:Films directed by A. Edward Sutherland]] |
[[Category:Films directed by A. Edward Sutherland]] |
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[[Category:Films made before the MPAA Production Code]] |
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[[Category:Films set in Oceania]] |
[[Category:Films set in Oceania]] |
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[[Category:United Artists films]] |
[[Category:United Artists films]] |
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[[Category:American adventure comedy films]] |
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[[Category:1930s American films]] |
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[[Category:English-language adventure comedy films]] |
Latest revision as of 05:00, 4 October 2024
Mr. Robinson Crusoe | |
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Directed by | A. Edward Sutherland |
Written by | Douglas Fairbanks (story) Thomas J. Geraghty (adaptation) |
Produced by | Douglas Fairbanks |
Cinematography | Max Dupont |
Edited by | Robert Kern |
Music by | Alfred Newman |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 76 minutes 70 minutes (American DVD) 66 minutes (Ontario, Canada) |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
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]- Douglas Fairbanks as Steve Drexel
- William Farnum as William Belmont
- Earle Browne as Professor Carmichale
- Maria Alba as Saturday
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]- ^ Vance, Jeffrey (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pg. 293. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.
- ^ a b c Vance, Jeffrey (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pg. 295. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.
External links
[edit]- Mr. Robinson Crusoe on YouTube
- Mr. Robinson Crusoe at IMDb
- Mr. Robinson Crusoe is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
- Public domain download of Mr. Robinson Crusoe
- The text of American Boy's Handy Book at inquiry.net
- 1932 films
- 1932 comedy films
- 1932 adventure films
- American black-and-white films
- Films directed by A. Edward Sutherland
- Films set in Oceania
- United Artists films
- American adventure comedy films
- 1930s English-language films
- 1930s American films
- 1930s adventure comedy films
- English-language adventure comedy films