This is true, the animals are exploited mainly for comedy value, they did do that more back in those days; however I have to say, this movie is much LESS cruel than the original book by Johann Wyss!! I recently bought the book for my 8 year old son, as I had loved the story I had read as a child. However I think I must have had an abridged version as a child, because this book shocked me! I'm not squeamish or easily shocked, but these characters seem to be hell-bent on shooting or stabbing every single living creature they encounter on the island! I think the idea is, if we can't domesticate it, we can eat it.
Imagine, reading this to an 8 year old...
"We stole quietly to the ledge where the animal lay, but instead of a crocdile, it turned out to be a sort of lizard called an iguana.
"I'm going to shoot him", whispered Fritz.
"No, son. It would be hard to pierce that scaly coat. If you make him angry, he could be dangerous. I have a better idea."
I cut a stick from a bush and tied a long string to it. Then I knotted the loose end and cautiously tiptoed toward the iguana, who was snoozing peacefully in the sun. When I was very near to him, I began whistling a lively tune, an air from my native Switzerland.
The creature smiled in his sleep. Suddenly he opened one eye and raised his head to hear the music. As he looked all around, I tickled him gently with my stick.
To my joy the iguana flipped over, stretched himself flat on his back, and undulated with his tail, as if he was overwhelmed by the music. He raised his head again, and I threw the noose over him.
"Draw it tight!" cried Ernest.
"Strangle him!" yelled Jack.
"No!" I said firmly. "Why make him suffer any more than he has to?" And quick as a flash I plunged my knife into him. Soon he was dead."
Quite repulsive isn't it? There are many more examples, the family just go around killing everything. It's probably pretty indicative of the attitudes back then, but for it to be hailed as a classic children's story is a bit much I think. I certainly prefer my son to watch the Disney adaptation. It isn't politically correct at all, and is also fairly cheesy in places, but I think as a movie, it tells a nicer story.
I do wonder how they get those scenes with the animals. I can't imagine it being possible without the animals being very distressed. It was the same with circuses back then too I think. Animals were used merely for humans' enetertainment, to hell with their feelings.
As for the comment the boys made about not caring how old the girls where, I didn't pick up on that, and I've watched this movie over and over. I just thought it was an example of how desperately they wanted to see some girls, and their joke about it. I took it to mean they would settle for an old lady perhaps. I guess nowadays things like child abuse are brought much more to the fore, and it springs to mind when you hear comments like that, but I never took it that way before.
Only WISE people can see the Emperor's new clothes
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Lobo305
19 years ago
I think the boy's reference was meant to be just the opposite - in other words they wouldn't care if they were OLD women.
Keep in mind this film didn't just need to get past Hollywood censors - but also it had to pass the more stringent Disney black suits.
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apshag34
19 years ago
Dont forget that this movie was made well before the time that the Humane Society was allowed on set to make sure that the animals were not harmed during the filming.
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richard.fuller1
17 years ago
sleepeejane: "This is true, the animals are exploited mainly for comedy value, they did do that more back in those days; however I have to say, this movie is much LESS cruel than the original book by Johann Wyss!! I recently bought the book for my 8 year old son, as I had loved the story I had read as a child. However I think I must have had an abridged version as a child, because this book shocked me! I'm not squeamish or easily shocked, but these characters seem to be hell-bent on shooting or stabbing every single living creature they encounter on the island! I think the idea is, if we can't domesticate it, we can eat it.
Imagine, reading this to an 8 year old..."
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I'm fairly certain Swiss Family Robinson (I almost typed Lost IN Space) was ot written for children, or with children in mind.
So many of the old things are believed to be tame and more suitable for children, even 20 years ago, that that period and lifestyle was naive or something.
Bugs Bunny cartoons were made for adults as well.
The Flintstones was a primetime cartoon.
The funny thing is seeing things like Fritz the Cat completely vanish, because younger generations don't care to watch such an old cartoon and feel that it is simply being exploitive in its sexuality.
Expect the same thing to happen with The Simpsons. Already Beavis and Butthead, also intended for a mature audience, but kids were watching it, has disappeared.
if it turns up 20 years or so from now, it will be as an oddity and nostalgic.
Disney could have made a musical movie about Jack the Ripper and either it would be sneered at for being too tame or there would be shock at how explicit the movie was during one of the prostitute's murders.
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Mitchell-L-Stein
16 years ago
Does everyone neglect the scene during which Fritz rescues the Zebra from quicksand and a certain death at the hand of several hienas (spelling?) and a cheeta?
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