Strange one this,not quite sure how a tiger would end up on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. But that is only a minor part of the story,the tiger chases the marooned Crusoe for a while until he traps it and sort of tames it,well,he has it on a long rope or tied up most of the time!
Most of the film deals with the standard Crusoe legend,stranded he makes the best of a bad lot,builds a home,finds food and fends for himself,all the while battling the loneliness. Very nicely filmed,even on video tape,it looks sharp and colourful but it's hard to make a film around just the one character with narration taking the place of conversation. It's well towards the end of the story before the cannibals turn up in their boats to feast on their victims on the island. At first,Crusoe hides but finally has to make a stand to save a young boy from been the next main course on the menu. Here's where it hits into current sensibilities,it's a bit unsettling to see the young boy run about naked with a grown adult,although,Crusoe makes him some pants to wear later and been taught to talk by Crusoe with his 'you,Friday,' 'me,master,' dialogue. It looks slightly disturbing but then that is how it would have been in that era,of course.
Just as the two begin to bond, the film abruptly ends! I was expecting a final battle with the returning cannibals but it never happens. We are told by voice-over that the two are rescued but eventually return to their island home.
Not a bad movie, nothing new and the black and white series,'The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe,' from 1964 which was a staple part of BBC children's programming in the late sixties is still the best, especially with it's haunting and evocative theme tune.
