Swiss Family Robinson

I barely remember this show. It wasn't on very long and was the last of the type of TV shows that Irwin Allen produced at 20th Century-Fox Television, starting with "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea." I don't know why Allen did this show, but it seems from the result that his heart wasn't it it anymore. Maybe it was because concept shows like this had just become to expensive to make. One thing I do remember well was that although the music was credited to Richard La Salle, much of it was lifted from Jerry Goldsmith's score to the original "Planet of the Apes" movie. Allen's "Lost in Space" TV show did the same thing with its music, much of it actually coming from Bernard Herrmann's scores to "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth." Since all these shows and movies were produced at Fox I guess they could do these things in those days.

"Swiss Family Robinson" was a strange turn for Irwin Allen since he was known for his futuristic action-adventure series of the '60s. Allen's "Swiss Family Robinson" had a setting of not the future or present, but in the traditional setting of the book by Johnathan Wyss -- an unknown island in the early 19th Century.

The reason that Irwin Allen's name is in front of the titles is because the "Swiss Family Robinson" had been done before (the famous Disney film being the obvious one). And I believe there had been either an Austrialian, or Canadian-made "Swiss Family Robinson" series -- ironically, one of these series was even in production at the time Allen was making his series! So, by throwing his name up before the titles let audiences know this was not any run-of-the-mill production, but the "Irwin Allen version".

Additionally, this was the first time Allen did not 'create' the concept of a TV series. Despite his seasoned technical crew, the series was a disappointment, since it was made on the heels of his spectacular "Poseidon Adventure" and "Towering Inferno" movies. The SFR was lackluster and most of the story lines were predictable and lacked suspense. The effect of the volcano erupting was clearly a miniature (and not a very convincing one at that).

The series' only saving grace was a two-part episode that served as a potential spin-off series called "Jean Lafitte". Starring young, newcomer Frank Langella in the title role, the two-part show was an exciting and fun romp with Lafitte involved in the war of 1812. (Actually, this proposed spin off might have made a much more interesting and action-filled series than it's parent program).

Out of the series cast, the one who made the show enjoyable was Cameraon Mitchell, as Jeremiah Worth. This character was not in the book and was clearly created by Allen as a Smith/Fitzhugh type of curmudgeonly, sea-dog of a character. Mitchell was superb in his role as the weaselly Jeremiah -- a wayward sailor who was always looking to increase his wealth and save his own hide first (like Smith), but when push came to shove was there to assist the Robinson's when they were in a jam (ala Fitzhugh).

Allen's LAST series, "Code Red" (1981), although set in present day Los Angeles, was at least exciting and had decent writers that kept the audience interested in the characters and the action going on around them. Sadly, I could never get excited about "Swiss Family Robinson". For whatever reason, either because of casting or the pedestrian story lines it never really appealed to me.

After the failure of "Swiss Family Robinson," Irwin Allen packed up and moved to Warner Bros. studios where his first project, "Flood" utilized three cast members from SFR: Martin Milner, Cameron Mitchell and Eric Olsen.

Great cast and beautiful location, but filled with annoying glitches that make it difficult to really get into it. There are way too many extreme close-up shots...poor direction. Could use a Technical Director to ensure situations are believable...a pirate ship cruising along pulling a dinghy, with only a foresail up (and it's luffing) would be dead in the water. A flintlock pistol with an open frizzen is of no use and will not fire. Things like this needed more attention.

A family is ship wrecked on an island.

Each episode began with, "IRWIN ALLEN'S PRODUCTION OF ... THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON". How many producers get the name before the title? And those titles and the series music cues were done by wonderful Richard LaSalle. LaSalle had worked on Irwin TV in the 1960s and it was these 1960s connections that made this series great....sometimes.

The series was great when some interesting pirates or Alfred Ryder dropped in on the island (this happened in about half the 20 episodes) but often just okay when it was just the family. There are exceptions to the rule such as the family focused episodes The Typhoon and The Treasure. The Treasure is classic Irwin Allen complete with an exploding volcano (again) and constantly shaking island.

William Welch returns from the bottom of the sea via the time tunnel to become series the story editor.

I think Irwin was playing a joke on viewers in the last episode The Devils. All 1960s Irwin TV shows began in a mildly realistic way and then went over the top with crazy story lines. Irwin seemed to be suggesting this with Swiss Family Robinson as well. In The Devils, something is seen moving through the dark, it appears to be a huge bat. Karl (the father) finds the garden destroyed and the livestock missing? Later, strange lights are seen in the sky. The Devil MAY have arrived on the island?

The series was enjoyed in my 1970s childhood so perhaps today I am looking at it through nostalgic eyes? I say this because many Irwin Allen fans of today just don't like The Swiss Family Robinson. I would say you need to have a love of Richard LaSalle music cues to really enjoy the series. His music in this series is so loud and ever present, the show would never have been the same without it.

It is early 19th century. The Swiss Family Robinson are sailing to the west Pacific for a new start. They get shipwrecked on a remote tropical island. It is Karl Robinson (Martin Milner), his wife Lotte (Pat Delaney), son Fred (Willie Aames), younger son Ernie, captain's daughter Helga Wagner (Helen Hunt), and whaler Jeremiah Worth (Cameron Mitchell) who was stranded seven years earlier.

There were a few Swiss Family Robinson during this time. Hollywood sometimes copy other kids' homework. I like the outdoor set. They seem to have built a lot of stuff. I question how this family build all this with limited resources, but that's fine. There is a bit of Gilligan's Island in this. There is also a 12 year old young Helen Hunt walking around here. She doesn't do much more than being the girl on the show except for a couple of episodes. There are some interesting guest stars. The show is episodic. I really like The Tiki when the family shows their colonial thinking. This show is fine.