During the 17th century, shipwrecked English seaman Robinson Crusoe, after years of solitude, spots natives on his deserted Pacific island and befriends one who he names Friday.During the 17th century, shipwrecked English seaman Robinson Crusoe, after years of solitude, spots natives on his deserted Pacific island and befriends one who he names Friday.During the 17th century, shipwrecked English seaman Robinson Crusoe, after years of solitude, spots natives on his deserted Pacific island and befriends one who he names Friday.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe music for the logo for DreamWorks SKG studios is "adapted" from Carl Davis's score for the film.
- GoofsObvious tracks in the sand from the camera dolly in the opening scenes.
- Quotes
Robinson Crusoe: When we first met you were nothing but a savage, but I have educated you.
Friday: When I first met you, you were a killer possessed by demons and I taught you how to sing and dance. Not very well, but I taught you that much at least. And your head was full of nothing but your own power, your own guilt, and the fear of a cruel god. But perhaps I was a very bad teacher, because your head is still full of thoughts of power and guilt and fear.
- ConnectionsVersion of Robinson Crusoe (1902)
What strikes me is the movie's relevance after all these years. It's amazing how little has changed from those days, when racism and slavery were widely accepted as "normality". I mean, the laws have changed of course, manners have improved - we live in the era of "political correctness" and all - but in terms of how we FEEL about the Other, nothing has changed, unfortunately. Robinson Crusoe is in fact the typical Englishman. This deep rooted idea of superiority still exists today, even if it doesn't manifest itself in the same ways."Man Friday" makes a powerful statement about human nature, about man's failure to communicate, to understand and respect others.
Various themes are explored, like religion, sexuality, freedom, xenophobia, capitalism, multiculturalism, moral relativism and so on. The movie succeeds in making some good points, sometimes with a great sense of humor, and sometimes with a tragic feel. Crusoe's relationship with Friday, its development and psychological implications are very interesting.
Peter O'Toole is splendid as the nasty and arrogant Englishman, while being sympathetic to some extent due to his human frailty. Not even those funny-looking furry boots and outfits can diminish his aristocratic elegance, and it's a pleasure to listen to his beautifully spoken phrase. O'Toole's Crusoe has the tragic aura of a Shakespearean hero, and this superb performance is the movie's highlight. Roundtree also does a very good job.
The absence of a remastered DVD transfer must be the only reason why "Man Friday" remains basically unknown, and that's a shame.
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 55 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1