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Robinson Crusoe

  • 1997
  • PG-13
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Pierce Brosnan in Robinson Crusoe (1997)
Trailer
Play trailer1:02
1 Video
65 Photos
Sea AdventureSurvivalAdventureDrama

1703: Robinson Crusoe has to leave Scotland for a year, but after months sailing, a storm wrecks his ship. He ends up as only survivor on a desolate island.1703: Robinson Crusoe has to leave Scotland for a year, but after months sailing, a storm wrecks his ship. He ends up as only survivor on a desolate island.1703: Robinson Crusoe has to leave Scotland for a year, but after months sailing, a storm wrecks his ship. He ends up as only survivor on a desolate island.

  • Directors
    • Rod Hardy
    • George Miller
  • Writers
    • Daniel Defoe
    • Christopher Lofton
    • Tracy Keenan Wynn
  • Stars
    • Pierce Brosnan
    • William Takaku
    • Polly Walker
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Rod Hardy
      • George Miller
    • Writers
      • Daniel Defoe
      • Christopher Lofton
      • Tracy Keenan Wynn
    • Stars
      • Pierce Brosnan
      • William Takaku
      • Polly Walker
    • 56User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Robinson Crusoe
    Trailer 1:02
    Robinson Crusoe

    Photos65

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    Top cast13

    Edit
    Pierce Brosnan
    Pierce Brosnan
    • Robinson Crusoe
    William Takaku
    • Man Friday
    Polly Walker
    Polly Walker
    • Mary McGregor
    Ian Hart
    Ian Hart
    • Daniel Defoe
    James Frain
    James Frain
    • Robert…
    Damian Lewis
    Damian Lewis
    • Patrick Connor
    Ben Robertson
    • James…
    Martin Grace
    Martin Grace
    • Captain Braga
    Sean Brosnan
    Sean Brosnan
    • Cabin Boy
    Lysette Anthony
    Lysette Anthony
    • Mrs. Crusoe
    Tim McMullan
    Tim McMullan
    • Crusoe's Second
    • (as Tim McMulian)
    Mal Tobias
    • Patrick Connor's Second
    Jim Clark
    Jim Clark
    • Slave Ship Captain
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Rod Hardy
      • George Miller
    • Writers
      • Daniel Defoe
      • Christopher Lofton
      • Tracy Keenan Wynn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews56

    6.014K
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    Featured reviews

    5ma-cortes

    Average rendition freely based on the known novel by Daniel Defoe , well starred by Pierce Brosnan

    A mediocre adaptation stars Pierce Brosnan: Robinson Crusoe , telling the well-known story of how a Brit becomes stranded on a desert island . As Robinson escaping from England aboard a ship , after killing a man .Then , a wreckage happens and Robinson washes at a mysterious island .There he frees a native , William Takaku , who is nicknamed Friday .

    So-so recounting about the classy castaway novel with the loner Robinson who meets his pal Friday , retelling their adventures and unfortunes . While sticking some incidents close to original tale , others are utterly fictious. Being narrated under his point of view . The picture has nothing to do with the classic original by Daniel Defoe , taking freely parts here and there ; but where are the thrills and chills? . The movie relies heavily on the relationship between Robinson and Friday , charting the peculiar treatment the native receives of the civilized man ; as Robinson teaches English language to the escaped native until evil slave traders spoil the fun . Pierce Brosnan gives a passable acting as the distressed castaway stranded on a deserted island and he tries to civilize the proud native Friday . It boasts a good secondary cast with very brief interventions from notorious secondary actors such as Polly Walker , Ian Hart , Damian Lewis and James Frain. The motion picture produced by Robert Halmi and was regularly directed by George Miller : The man from snowy river , Zeus and Roxanna , Aviator , Neverending story 2 , and by Rod Hardy , a Tv usual filmmaker : Mentalist , Librarians , Supernatural , Covert affairs , Mental , Doll house , X files and occassionally for cinema : December boys , Two for Texas , Over the hill, Thrist.

    Other retelling of this prestigious novel are the following ones : silent version 1927 narrated by Don Carney . Mr Robinson Crusoe 1932 with Douglas Fairbanks . Robinson Crusoe of mystery island 1936 by Max Wright . Robinson Crusoe by Luis Buñuel with Dan O'Herlihy .Sci-fi interpretation of Defoe classic titled Robinson Crusoe on Mars , 1964 , by Byron Haskin with Adam West . British rendition titled Man Friday 1975 by Jack Gold with Peter 0'Toole , Richard Roundtree .Robinson Crusoe and the Tiger 1972 by Rene Cardona with Hugo Stiglitz . Castaway by Nicolas Roeg with Oliver Reed . Robinson Crusoe TV series 2008 with Philip Winchester , Sam Neill
    3br2brown

    Unimpressive

    At the risk of repeating what others have already written, this movie is not the same "Robinson Crusoe" that Daniel Dafoe wrote. While some might question whether this matters, I think it is fair, at the very least, to complain that it falsely presents itself as being something it isn't. I rented this movie to see an adaptation of Dafoe's novel, which this isn't. Lest I leave the impression that the film's "artistic license" is my only complaint, though, I should mention that this isn't a very good movie by any measure. I guess they tried to punch up the book by adding romance, conflict, and action scenes that could best be described as a curious mix of the A Team and MacGyver. Suffice to say, there are better ways for viewers to spend their time and money. 3 out of 10.
    4jcriss

    I liked the book. I was disappointed with the movie.

    I read the book many years ago and liked it. I was looking forward to seeing the movie version. I was very disappointed that the movie was so much different than the book. I guess the movie makers decided there wasn't enough action in the book so they added things (like defending the island against the natives and the fight at the end) that were not written by Defoe. I would have liked it better if they had just stuck closer to the original and concentrated on the details of how he survived on the island.
    7bkoganbing

    Until civilization intrudes

    Although this is far from a faithful adaption of Daniel Defoe's classic novel from the 18th century, this version of Robinson Crusoe holds up fairly well and captures what that polemic writer was trying to say about cultures and how they clash. A number of assumptions about what his character Crusoe had about the superiority of his civilization are shattered.

    Two men from totally different worlds manage to communicate and establish a friendship. To be sure it is one of necessity as Crusoe is cut off from his world and Friday, the cannibal he befriends is exiled from his tribe. Still they do get along until civilization intrudes.

    Pierce Brosnan is in the title role and aborigine actor William Takaku plays Friday. Defoe himself is written into the film as he is given a purported journal written by Crusoe and as he reads it Brosnan narrates the story. Defoe is played by Ian Hart and Defoe as political polemicist as well as novelist had some advanced views considering the time he lived in.

    Brosnan and Takaku do very well in their roles. It's a good story with moral if not plot intact.
    grover-6

    What a butchery of a classic tale!

    When will Hollywood learn to be faithful to timeless classics. The producers of this hap-hazard adaptation of the timeless classic had the audacity to include references to Daniel Defoe in both the title and the film itself - why then did they not stay true to his classic story?

    From the very first to the very last, this films strays so far from the novel that i am surprised they can even retain the title.

    Stick to the book, or any of the other adaptations of the tale - but stay well clear of this version.

    I believe that the only way to enjoy this version is to watch it without ever reading the novel - but even then that's quite a stretch.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filmed in 1994, copyrighted in 1996 and released overseas in 1997. Never released theatrically in the U.S., nor in the UK.
    • Goofs
      Friday refers to Crusoe by name before Crusoe tells it to him.
    • Quotes

      [mourning the loss of Crusoe's dog, Skipper]

      Man Friday: Skipper go to Crusoe's God?

      Robinson Crusoe: No. Dogs don't have mortal souls. Only men have mortal souls.

      Man Friday: Too bad. Good dog.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Diagnosis Murder: Alienated (1998)

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Robinson Crusoe?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 12, 1997 (Singapore)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe
    • Filming locations
      • Papua New Guinea
    • Production companies
      • Miramax
      • RHI Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $183,886
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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