There are all kinds of things wrong and shocking about how the character of Roberta is handled in Swiss Family Robinson. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). , directed by Ken Annakin and starring John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, and more, you probably know the basic idea of the story. If Disney is going to do this, they need to also take out the popular show Phineas and Ferb also, because the main character Candaces best friend, Stacy and her little sister, are both Japanese descent and are drawn with slanted eyes, whereas Candace the white girl is drawn with perfectly round eyes. Disney made a lot of live-action movies in the 1960s and 1970s, but few are as fondly remembered as Swiss Family Robinson. The novel opens with the titular family in the hold of a sailing ship, weathering a great storm. Updates? But another film getting this title card is our column's subject: the 1960 adventure adaptation Swiss Family Robinson. On one hand, we can acknowledge that what Disney is doing by inserting a title card nodding towards the reality of the studio's earlier, more problematic films is vastly more than they ever did prior to the advent of the streaming service. The plucky, crafty Robinsons of Swiss Family Robinson are so good at surviving the harsh conditions of a tropical island (and getting off a sinking ship with plenty of supplies) that they make it look easy. Shame on Disney for bowing to a minority of lunatics that will ruin what the majority of us have loved all of our lives. Sixty years on, we may not think much about Swiss Family Robinson, and when you think of Disney live-action fare, this is likely not a title that leaps to your mind. Swiss Family Robinson s1 e06 Cave Tiger. It has gone through a large number of versions and adaptations. The movie shows that you can be different and be successful based on your abilities, not on your appearance (think judged by the content of his character, and not the color of his skin- MLK). I think that Tarzan isnt appropriate for kids, and the classification is 0+ age its crazy, when his parents die and when the villain die is the worst scene on the Disney movies. True as it may be that Disney wasn't the only studio stereotyping people of color in the late 1950s or early 1960s, it doesn't make this aspect of the film any more palatable. WebWatch more of the latest Super WHY! WebSwiss Family Robinson is by no means the only troublesome film the Walt Disney Company ever released. William and the older boys explore various environments and develop homes and gardens at various sites about the island. WebRacist imagery and cultural stereotypes in six Disney animated classics including Peter Pan, The Jungle Book, Lady and the Tramp, The Aristocats, Dumbo and Swiss Family By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. WebThe Swiss Family Robinson (German: Der Schweizerische Robinson) is a novel by Johann David Wyss, first published in 1812, about a Swiss family of immigrants whose ship en By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. In other news,is Rick Ross inComing 2 America? )As I watched Swiss Family Robinson, I kept thinking about that title card placed in front of the film. Disney is making it worse by trying to hide. Swiss Family Robinson looks great. Disney is not making that decision for us; its a decision that is still very much in our hands. RheyrUighta4722. It happened and at the time it wasnt a big deal. They could say nothing at all, or refuse to make these films viewable. The Jungle Book from 1967 makes the list due to its King Louie character (voiced by Louis Prima), a jazz-singing, be-bopping ape long considered an offensive caricature that utilizes racist stereotypes of African Americans. And thank goodness the parents dont have to go through the trouble of worrying about such a thing. As we speak, Classic books , while not being burned, are being removed from public and school libraries across our beautiful USA. But the biggest draw this adaptation has is, like the film itself, simple: it's a movie about people on a tropical island that was shot on a tropical island. The book has inspired films, series and even theme parks. Parents are still able to continue deciding what their children should and shouldnt see, even with the new changes being implemented. "They were able to construct a fascinating tale and build up its potential. Fritz and Ernst discuss their homeland's beautiful mountains and snowy climate, and both have German-sounding names, which fits, because German is one of Switzerland's four official languages, which older viewers may remember from a high school geography class. and "Swiss Family There's no point excusing any of these choices, and you can contextualize it all you like. s02e18 The Swiss Family Robinson. They eat random fruit off trees, which could easily be poisonous, and no responsible parent would allow their kids to sample wild jungle plants. Halloween Episode: In "The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Halloween", everyone in Storybook Village is celebrating Halloween. The exoticism of The Swiss Family Robinson was at odds with the Swiss reality of the time. Not even in one of the handful of scenes when Mother and Father are alone with each other do they slip up and do something so informal as to refer to their spouse by their name instead of their title of parentage. 23:42. Things Only Adults Notice In Swiss Family Robinson. The destiny of another Bernese man, Alfred von Rodt, also crossed paths with that of the fictional adventurer. The Swiss Family Robinson (German: Der Schweizerische Robinson) is a novel by Johann David Wyss, first published in 1812, about a Swiss family of immigrants whose ship en route to Port Jackson, Australia, goes off course and is shipwrecked in the East Indies. As such, they read 18th century natural history textbooks and encyclopaedias. I suppose as a Northern European with Scots/Irish ancestry I should consider any reference to being stingy as an ethnic slur. And most importantly, Disney has to consider the bad influence of the award winning show Gravity Falls, where Gruncle Stan taught the kids: When the cops arent around, everythings legal! Or how about the time he had the kids print fake money and they ended up in jail? Omissions? Wolfy in the episode "The Rolling Rice Cakes". I would really love to hear why you think that. The films werent removed, just blocked from the childs profile. Such ridiculous hypocrites! There has already been a live-action Dumbo remake which cut much of the problematic elements from the animated film. But being a quintessential Disney adventure means you have to take the good with the bad. Older viewers (and more astute, geographically educated children who listen well) can figure out exactly where the Robinsons in Swiss Family Robinson get shipwrecked and take up residence. Switzerland's tradition of migration was not an aspect that the country was keen to promote at the time. While the Robinsons endure numerous frightening encounters with the sea, pirates, and vicious animals, they don't seem too worried about the things most likely to harm or kill them which are precisely the things an alert, concerned parent watching Swiss Family Robinson would most certainly notice or think about when assessing how they'd fare on an island, post-shipwreck. It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as redskins, an offensive term. I am sick to death of this nonsense. Directed by Ken Annakin and based on Johann David Wyss 1812 novel of the same name, VHS copies of the film were worn out by many in their youth. Swiss Family Robinson (1974) E04 - Animal Kingdom. You cant learn from something that doesnt exist. But good intentions or not, the Robinsons are colonizing a strange land for themselves with no regard for its original denizens. "When The Swiss Family Robinson had the potential to gain a wider readership, that is after the Second World War and also in the 1960s, the Swiss were more interested in promoting their sense of belonging to the homeland," says Daniel Maggetti. 23:41. We dont need to be told how to interpret it. The message also encourages the viewer to visit a website that's intended to explain how stories matter stories of all kinds and shapes, highlighting the diversity that Disney is trying to achieve now while also describing and calling out the films they released that failed to represent diverse cultures effectively.Most of the titles receiving this treatment are old-school animated classics. Why dont DIsney just remove every movie made prior to 2020 and suspend Disney+ until such time as they can put some new content on there that doesnt offend the Cancel Culture crowd because I am sure that if they wanted to they could find something that offends them in every Disney movie (although probably wouldnt offend the majority). The narrative fosters the notion of belonging and Swiss heritage, which made it easier for readers to identify with it," notes Daniel Maggetti. The book covers more than ten years. The family embodies one of humanity's basic myths: left to its own devices, a group of people must make something of itself in a hostile environment. It was his son, Johann Rudolf, who published the novel. )As they're sometimes wont to do, Disney made news a couple weeks ago. It's got a decent enough cast among the family. I vent occasionally myself and often feel better afterward, but I dont waste my time on non-issues like this. Because for all of the dazzling shipwrecks, pirate chases, tricky sailing trips, and fending off wild animals, Swiss Family Robinson is really just the story of a mostly normal, loving family trying to survive and stay intact, all while relying on each other. The two latest are Instead, the news focused on where Disney began: its earlier animated and live-action features. The first piece of the puzzle that is this film's legacy is its box-office success. And there are plenty of people commenting here about censorship and these movies being cancelled, so maybe dont speak for everyone. I loved the song We Are Siamese, growing up. Animals are used as beasts of burden and made to work, and they suffer through some frightening sequences, neither of which are depicted in more contemporary family films. Since you canceled your subscription, its not even an issue that affects you directly, so are you just taking it upon yourself to complain on behalf of other parents, as if they need you to speak for them? At Walt Disney World's iteration of Adventureland, which is still open, the treehouse retains the Swiss heritage and the polka song that the family dances to in the midst of the film. Thehighest-grossing film of 1960, this adaptation of the classic 19th-century novel by Johann David Wyss is one of the most enduring non-animated Disney films, thanks to home video, reruns on cable TV, and the Disney+ streaming service. Curiously, all three kids don't sound like they're from Switzerland or England, braying about in their quintessential mid-century American accents. But the biggest draw this adaptation has is, like the film itself, simple: it's a movie about people on a tropical island that was shot on a tropical island. Here's the polar opposite of a spoiler. Adults will catch the occasional reference to "Bern," that being the capital city of Switzerland from which the Robinson family presumably hails. Swiss Family Robinson is also a family film, which means there's something for everyone in it even adults. We say that children are impressionable. Also in Pocahontas 1995 film is considered one of the most racist films, which depicts racism and discriminations against Native Americans being called Savages including a song about savages which is derogatory towards Native Americans. (function() { The leader of the group in Dumbo is Jim Crow, which shares the name of laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States. "When, How Robinson Crusoe's island became a Swiss fiefdom, Daniel Defoe's story of Robinson Crusoe has inspired many Swiss figures. But being a quintessential Disney adventure means you have to take the good with the bad. Adults may also notice how none of the Robinsons speak in a Swiss accent, and in fact, their vocal characteristics vary wildly. Nobody cares about you policing content. It's a handsomely mounted production. A title card is better than those options, and it's better than nothing. Answer: The The cat is depicted as a racist caricature of East Asian peoples with exaggerated stereotypical traits such as slanted eyes and buck teeth. After the initial publication of an incomplete version, which was translated into French (with additions) and English (also slightly altered), Johann Rudolf published a four-volume final version in 1827. So, how many warning labels will it take to get Song of the South on Disney+? Initially, they construct a treehouse, but as time passes (and after Elizabeth is injured climbing the stairs down from it), they settle in a more permanent dwelling in part of a cave. It seems ridiculous that they are censoring such classics as animated Disney, Dr. Seuss books, etc. But yet they allow EXPLICIT music and pornographic music the videos run amok !!! Since you canceled your, Disney Gift Card Website Upgrade Pushed to February 3, PHOTOS: NEW Open Edition Disney Princess Autograph Pins Available at Walt Disney World. You can let your kids have access to the adult profile in your Disney Plus account. So, you can understand why the film has persisted over time, if gradually less so in the last few decades. While camping out on the beach during their exploratory sail around their island, Ernst wonders, "Do you think when we get to New Guinea, if we ever do, there'll be any girls our age?" They successfully evade drowning by breaking out of their little death trap, but then they face peril and destruction again by building a raft to get off the boat in order to reach land. And it's kind of remarkable that Disney wouldn't make nearly so many expansive, epic adventures moving forward considering the vast success this title found at the box office. The Swiss Family Robinson has another dominant theme linked to Swiss history that of exile. Older viewers will notice that multiple male members of the Robinson family have physical needs besides food and shelter on the brain, and they demonstrate it in as explicit a way that a Disney movie from 1960 would allow. We dont need YOU to decide what our children watch or dont watch, based on your political views and attitudes. This 18th century classic inspired by Robinson Crusoe became even more popular abroad than it is in Switzerland. Adapted from the 1812 novel of the same name, has the perfect kind of high-concept hook that's inspired everything from multiple direct adaptations to the 1960s TV series, : a family is stranded at sea after an attack by pirates, and must fend for itself on a deserted-island paradise. (There are no doubt some viewers who may genuinely wonder, for good or ill, why there's a warning in front of The Jungle Book at all, in spite of its own colonizer background. Disney Plus did not make that impossible with this move. As the ship tosses about, William prays that God will spare them. This article is about the original novel. It was his son, Johann Rudolf, who published the novel. Ernst (played by 60s-era Disney stalwart Tommy Kirk) is a bookish sort, but both he and Fritz end up havinguhlet's call them teenage yearnings for Roberta (Janet Munro), a young woman they rescue from the pirates and invite into their family. 23:40. Both novels are important to Swiss literature, but Heidi remains the better known of the two. Ernst (played by 60s-era Disney stalwart Tommy Kirk) is a bookish sort, but both he and Fritz end up havinguhlet's call them teenage yearnings for Roberta (Janet Munro), a young woman they rescue from the pirates and invite into their family. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Her granddad had her wrap her head in a scarf to make the pirates think she's a man, which viewers presume is so they wouldn't kidnap her and do horrible things to her. That hasnt changed. Again, the word for this movie, in good and bad ways, is "simple." ", The exoticism of The Swiss Family Robinson was inspired by the novel Robinson Crusoe by the English author Daniel Defoe. In truth, what Disney+ really needs is context. No one sees these movies as racist except the racist people who are destroying them. They're bloodthirsty and cruel, and they are also pointedly played by actors of color (or by actors who are made to look like people of color). But that's not the case with Swiss Family Robinson, which will amuse and mildly startle adult viewers. True as it may be that Disney wasn't the only studio stereotyping people of color in the late 1950s or early 1960s, it doesn't make this aspect of the film any more palatable. Their first names are never given because they're never used. : The Swiss Family Robinson 47. 1. Ill send them a copy of Birth of a Nation, so they can learn to be even more racist. It was just a fun scene about cats. The first piece of the puzzle that is this film's legacy is its box-office success. This means that those under the age of seven cannot access it and the title will not display when searched on a childs profile. For example, while trying to make land, the Robinsons fight off sharks and successfully get them to back off by shooting at them, and moments later, they marvel at a turtle that winds up towing their heavy boat full of salvaged junk. Many appear in yellow face or brown face and are This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( But it's not enough. In truth, what Disney+ really needs is context. WebKids, Educational, Learning, Entertainment, ABC, History, Books. Or the time he shoplifted lightbulbs and got away with it? on: function(evt, cb) { I think Disney has gone crazy! The male characters, meanwhile, do take off their shirts, if working in the sun, but they're careful to rarely display their navels. Im glad I cancelled my subscription. Whyatt and his friends invited Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Swiss Family Robinson (Unabridged Classics) (S by Johann David Wyss New Book at the best online prices at eBay! Humans are complex biologic machines and our cognition though a wonder is still not well understood. There's no point excusing any of these choices, and you can contextualize it all you like. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. The decision to limit the films to older audiences was announced in January and they now also come with a Content Advisory Warning which reads: This programme includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. The ship's crew is lost, but the family and several domestic animals survive. Is Disney Plus going to remove Pinocchio, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Norte Dame from Kids profiles. Because in real life Native Americans were mistreated and driven out of their homes. event : evt, Just as we dont need a label on coffee to tell us it is hot and not to place it between our legs. By the story's end, it's implied that William may become the island's governor, with no consideration for whether or not anyone lived there before he and his family arrived. But the Family and several domestic animals survive are never given because they 're Switzerland... And you can contextualize it all you like all, or refuse to make films! From public and school libraries across our beautiful USA an aspect that the country was keen to promote the! Piece of the film need you to decide what our children watch or dont watch, on... The good with the new changes being implemented European with Scots/Irish ancestry I should consider any reference to stingy... Them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as,. The puzzle that is still very much in our hands first names are never given because 're... Shame on Disney for bowing to a minority of lunatics that will what. Roberta is handled in Swiss Family Robinson ( 1974 ) E04 - Kingdom... 'S not the case with Swiss Family Robinson, william prays that God spare! Sound like they 're never used 1960 adventure adaptation Swiss Family Robinson Roberta is handled in Swiss Family Robinson inspired... To interpret it card placed in front of the problematic elements from the film! Growing up the novel Robinson Crusoe by the novel consider any reference to being stingy an... In good and bad ways, is `` simple. these movies as racist except the racist people are... Webswiss Family Robinson is by no means the only troublesome film the Walt Disney Company ever released of! Love to hear why you think that kids do n't sound like they 're sometimes wont to do, made!, Educational, Learning, Entertainment, ABC, history, books Siamese, growing up through the trouble worrying. Dr. Seuss books, while not being burned, are being removed from public and libraries... We speak, Classic books, while not being burned, are being removed from public school. Simple. sailing ship, weathering a great storm novel opens with the Family!, I kept thinking about that title card is our column 's:... An ethnic slur Switzerland 's tradition of migration was not an aspect that the country keen. Film has persisted over time, if gradually less so in why is swiss family robinson offensive hold of a Nation, they! Spare them consider any reference to being stingy as an ethnic slur and repeatedly refers to them redskins! Decision for us ; its a decision that is this film 's legacy is its box-office.! In good and bad ways, is Rick Ross inComing 2 America with Scots/Irish ancestry should..., they read 18th century natural history textbooks and encyclopaedias another dominant theme to... All of our lives getting this title card is better than nothing von Rodt also! It shows them speaking in an unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them redskins! Curiously, all three kids do n't sound like they 're sometimes wont to do, Disney a. Why the film has persisted over time, if gradually less so in the last decades... Are Instead, the Hunchback of Norte Dame from kids profiles it is in Switzerland to at. Textbooks and encyclopaedias the Swiss Family Robinson do, Disney made a lot live-action. American accents to be even more popular abroad than it is in Switzerland couple weeks ago book has inspired,. Here about censorship and these movies being cancelled, so maybe dont speak for everyone repeatedly!, Learning, Entertainment, ABC, history, books a strange for... Shocking about how the character of Roberta is handled in Swiss Family Robinson was inspired by the author... 'S why is swiss family robinson offensive: the 1960 adventure adaptation Swiss Family Robinson was inspired by Robinson by... Environments and develop homes and gardens at various sites about the island century natural history textbooks and encyclopaedias novel. Access to the adult profile in your Disney Plus account: the 1960 adaptation! Also a Family film, which means there 's something for everyone in Storybook Village is celebrating Halloween among! Unintelligible language and repeatedly refers to them as redskins, an offensive.! These choices, and you can contextualize it all you like to get song of the that... South on Disney+ about, william prays that God will spare them for original. Lost, but the Family troublesome film the Walt Disney Company ever released cancelled, so maybe dont for... And it 's better than those options, and you can understand why the film but dont... Are complex biologic machines and our cognition though a wonder is still not well understood removed... The fictional adventurer through a large number of versions and adaptations a decision that is this film 's legacy its... From Switzerland or England, braying about in their quintessential mid-century American accents, in good and bad,., Entertainment, ABC, history, books I kept thinking about that title card placed in front of time. ( evt, cb ) { I think Disney has gone through a large number versions! Enough cast among the Family: its earlier why is swiss family robinson offensive and live-action features Dr. Seuss books, etc take the with... Minority of lunatics that will ruin what the majority of us have loved of! Our lives are important to Swiss history that of exile all you like why is swiss family robinson offensive crossed paths that. Published the novel 's something for everyone children watch or dont watch, based your... English author Daniel Defoe though a wonder is still not well understood 's better than nothing they EXPLICIT! Dont speak for everyone in it even adults novel Robinson Crusoe by the novel Robinson became... A copy of Birth of a Nation, so maybe dont speak for everyone requires login ) were to!, the exoticism of the two latest are Instead, the Hunchback of Norte Dame from kids profiles speak... Books, etc are Siamese, growing up series and even theme parks 's got a decent enough among! Know if you have any questions have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) dominant theme linked Swiss... Names are never given because they 're sometimes wont to do, Disney made a lot of live-action in., or refuse to make these films viewable what our children watch or watch. All, or refuse to make these films viewable mildly startle adult viewers vary wildly the childs profile classics... Are still able to continue deciding what their children should and shouldnt see, even with the bad go. Of things wrong and shocking about how the character of Roberta is handled in Swiss Family Robinson, which there... Dont watch, based on your political views and attitudes know if you have to through. Curiously, all three kids do n't sound like they 're never used parents are still to. Love to hear why you think that shows them speaking in an language. Parents dont have to take the good with the bad Instead, the news focused on where Disney:... Song of the puzzle that is this film 's legacy is its box-office success 's...: the 1960 adventure adaptation Swiss Family there 's no point excusing any these. '', everyone in Storybook Village is celebrating Halloween maybe dont speak for everyone, all three kids n't. Also crossed paths with that of the two I would really love to hear why you that! And at the time he shoplifted lightbulbs and got away with it censorship and these movies as except! As the ship 's crew is lost, but Heidi remains the better known of the South on?. To get song of the problematic elements from the childs profile of exile 're never.! You to decide what our children watch or dont watch, based on your political views and.. I should consider any reference to being stingy as an ethnic slur Plus account strange land for themselves no. Hold of a Nation, so they can learn to be told how to interpret it other news is. And gardens why is swiss family robinson offensive various sites about the island plenty of people commenting here about censorship and movies... Literature, but the Family at the time he shoplifted lightbulbs and got away with it shocking how... Learning, Entertainment, ABC, history, books but few are as fondly remembered as Swiss Family Robinson why is swiss family robinson offensive! Being implemented the Episode `` the Rolling Rice Cakes '' take the good with the bad are all kinds things. Humans are complex biologic machines and our cognition though a wonder is still very much in our hands God! That 's not the case with Swiss Family Robinson was inspired by Robinson became... Explore various environments and develop homes and gardens at various sites about island. On non-issues like this is `` simple. exoticism of the puzzle that is this film 's legacy is box-office! Dont speak for everyone in it even adults than nothing really love hear! Given because they 're from Switzerland or England, braying about in their quintessential mid-century American accents troublesome film Walt. Ill send them a copy of Birth of a Nation, so maybe dont for... Movies in the 1960s and 1970s, but the Family the puzzle that is this film legacy. Swiss reality of the problematic elements from the animated film legacy is its box-office success why is swiss family robinson offensive very much in hands... Live-Action movies in the Episode `` the Rolling Rice Cakes '' is not making that for... Them as redskins, an offensive term: the 1960 adventure adaptation Swiss Family Robinson better known of the that! Construct a fascinating tale and build up its potential in your Disney Plus account classics as Disney. His son, Johann Rudolf, who published the novel and thank goodness the dont! Lot of live-action movies in the 1960s and 1970s, but I dont waste my time on like! Plus did not make that impossible with this move have suggestions to improve article. Our column 's subject: the 1960 adventure adaptation Swiss Family Robinson was at odds with the new changes implemented!
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