Swiss Family Robinson (1974 TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Swiss Family Robinson


caption =
format = Family Drama
camera =
picture_format =
audio_format =
runtime = 30 minutes (per episode)
creator = Johann David Wyss (novel)
developer =
executive_producer = Gerald Mayer
starring = Chris Wiggins
Diana Leblanc
narrated =
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = CAN
language = English
network = CTV
first_run =
first_aired = September 1974 (Canada)cite news | publisher="The Globe and Mail" | title=76 new shows in the largely trendless TV season | first=Blaik | last=Kirby | date=7 September 1974 | page=29 ]
last_aired = 1975
num_episodes = 26
list_episodes =
website =
imdb_id = 0068137
tv_com_id =

"Swiss Family Robinson" was a 1974-1975 Canadian television drama series, based on Johann David Wyss' novel "The Swiss Family Robinson".

The series consisted of 26 30-minute episodes, and diverged somewhat from the original novel. Only one season was produced, due to the development of a "Swiss Family Robinson" series in 1975 by ABC in the United States. This situation precluded sales of the Canadian series to the lucrative American market.cite news | publisher="The Globe and Mail" | date=29 April 1975 | page=18 | first=Blaik | last=Kirby | title=Television: Trend against violence slaughters Mannix (multi-subject article) ]

Cast

*Diana Leblanc .......... Elizabeth Robinson "(Mother)"
*Chris Wiggins .......... Johann Robinson "(Father)"
*Michael Duhig .......... Ernest Robinson
*Ricky O'Neill .......... Franz Robinson
*Heather Graham .......... Marie Robinson

Production

The series was produced by CTV, Fremantle and Trident Television. Filming of beach scenes was conducted in Jamaica, while jungle scenes were filmed in Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada.cite news | title=A jungle in Kleinburg for that Swiss family | publisher="The Globe and Mail" | date=20 April 1974 | page=31 | first=Blaik | last=Kirby ]

DVD release

"The Swiss Family Robinson - The Complete Series" was released on DVD by Morningstar Entertainment on March 20, 2007 in a 4-disc set. The DVDs are Region 1, NTSC format, digitally enhanced and colour-corrected. One special feature on the discs is a split-screen demonstration of the enhancement.cite web | url=http://www.amazon.com/Swiss-Family-Robinson-Complete/dp/B000O55VT6 | title=Swiss Family Robinson | publisher=Amazon.com | accessdate=2007-12-02 ]

The DVD cover features a compass and a logo but not the one used on the TV series. There are a few cast-specific photos on the back.

List of episodes

#The Arrival
#The Secret of Shark Island
#The Mark of Captain Keel
#The Curse of the Idol
#Animal Kingdom
#Bruno
#Attack of the Cat
#Lost at Sea
#A Time to Live and a Time to Die
#Cave of the Tiger
#Dead Man’s Gold
#Terror on South Island
#The Visitor
#Nature’s Child
#Return from Paradise
#Skeleton Clue
#Somewhere on this Earth
#Rescue
#Second Honeymoon
#Deadly Feast
#The Intruder
#The Weakest Link
#Monsoon
#The Castaway
#The Rogue
#Disappearance

References

External links

*cite web | url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/programming/television/programming_popup.php?id=156 | title=Swiss Family Robinson | publisher=Canadian Communications Foundation | date=June 2002 | first=Pip | last=Wedge | accessdate=2007-12-02
*imdb title|0068137 (note: 1976 series date is in error)