As I've said before, I will go just about anywhere, cinematically, for a chance to hear Nancy Kwan's charming Hong Kong accent and to see her fabulous zygomatic bones. Case in point: "Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.," a silly but entertaining Disney flick from 1966. In this one, the titular Navy fighter pilot, played by the ever-likable Dick van Dyke, is forced down into the drink of the South Pacific and, like his namesake, washes ashore on a deserted island. In the film's first half, Robin builds himself a house, discovers a decades-old Japanese submarine wreck and finds another castaway: the astro chimp Floyd! In the latter half, he finds an island mate of a more toothsome nature, a native girl who he dubs Wednesday (even though her pidgin English is perfectly fine and she's quite capable of revealing her true name), played by our Nancy, natch. And then Crusoe gets embroiled in a battle between Wednesday and dozens of her gal pals, versus her headhunter father and the devil god Kabuna. Anyway, van Dyke gives a broadly comedic performance, Floyd offers up some of the best simian thesping that I've ever seen (just look at his reaction shots during a poker game!), and Akim Tamiroff, in his role of headhunter Tanamashu, is a caricatured embarrassment. And Nancy? She is just adorable, never cuter than when playing charades in one segment; van Dyke's desire to leave his island paradise with Wednesday as his bride really does stretch the viewer's credulity past the breaking point. Six years after her yummy "Suzie Wong" debut, Nancy Kwan, a gorgeous Eurasian, was still one of the sexiest actresses that ANY continent had to offer; heck, she's still a looker today, at the age of 71! Besides some good performances, the picture provides some situations that are so very stoopid they're actually pretty funny (such as when Robin laboriously builds a sextant to determine his bearings, only to have it report that he's somewhere between Elmira, New York and Muncie, Indiana!), as well as some very attractive scenery (it was shot on the Hawaiian island of Kauai). The fifth-highest-grossing picture of 1966, the film was nonetheless critically drubbed but remains fun escapism 45 years later. It is an absolute must for all fans of Nancy Kwan and a perfect film to watch with your favorite 8-year-old....
15 Reviews
Very cute
HotToastyRag14 April 2022
This silly, family-friendly (although a lot more friendly for the teenage boys in the audience) Disney flick is extremely entertaining. In case you're thinking of skipping it, think again. Dick Van Dyke parachutes from his Navy plane and survives on a pint-sized blow-up raft for four days, then he drifts along to an island - finally living up to his name, Robinson Crusoe. His very funny survival manual only gets him so far, but once on dry land, he doesn't seem to need it. What a handy fellow! He builds a bamboo hut, fashions clothing, constructs a sundial, sextant, and calendar system. I would have been perfectly happy if the entire movie showed all his ideas and inventions - but the boys in the audience wouldn't. . .
After a very long time, Dick finally finds footprints in the sand that aren't his own. He investigates an abandoned Japanese submarine and finds - a chimpanzee. After that, he sees more footprints and finally bumps into Nancy Kwan. She shows off far more skin than acting, which is too bad. She had a promising start with The World of Suzie Wong, but within a few years, she was only given "look but don't act" roles. But she does look very cute!
The last part of the movie gets pretty silly, when Nancy's sisters come to the island and start chasing Dick around. The boys will probably wonder why Dick would run away from all those pretty girls, but I was just marveling at how many beautiful girls with great figures came from the same family. If you think you'll like a comic stranded-on-an-island movie, you probably will. Dick Van Dyke is very cute, and he's always very funny in Disney movies.
After a very long time, Dick finally finds footprints in the sand that aren't his own. He investigates an abandoned Japanese submarine and finds - a chimpanzee. After that, he sees more footprints and finally bumps into Nancy Kwan. She shows off far more skin than acting, which is too bad. She had a promising start with The World of Suzie Wong, but within a few years, she was only given "look but don't act" roles. But she does look very cute!
The last part of the movie gets pretty silly, when Nancy's sisters come to the island and start chasing Dick around. The boys will probably wonder why Dick would run away from all those pretty girls, but I was just marveling at how many beautiful girls with great figures came from the same family. If you think you'll like a comic stranded-on-an-island movie, you probably will. Dick Van Dyke is very cute, and he's always very funny in Disney movies.
Too slow paced and uninteresting
r96sk26 July 2020
Odd, not in a good way.
In a lot of parts, 'Lt. Robin Crusoe U.S.N.' does feel like a retread of 1960's 'Swiss Family Robinson' - the plot has differences, but you could possibly make a case for it being a paint job on that aforementioned film. Too cynical? Probably.
For a comedy, there's a real lack of entertainment and humour. I don't think I laughed once. As for the cast, Dick Van Dyke is the best part of this film, though his character is rather forgettable. Nancy Kwan is decent but hardly gets to show off any of her acting abilities to be honest.
I'm not sure I entirely get the message, either. Women's rights? The ending, which kinda comes out of nowhere, goes against that. As a whole, this is too slow paced and uninteresting for me.
In a lot of parts, 'Lt. Robin Crusoe U.S.N.' does feel like a retread of 1960's 'Swiss Family Robinson' - the plot has differences, but you could possibly make a case for it being a paint job on that aforementioned film. Too cynical? Probably.
For a comedy, there's a real lack of entertainment and humour. I don't think I laughed once. As for the cast, Dick Van Dyke is the best part of this film, though his character is rather forgettable. Nancy Kwan is decent but hardly gets to show off any of her acting abilities to be honest.
I'm not sure I entirely get the message, either. Women's rights? The ending, which kinda comes out of nowhere, goes against that. As a whole, this is too slow paced and uninteresting for me.
a good flik
sketchpo8 August 1999
Light as a feather, Walt Disney offering.
RatedVforVinny8 September 2020
Another very enjoyable but light as a feather, Disney movie. Dick Van Dyke is very capable in this type of role, it's all high energy and feel good stuff. This type of picture has almost died a death (in modern times) but not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Strange to think that this was filmed on the USS Kitty Hawk, an Aircraft Carrier destined for the Vietnam War.
Well, to summarize: A great family film for all ages and a great era
pfcole27 January 2006
When I was a kid,my family went to Old Orchard beach in Maine. My mothers friend worked at the local movie house. This movie was the one playing while we were there. I must have seen it 10 times! I was about 6 or 7 as at the time as I think this was a second run type of theater. I loved this movie. But its funny, I have not seen this in years. It's on cable from time to time so I'm sure I'll run into it someday. This is one of the many films that Disney produced in the 50's,60's and 70's. There are so many to name,but here's a few: Son of Flubber, The absent minded professor, The Shaggy dog, The computer who wore Tennis shoes,etc... Just a great era for family movies. Many great memories.
Charming Disney Comedy
jfgibson739 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
People who like Disney's live action comedies and find Dick Van Dyke funny will enjoy this film. Van Dyke carries over half the movie with no one else to play off except a monkey. He then meets a group of island girls and organizes them against a tyrannical chief. It's extremely light hearted and very silly, but it's charm is that it's a product of a different time. No one is making comedies this straightforward in the age of irony.
Lots of fun
evening130 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Could Robinson Crusoe happen today, or at least back in the Sixties? Sure it could, Dick van Dyke demonstrates in this delightful riff on the classic.
Whether he's ditching from a plane at 16,000 feet, partnering with a lonely space chimp -- "a fellow American!" -- improvising chitchat with a native woman, or miraculously making it back to civilization (that's a real aircraft carrier, the USS Kitty Hawk), Lt. Robin Crusoe is a role model for managing stress with aplomb, staying loyal, and enjoying life along the way.
"As Confucious say, "When in soup, might as well enjoy flavor,'" he reminds himself, and soon he's setting up camp, enjoying grog from a shipwreck, and tracking down footprints in the sand, telling his ape buddy, "Floyd, we are not alone!" All the while he keeps his girlfriend back home up to date by sending letters in a bottle. Yup, he missed the couple's wedding, but trusts in the bond. I love this guy's spirit!
I'm a language lover, and for me the highlight of the film comes in Robin's amazing sign language/pidgin/pantomime exchange with Wednesday (Nancy Kwan), a headhunter's daughter who it turns out inexplicably knows English but has gone through the motions for the fun of it. Much of Robin's dialogue is entertainingly caveman (i.e., "Everyone in there play 'laugh and giggle' while Teramasha sneak in here and cut our throats!"), and his humor physical. He cuts a delightful rug with some hula girls.
The movie drags a little with the arrival of an over-acting Akim Tamiroff as the headhunter, but in all it's a nice little break from reality. Dick van Dyke is an original, and, judging from a youtube clip I saw around Valentine's Day, still a wonderful dancer.
I'd never have known about this film if not for a documentary I caught on the Newsmax channel about aerial reconnaissance during the Vietnam War, which featured shots of the Kitty Hawk off the coast of war-torn Indochina. It's surprising to consider that the film crew visited as tensions were escalating.
Whether he's ditching from a plane at 16,000 feet, partnering with a lonely space chimp -- "a fellow American!" -- improvising chitchat with a native woman, or miraculously making it back to civilization (that's a real aircraft carrier, the USS Kitty Hawk), Lt. Robin Crusoe is a role model for managing stress with aplomb, staying loyal, and enjoying life along the way.
"As Confucious say, "When in soup, might as well enjoy flavor,'" he reminds himself, and soon he's setting up camp, enjoying grog from a shipwreck, and tracking down footprints in the sand, telling his ape buddy, "Floyd, we are not alone!" All the while he keeps his girlfriend back home up to date by sending letters in a bottle. Yup, he missed the couple's wedding, but trusts in the bond. I love this guy's spirit!
I'm a language lover, and for me the highlight of the film comes in Robin's amazing sign language/pidgin/pantomime exchange with Wednesday (Nancy Kwan), a headhunter's daughter who it turns out inexplicably knows English but has gone through the motions for the fun of it. Much of Robin's dialogue is entertainingly caveman (i.e., "Everyone in there play 'laugh and giggle' while Teramasha sneak in here and cut our throats!"), and his humor physical. He cuts a delightful rug with some hula girls.
The movie drags a little with the arrival of an over-acting Akim Tamiroff as the headhunter, but in all it's a nice little break from reality. Dick van Dyke is an original, and, judging from a youtube clip I saw around Valentine's Day, still a wonderful dancer.
I'd never have known about this film if not for a documentary I caught on the Newsmax channel about aerial reconnaissance during the Vietnam War, which featured shots of the Kitty Hawk off the coast of war-torn Indochina. It's surprising to consider that the film crew visited as tensions were escalating.
Painfully unfunny. A good setup and execution that falls flat on its slapstick face
Rob-O-Cop28 March 2021
Great locations, some probably decent for its time special effects, a Chimpanzee who tolerates the proceedings but doesn't want to be there, and Van Dyke who if you based his career on this film appears to have no comedic skills at all. It can't just be the bad dialog in the script. A lot of the set up is him by himself and he really can't carry it, but then he doesn't appear to be given any help by direction or editing. Many of the set ups dddrrrraaaaaggggg on way past their welcome.
There were some good set-ups though and you could rightfully expect some pay off from them. The life raft, a beautiful beach location where he builds his camp, the Japanese sub, and the island itself, but, nothing works. The Japanese sub is a prime example where they waste valuable time and energy on Dick just touching stuff that adds nothing to anything. It's not funny or interesting. It's a waste of film, and set, and our time.
Dick's character is charmless, and unlikable, and that's really just not funny at all. They've taken the Jerry Lewis model and adapted it and it didn't really work with him and it really really doesn't work for Dick. I don't want to spend time with unlikable characters, no one does.
The scene where he's swamped with beautiful island girls was a winning set up but rendered flat and dull in how Van Dyke play it out. The girls all deliver verve energy and spirit, and the set up is funny, fun and interesting, and Dick, well, he does nothing with it.
Nancy Kwan does have life to her but the aimlessness of the plot takes her nowhere and says nothing, it's so muddled in what it's trying to say, nothing lands emotionally, if it was actually trying to say anything at all. She's interesting but what they make her do goes nowhere and Dick certainly doesn't generate any heat from it.
It ends as a waste of time and effort for the film and for the watcher. Van Dyke proclaims he's not good enough for Wednesday, and it's left there, turns out the whole effort wasn't good enough for our time either as this film stands as a testament to the misfires of Hollywood, and not to classic cinema. What a shame too. So many good elements were here too. Location, set up, beauty, all equals nothing, which is what Dicks character seems to rate himself as too. A big nothing.
There were some good set-ups though and you could rightfully expect some pay off from them. The life raft, a beautiful beach location where he builds his camp, the Japanese sub, and the island itself, but, nothing works. The Japanese sub is a prime example where they waste valuable time and energy on Dick just touching stuff that adds nothing to anything. It's not funny or interesting. It's a waste of film, and set, and our time.
Dick's character is charmless, and unlikable, and that's really just not funny at all. They've taken the Jerry Lewis model and adapted it and it didn't really work with him and it really really doesn't work for Dick. I don't want to spend time with unlikable characters, no one does.
The scene where he's swamped with beautiful island girls was a winning set up but rendered flat and dull in how Van Dyke play it out. The girls all deliver verve energy and spirit, and the set up is funny, fun and interesting, and Dick, well, he does nothing with it.
Nancy Kwan does have life to her but the aimlessness of the plot takes her nowhere and says nothing, it's so muddled in what it's trying to say, nothing lands emotionally, if it was actually trying to say anything at all. She's interesting but what they make her do goes nowhere and Dick certainly doesn't generate any heat from it.
It ends as a waste of time and effort for the film and for the watcher. Van Dyke proclaims he's not good enough for Wednesday, and it's left there, turns out the whole effort wasn't good enough for our time either as this film stands as a testament to the misfires of Hollywood, and not to classic cinema. What a shame too. So many good elements were here too. Location, set up, beauty, all equals nothing, which is what Dicks character seems to rate himself as too. A big nothing.
World Premiere Aboard U.S. Navy Warship!
k7kbn-120 April 2006
The Aircraft Carrier in this movie is USS Kitty Hawk. I was a radioman stationed on the 'Hawk when Disney came aboard in San Diego and filmed some launches and recoveries. When we returned to San Diego the Disney crew left to go make the movie, and Kitty Hawk left for the Western Pacific and Viet Nam. When we returned eight months later, the world premiere of Lt. Robin Crusoe, USN was held right there on the ship. Disney studios came aboard and turned Hangar Bay #1 into quite a nice theater. Having been an usher in theaters in my home town of Las Vegas NV, I was assigned some ushering duty for that premiere (and I got to meet Dick van Dyke and Nancy Kwan!) Not the "greatest" movie of all time, but very entertaining.
One of the most underrated Disney flicks ever! Wholesome family funniness.
andreacubs18 August 2007
This is an all time classic Disney flick, and TOTALLY underrated. I used to watch this all night long when I was sick. The humor and silliness of the film always made me feel better. Now, as an adult, I see so much more in the film. Of course you have Dick Van Dyke, who is a comic genius, who steals the show with his physical comedy, but underneath it, the film takes on some serious issues. I've used the film to teach about the women's rights movement in the USA, and even to explain the spread of democratic ideals, and the effect it can have on a society. Really! The most important thing is that this is a wholesome, family fun comedy. It makes hardened teenagers laugh, and I always get comments about how good it is. They always say "I thought it was going to be stupid, but it was really ________ (good, funny, cute, fun, fill in your own positive). High praise indeed! I was frequently told that "The guy from Mary Poppins is funny, but Floyd steals the show!" I absolutely recommend this flick. It is one of the all time best!
Really liked it!
Douglas_Holmes13 December 2002
Okay, I'm looking at this thing through the gauze of nostalgia. I haven't seen it all the way through since that long-ago day in 1966 when I bought a ticket at a local movie theater and watched it.
I remember that I laughed throughout this. Dick Van Dyke has always been a favorite of mine and he was in top-form for this film. Richard Deacon ("The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Leave It to Beaver" among other things) provides narration. He had an excellent voice.
I remember that I laughed throughout this. Dick Van Dyke has always been a favorite of mine and he was in top-form for this film. Richard Deacon ("The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Leave It to Beaver" among other things) provides narration. He had an excellent voice.
Hilarious. Disney, Dick Van Dyke, And The Movies, Were Never Funnier
johnstonjames12 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
this has always been one of my favorite Disney comedies. i've thought this film was really funny since i saw it as kid in the old days at the neighborhood movie theater. i still think 'One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing' is Disney's best live action comedy, but if you love the irreverent, zany, slapstick approach Disney the old school Disney films brought to comedy than 'Crusoe U.S.N.' has more than enough to offer.
this is one of those special Disney classics that was successful and well liked back in it's time but now has pretty much been forgotten. even by many Disney fans. that's really a shame because the film has such a strong Disney look, feel and lots of the old school Disney charm, as well as 'Mary Poppins' Dick Van Dyke, that you would think Disney fans would be more curious about the film than they are.
it could be because there's not a lot to the film. it's basically a zany Disneyfied twist on the old 'Robinson Crusoe' story with a contemporary spin put on it by ol' Retlaw Yensid himself. there's also a lot of hardcore silliness involving a space astronaut monkey and women's right's for his girl Wednesday. enough to try the patience of any sensible person with a minimal sense of humour.
one of the very best scenes involves Crusoe bailing from his jet plane and parachuting into the water where he has to survive in a small blow up raft while being attacked by a shark. it's straight out of a Donald Duck and Goofy cartoon. or a naval survival training film yet.
whatever you may think of this Disney Komic's intellectual merits, it is pure Disney. just go ask ol' Retlaw Yensid. and it's full of more than it's share of gut belly haw haws.
this is one of those special Disney classics that was successful and well liked back in it's time but now has pretty much been forgotten. even by many Disney fans. that's really a shame because the film has such a strong Disney look, feel and lots of the old school Disney charm, as well as 'Mary Poppins' Dick Van Dyke, that you would think Disney fans would be more curious about the film than they are.
it could be because there's not a lot to the film. it's basically a zany Disneyfied twist on the old 'Robinson Crusoe' story with a contemporary spin put on it by ol' Retlaw Yensid himself. there's also a lot of hardcore silliness involving a space astronaut monkey and women's right's for his girl Wednesday. enough to try the patience of any sensible person with a minimal sense of humour.
one of the very best scenes involves Crusoe bailing from his jet plane and parachuting into the water where he has to survive in a small blow up raft while being attacked by a shark. it's straight out of a Donald Duck and Goofy cartoon. or a naval survival training film yet.
whatever you may think of this Disney Komic's intellectual merits, it is pure Disney. just go ask ol' Retlaw Yensid. and it's full of more than it's share of gut belly haw haws.
a cute spoof of the classic story with a modern update!!
Doc_Who6 January 2000
This movie stars Dick Van Dyke (mary poppins) and Nancy Kwan(flower drum song ) in a cute spoof of the classic story. The story remains the same, it's just a disney movie so expect it to be clean !!as look for women's liberation thoughout the movie!!This movie also features a funny part with a book narrating and the effects upon dick van dyke are funny!!It's short so if you cannot stand the long movies hollywood is making these days , go try this jem!!!
Where can I get a copy of this? I don't have cable...
mgilchrist4 September 2007
I too, am very nostalgic for this movie, and I would love to see it again. Is it available on DVD or tape? Why don't they re-release it? Who owns it? Disney, or did they sell it? As far as I remember, there were only two characters in the movie - and a monkey, I believe. It was very funny, but I imagine that I have hyped it up in my mind so much over the past four decades that I will be let down when (if) I ever see it again. (It is a children's movie...) Was it Dick Van Dyke's first movie? I wonder why they didn't do a sequel - was he rescued? See, I can't remember. I know he had a cool mailbox-type-rig on which he slid his message in a bottle down to the ocean, and I remember he argued a lot with the Girl Friday.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
