The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe (Mexico, 1954) 90 min color DIR: Luis Buñuel. SCR: Hugo Butler, Luis Buñuel, based on Daniel Defoe’s novel. PROD: Oscar Dancigers, George Pepper. MUSIC: Anthony Collins. DOP: Alex Phillips. CAST: Dan O’Herlihy, Jaime Fernandez. (VCI Entertainment)
Bravo to VCI for releasing this long unavailable gem from Luis Buñuel, featuring Dan O’Herlihy in his Oscar-nominated role as Crusoe, a rare English-language film by the legendary iconoclast filmmaker, made during his “Director for Hire” days, when he made a lot of “potboilers” in Mexico. They do share one characteristic with this seemingly “classical” Hollywood film: you have to dig a bit for the subversion, but you will be rewarded for your trouble.
I’ve not read the Daniel Defoe novel that has inspired all of the Crusoe film adaptations, but in this version (co-scripted by Buñuel), Crusoe apparently went on this voyage to escape English commerce, and then found more than he bargained for when he became stranded on this island. All the gold he has is decidedly worth less than a good fire.
There is also a dream sequence thrown in for good measure: Crusoe, recently stranded on the island, sees himself with a long beard. Most peculiar is his relationship with Friday (Jaime Fernandez): although this native is Crusoe’s best friend, he still has Friday refer to him as “Master”. In one amusing scene, the two men discuss religion, where Friday offers the astute observation that if God created sin, therefore can sin really be all that bad? Crusoe’s knee-jerk, blustery response, which is not to question such things, is mostly out of frustration because he can’t really refute Friday’s logic, and then Crusoe goes to his parrot for assurance that he his right!
Although unfortunately some of the film appears theatrical and stagebound (Crusoe’s many beards look too “Stick-on”; and his hut appears more like a set than an authentic location), this is nonetheless a fascinating, colourful adventure with typical Buñuel barbs about religion, capitalism and empiricism. It may not be the missing link in his career, but this video release is welcome, and long overdue. (The extras on the disc include an insightful audio interview with Dan O’Herlihy.)
Originally published in Vol. #1, Issue #16.
Greg Woods
Greg Woods has been a film enthusiast since his teens, and began his writing "career" at the same time- prolific in capsule reviews of everything he had watched, first on index cards, then those hardcover dollar store black journals, then an old Mac IIsi. He founded The Eclectic Screening Room in 2001, as a portal to share his film love with the world, and find some like-minded enthusiasts along the way. In addition to having worked in the film industry for over two decades, he has been a co-programmer of films at Trash Palace, and a programmer/co-founder of the Toronto Film Noir Syndicate. He has also written for Broken Pencil, CU-Confidential, Micro-Film, and is currently working on his first novel. His secret desire is for someone to interview him for a podcast or a DVD extra.