''Beverly Hills Family Robinson'' is a 1997 American

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

directed by Troy Miller and written by T.C. Smith. It is a remake of the 1960

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney ( ; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the Golden age of American animation, American animation industry, he introduced several develop ...

film '' Swiss Family Robinson'', itself based on the 1812 novel ''

The Swiss Family Robinson ''The Swiss Family Robinson'' (German: ''Der Schweizerische Robinson'', "The Swiss Robinson") is a novel by the Swiss author Johann David Wyss, first published in 1812, about a Swiss family of immigrants whose ship en route to Port Jackson, Aus ...

'' by

Johann David Wyss Johann David Wyss (; 28 May 1743 – 11 January 1818) was a Swiss author, best remembered for his book ''The Swiss Family Robinson'' (''Der schweizerische Robinson'') (1812). He was born and died in Bern. It is said that he was inspired by Dan ...

. The film stars

Dyan Cannon Dyan Cannon (born Samille Diane Friesen; January 4, 1937) is an American actress, filmmaker, and editor. Her accolades include a Saturn Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Academy Award nominations, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Sh ...

Martin Mull Martin Eugene Mull (, August 18, 1943 – June 27, 2024) was an American actor, musician, and painter. He became known on '' Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,'' its spin-off '' Fernwood 2 Night,'' and '' America 2 Night.'' Other notable roles included ...

Sarah Michelle Gellar Sarah Michelle Prinze ( ; born April 14, 1977) is an American actress. After being spotted by a talent agent as a young child, she made her film debut at age six in the television film ''An Invasion of Privacy'' (1983). She had her first lead ...

and

Ryan O'Donohue Ryan Sean O'Donohue (born April 26, 1984) is an American actor best known for his role as Zeke Byrd in the 1994 television series '' The Byrds of Paradise''. Early life and career O'Donohue was born Ryan Sean O'Donohue on April 26, 1984 in Pomo ...

. It aired on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

on January 25, 1997, as an episode of ''

The Wonderful World of Disney The Walt Disney Company has produced an anthology television series since 1954 under several titles and formats. The program's current title, ''The Wonderful World of Disney'', was used from 1969 to 1979 and again from 1991 onward. The program mo ...

''.

Plot

Marsha Robinson is a famous TV personality and has her own lifestyle and cooking show. She lives in

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hills ...

with her dentist husband Doug, her daughter Jane and her son Roger. The show takes her and her family to Hawaii. When the Robinsons arrive in

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

their yacht is captured by 'modern

pirates Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and valuable goods, or taking hostages. Those who conduct acts of piracy are call ...

' at night and when they wake up in the morning they find themselves and their unbidden guests on the open sea. But being the Robinsons they trick the pirates and leave them behind in a lifeboat. When things finally seem to be good and the Robinsons try to sail to the next harbor, the yacht gets into a storm and the family shipwrecks on a deserted island. Of course, Marsha - being a socialite - freaks out and threatens her husband with a nervous breakdown if they aren't saved within the next 45 minutes and the rest of the family isn't fond of their situation either. But nobody saves them and nobody knows where they are. So there's nothing to do but settle in, survive and build a tree house. Life on the island turns into routine, although Marsha films herself while giving statements about her family's miserable situation after the shipwreck - just in case they'll be saved and she has footage for TV shows. Meanwhile the pirates have been stranded on the island, too, which the Robinsons do not know. The island also has an inhabitant, a shipwrecked surfer named Digger, who secretly eats all of Marsha's chocolates. The Robinsons get to know him when Doug has an underwater accident and needs to be saved by a good swimmer. Jane falls in love with him. He helps the Robinsons finish their treehouse and becomes a member of the family. The pirates discover the Robinsons and now the Robinsons need to struggle with the unbidden guests once again.

Cast

as Marsha Robinson *

as Doug Robinson *

as Jane Robinson *

as Roger Robinson * Josh Picker as Digger *

Kevin Weisman Kevin Glen Weisman (born December 29, 1970) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Lester Thompson in the NBC drama, '' Suits LA'' (2025)'','' as well as Marshall Flinkman in the ABC action thriller series '' Alias'' (2001–2006), Ray ...

as Brinx * Michael Edward-Stevens as Claude *

Nique Needles Cornelius Delaney, formerly known as Nique Needles, is an Australian artist, musician and actor. Career Music In 1981 Needles formed Melbourne band The Curse along with John Rowell, Graeme Scott (both later briefly members of Models (band), Mod ...

as Melvin * Isuara Gualberto as Cha Cha * Jennifer Holt as Production Assistant * Jeffrey Lampert as Producer

Production

Filming took place in

Far North Queensland Far North Queensland (FNQ) is the northernmost part of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland. Its largest city is Cairns, Queensland, Cairns and it is dominated geographically by Cape York Peninsula, which stret ...

, Australia from January 25 to February 23, 1996.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p13

References

External links

* {{The Swiss Family Robinson 1997 television films 1997 films 1997 children's films 1997 comedy films 1997 in American television 1990s American films 1990s children's comedy films 1990s English-language films American Broadcasting Company original films American children's comedy films American comedy television films Disney film remakes Disney television films Films about ship hijackings Films based on adaptations Films based on The Swiss Family Robinson Films directed by Troy Miller Films set in Beverly Hills, California Films set in Honolulu Films set in Oceania Films set on islands Films shot in Queensland Television films based on books Television remakes of films Walt Disney anthology television series episodes

Plot

Cast

Production

See also

References

External links