Swiss Family Robinson

A Swiss family departs from Bern on a ship, excited for their journey to a colony in New Guinea. This voyage is meant to provide them an escape from the chaos of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.

The family's voyage takes a dangerous turn when pirates attack their ship. In the chaos, the crew abandons the ship, and the vessel ultimately runs aground on the rocks of an uninhabited island.

After the shipwreck, the family manages to reach the shore of the deserted island. They are joined by the captain's two Great Danes, marking the beginning of their survival adventure.

Father and his two eldest sons, Fritz and Ernst, collaborate to salvage supplies and livestock from the shipwreck. Their resourcefulness lays the foundation for their survival on the island.

When the pirates return to reclaim the ship, Father cleverly hoists a quarantine flag to suggest the presence of Bubonic plague onboard. This tactic successfully deterred the pirates from boarding.

As the family begins to adapt to island life, Father, Fritz, and Ernst build an intricate tree house with a water wheel. This structure provides them safety and comfort as they learn about their new environment.

The youngest son, Francis, embarks on his own adventures, collecting various animals on the island, including a young Asian elephant, a monkey, and an ostrich. This adds to the family's growing menagerie.

Fritz and Ernst, along with their mother’s approval, explore the island in a makeshift outrigger boat. They unexpectedly encounter pirates but manage to rescue Roberta, a girl disguised as a boy.

The family celebrates Christmas together in their tree house, culminating in a momentous occasion when Francis captures a tiger in one of their traps. This marks a significant achievement in their survival efforts.

The joyous holiday takes a drastic turn as pirates attack their location after being alerted. The family takes refuge in their defenses, utilizing traps to fend off the attackers.

Just as the family faces overwhelming odds against the pirates, a ship arrives, commanded by Roberta's grandfather. They unleash cannon fire, successfully defeating the pirates and rescuing the family.

With the pirates gone, Roberta’s grandfather offers Ernst a chance to attend university in London. Although options for returning to Europe arise, the family desires to remain on the island a bit longer.

Father and Mother decide to keep Francis with them for additional years before possibly returning to Europe. Meanwhile, Fritz and Roberta express their intentions to stay on the island.

As the family bids farewell to Ernst, who departs for England with the captain and crew, they reflect on the changes and challenges they faced, solidifying their bond in the process.