Swiss Family Robinson (1974)
Swiss Family Robinson is 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. Reruns, however, continued to be syndicated in Canada for many years, with stations often scheduling the program as part of their Saturday morning line-up.
Seasons & Episode
In 1801, a family from Switzerland is shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island. All wash ashore safely except their younger son Franz, who is presumed dead.
Franz steals away from the island in the family's outrigger canoe. He rows to a neighboring island and finds evidence that humans once lived there.
A deranged ex-pirate kidnaps Franz and Marie, in order to lure Father to his camp. He has mistaken Johann for Sir Henry Buckley, a famous buccaneer.
The family suffers a series of bad luck incidents after taking a carved wooden idol from an ancient stone mausoleum they discover on the island.
The family's pet leopard, Ulysses, has grown too large and dangerous to keep around. But when Franz and Ernest release him deep in the island's jungle, they find he is too domesticated to survive on his own.
A dog from the ship turns up on the island and appears to be wild. Franz and johann disagree with what to do about the animal.
Marie finds a panther's kitten in the jungle and brings it home. The kitten's angry mother attacks Ernest in revenge.
Ernest builds a boat from salvaged shipwreck timber and sets off to the open seas, in hopes of finding help for his stranded family. But he unfortunately loses his compass and becomes lost at sea.
Ernest finds a pregnant wild goat in the jungle and brings her back to the treehouse. Marie is eager to witness the upcoming birth, but Mother worries that something will go wrong.
A rockslide traps papa and Franz in a cave with the tiger that they were tracking.
Franz and Ernest find an abandoned pirate camp while exploring the island. Franz also finds a treasure map at the camp, and becomes obsessed with finding the treasure, while neglecting his usual duties.
Traveling to South Island to investigation a signal, the Robinson family discover a skeleton in a cave. Ernest is injured from a fall. But the real Terror was yet to be revealed as Soldier Ants were swarming towards them.
Ernest and Franz rescue a castaway they find floating offshore on a couple of barrels. The castaway says he has a map of the island, and insists that there is a settlement beyond the waterfalls.
While hiding Marie's birthday gift Franz and Earnest stumble upon a wild girl and her pet leopard.
Once again, Ernest encounters the mysterious young girl, the child of nature, who shares the family's island.
Johann cancels lessons when Ernest, Franz and Marie complain that school is useless on the island. But when Johann tells them they can have two days to do whatever they want, they find out that math and science can be useful after all.
Ernest, Franz and Marie hike to the north side of the island to search for a wedding anniversary present for their parents. They find a chest from their shipwreck which may contain a valuable artifact.
The Robinsons are overjoyed when a British warship finds the island and the sailors come ashore. But the captain says he cannot take them aboard.
The Robinson children decide to camp in the caves for a few days so their parents can have some romantic privacy at the treehouse.
Mother prepares an oyster stew for the family, but they're inedible. As she's tasting the meal while cooking, she consumes enough poison to collapse and fall into a coma.
A meteorite lands close to the Robinsons's treehouse home and brings an alien substance that almost drives the family from their island.
Ernest learns a lesson about dependence when his thoughtlessness almost brings disaster to the rest of the Robinsons.
Marie becomes lost and disoriented after being swept up in a dangerous monsoon. Johann goes out to look for her.
Franz tells his family how he managed to survive the first few days on the island when he thought he had been the only one who reached shore.
An old bear roams out of the wilderness and makes his last stand in the Robinsons's compound.
When mama and papa are caught in a storm while fishing in a boat, the children must fend for themselves.
