Swiss Family Robinson: Hosted by Jeff Kurtti + Presentation by Kevin Kidney
- Sun, Nov 1
The Frida Cinema's seating is first-come, first-serve. For our Midnight Screenings, please plan on arriving by 11:30pm to ensure ample time for parking, picking up concessions, and securing optimal seats. Screening will begin promptly at midnight.
Director: Ken Annakin Run Time: 126 min. Release Year: 1960
Starring: Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Janet Munro, John Mills, Sessue Hayakawa
Our Walt Disney Studies series continues on November 1st with a very rare screening of Swiss Family Robinson! And as an added bonus, special guest Kevin Kidney will be giving a special post-screening presentation entitled “A Swiss Family Robinson Adventure”!
This spectacular screen version of the literary classic is full of breathtaking South Seas scenery, exotic animals and treacherous pirates. The heroic tale chronicles the courageous exploits of the Robinson family after they are shipwrecked on a deserted island. Using teamwork and ingenuity, they skillfully overcome the obstacles of nature and transform their new home into a “civilized” community. But the ultimate challenge comes when a band of cutthroat pirates threatens to destroy the Robinsons’ impromptu paradise.
“A Swiss Family Robinson Adventure”: Kevin Kidney shares his research on the creation of Swiss Family Robinson, from its initial production to his personal journey to find and explore the original filming locations—including the castaway island and the legendary tree house.
Kevin Kidney is a designer, writer, product creator, puppeteer, sculptor, and illustrator. He is a renowned Disney authority and has created an array of celebrated work including 2D and 3D art, the design of Parades and some of the most respected and sought-after collectibles. His new book, The Making of Walt Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson, will be available in 2027. Kidney is a renowned Disney authority, he and Jeff Kurtti will discuss the origins of this feature in the efforts of early Imagineer Harper Goff, a film designer who played a significant role in the creation of Disneyland.
Jeff Kurtti is the most prolific nonfiction author in Disney history, with more than 40 volumes to his credit over 25 years. A leading authority on The Walt Disney Company, its founder, and its history, Kurtti is also a writer-director of award-winning documentary content, and a respected public speaker. He was creative director, content consultant, and media producer for The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, and a producer of The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story, a critically acclaimed documentary about the famed songwriters. In June 2024, Kurtti was appointed Presidential Fellow in Walt Disney Studies at Chapman University in Orange, CA.
All schedule details and speaker lineups are tentative and subject to change without notice.