myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes video capture - Kevin Corcoran (Francis) and Hayley Mills (daughter of John Mills) riding Rocky , the juvenile Asian elephant. Richmond Bay, Tobago.

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - Left to Right: Mary Hayley Bell (Lady Mills), Kevin Corcoran, Juliet Mills, John Mills and Hayley Mills. Richmond Bay, Tobago.

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo with Janet Munro. Richmond Bay, Tobago.

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo. Led by Kuala, the pirate chief (Sessue Hayakawa), the pirates land on the Robinson’s Beach - Richmond Bay, Tobago 1959.
The movie was released on December 21, 1960.

Sessue Hayakawa, was a Japanese actor and one of the biggest stars in Hollywood during the silent film era of the 1910s and early 1920s.
Hayakawa was the first actor of Asian descent to achieve stardom as a leading man in the United States and Europe, and one of the first male sex symbols of Hollywood.

I was able to track down Tommy Kirk’s double and stand in for the Swiss Family Robinson movie. He still lives on the island of Tobago!

Tommy Kirk's SFR double had also acted as a stand in and a stunt double for the Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr movie, ‘Heaven Knows Mr Allison’. Interestingly, he mixed up the film locations! Initially, he told me that most of the Swiss Family Robinson was filmed at Bacolet Bay, only to quickly correct himself - he had mixed up both movies - ‘SFR’ and ‘Heaven Knows Mr Allison’!

I am guessing that a lot of the Chinese whispers about Bacolet Bay being used for SFR was because of a mix up with the ‘Heaven Knows Mr Allison’ movie which was filmed two years earlier, in 1957. A lot of footage for ‘Heaven Knows Mr Allison’ was filmed at Bacolet Bay in Scarborough.

The SFR cast members John Mills and Kevin Corcoran both stayed at Blue Haven Hotel in Bacolet Bay, Scarborough. Mary Hayley Bell (Lady Mills), Juliet Mills and Hayley Mills also stayed at Blue Haven.

So, Bacolet Bay was not used for the filming of the movie ‘Swiss Family Robinson’.

The main beach used in SFR was Richmond Bay. Quashie Bay in Belle Garden (renamed Shipwreck Bay after the movie) was the other main beach used. Mount Irvine Bay was used for the pirate landing and capture of Cecil Parker and Janet Munro. Other beach filming sites include Boat Bay in Belle Garden, John Dial Beach in Hope Bay, Pigeon Point and, Grange Bay (The Wall).

I appreciate your feedback ... JAZZ

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - John Mills reviews his script with director, Ken Annakin at Blue Haven Hotel, Bacolet Bay, Scarborough, Tobago.

Left to Right: John Mills, Hayley Mills, Juliet Mills and Ken Annakin. The movie was released on December 21, 1960.

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - (L to R) Swiss Family Robinson Film Director, Ken Annakin and Kuala, the pirate chief (Sessue Hayakawa). Richmond Bay, Tobago 1959

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - (L to R) John Mills and James MacArthur chat off camera. Kevin Cochran is at the far right. Richmond Bay, Tobago.

Jazz557 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 3:13 am Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo with Janet Munro. Richmond Bay, Tobago.

I believe that is Yakima Canutt on the mule(?) with Janet Munro.
He was a legendary stunt man and was 2nd unit director (stunts) for SFR. He was about 64 at the time of filming.

It is Yakima Canutt on the donkey! Well spotted Robert! Yakima also was instrumental in getting the exotic animals from California, USA, to Tobago.

Swiss Family Robinson Lobby Card - Pirates, led by Kuala, the pirate chief (Sessue Hayakawa), seize the merchant ship and capture Captain Moreland (Cecil Parker) and cabin boy Bertie (Janet Munro).

(Lobby Cards were created by the film studios to publicize their movies and were intended
for display outside movie theaters in special glass display boxes).

Mt. Irvine Bay, Tobago.

Swiss Family Robinson - Fritz (James MacArthur) and Roberta (Janet Munro) outside the treehouse just before Francis (Kevin Corcoran) finally catches his tiger. Scene filmed at Goldsborough, Tobago 1959.

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo. Director Ken Annakin discusses a scene outside the treehouse with Dorothy McGuire. Photo taken at Goldsborough, Tobago 1959

Swiss Family Robinson - movie making scene - The Robinson family and the two Great Dane dogs escape from the shipwreck on a makeshift tub raft. Scene filmed at Shipwreck Bay, Belle Garden, Tobago 1959

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - assembling the makeshift tub raft for the filming of the scene where the Robinson Family leave the shipwreck with the captain’s two Great Dane dogs. Scene filmed at Shipwreck Bay, Belle Garden, Tobago 1959

Swiss Family Robinson screenshot - Pirates running around the rocks to attack the family fort from the sea. Richmond Bay 1959

1960 Swiss Family Robinson window poster - used in the USA.
In script at top “Friday - thru - Thursday”

The animal races poster illustration was filmed in the field adjacent to the treehouse in Goldsborough, Tobago back in 1959.

In the poster, Kevin Corcoran and the monkey are seen riding the elephant, Janet Munro is on the zebra and Tommy Kirk is riding the ostrich.

In the movie, however, Francis (Kevin Corcoran) rode the elephant, the monkey rode the dog, Fritz (James MacArthur) rode the donkey, Roberta (Janet Munro) rode the zebra and Ernst (Tommy Kirk) rode the ostrich.

The illustrations at the bottom of the poster are, from Left to Right:

Big Pirate - Milton Reid
The tub raft scene where the Robinsons escape the shipwreck - this scene was filmed at Belle Garden. Tobago.
Father - John Mills
Mother - Dorothy McGuire
Fritz - James MacArthur
Roberta - Janet Munro
Kuala - Sessue Hayakawa
Ernst - Tommy Kirk

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - Filming the pirate ships in the bay.

Only one pirate ship was real. The second pirate ship in the movie is a matte painting on glass done by Peter Ellenshaw.

Filming at Mt. Irvine Bay, Tobago 1959.

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - Two ‘Janet Munro’s’ on set Goldsborough Tobago 1959

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - Filming the closeup shots for the animal race around the treehouse.

Janet Munro (Roberta) is on the zebra. Walking alongside in a Janet Munro costume is zebra trainer, Fess Reynolds. Fess was the uncredited stunt double for Janet Munro in Swiss Family Robinson.

The Walt Disney Movie, Swiss Family Robinson was filmed entirely in Tobago from August 1959 to January 1960. The movie was released on December 21, 1960.

Swiss Family Robinson behind the scenes photo - Kevin Corcoran (Francis) being schooled on set at Richmond Bay Tobago, 1959.

Moochie graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in theatre arts. He returned to Disney, this time working behind the camera as an assistant director and producer. He co-produced Herbie Goes Bananas (1980). He was credited as first assistant director, assistant producer, and director on the Angela Lansbury series - Murder, She Wrote.

Richmond Bay, Tobago.