The swiss family robinson german der schweizerische robinson is a novel by johann david wyss first published in 1812 about a swiss family shipwrecked in the east indies en route to port jackson australia. Directed by ken annakin with john mills dorothy mcguire james macarthur janet munro a swiss family must survive being shipwrecked on a deserted island. Rich in action and suspense the swiss family robinson is an exhilarating novel takes us to a faraway place of danger and beauty where the courageous robinson family embarks on a thrilling new life of adventure and discovery with an introduction by j hillis miller. Swiss family robinson is a 1960 american adventure film starring john mills dorothy mcguire james macarthur janet munro tommy kirk and kevin corcoran in a tale of a shipwrecked family building an island home loosely based on the 1812 novel der schweizerische robinson literally the swiss robinson by johann david wyss. Swiss family robinson this 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