In the ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ Treehouse Again

Video

The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson: Book One: Survival. Goldhil Video. $25. (805) 495-0735. https://www.goldhil.com/.

This earnest, well-filmed 1997 family show, originally made for TV, is now a 10-part video series loosely based on the classic book by Johann Wyss (whose name seems to be missing from both film and packaging). Starring Richard Thomas, it was shot on sumptuous location in the South Pacific.

“Book One” takes Mr. Robinson (Thomas), his wife, son and two daughters from 1830s Boston to a storm at sea and their shipwreck on a tropical island paradise--with assorted farm animals, handy salvage from the ship and, in short order, a snug treehouse for shelter.

They survive an attack by two other survivors: a ruthless sailor and his naive sidekick. The white, privileged family’s preconceived ideas of equality are tested when they are joined by a resourceful cabin boy, who is black, while their patience is tried by another survivor: a snooty and beautiful Chinese heiress.

In the other nine video “Books,” the family encounters pirates, treasure, storms, island natives and, undoubtedly, romance--after all, Mr. Robinson’s elder daughter has taken notice of the bad guy’s naive, handsome sidekick, and his son, the chronicler of the adventures, seems to have his eye on the lovely heiress.