Swiss Family Robinson

The nearest bay after the family is shipwrecked.

Still rather deserted. Goodness the trunk is still there, after 50 years! SJ

That's Richmond Island in the background, so this is Richmond Bay.

The island was the only way to pinpoint this (after a wasted journey to Bacolet Bay, where some of the cast stayed). SJ

Richmond Bay looking the other way.

Not quite as prolific, vegetation-wise. SJ

The family is grateful for salvation.

OK it's a different tree but no mistaking the background outline. SJ

The treehouse, subject of much debate. It's unlikely to have survived the 1963 hurricane if it was left after filming but where was it?

I found Kevin Kidney's website which may have done the hard work for me. Thanks to contributor Lennox Straker Jr, this may be the tree, a saman of the genus Albizia. It's just off Windward Road at Goldsborough... Yes the correct one. See 35-38 for better matches, updates and more details. SJ

Another shot from the other side, with the stream that fuels the water wheel running on the left.

The shape of the tree looks similar and the channel could have been the stream. Not the correct angle. SJ

Fun at a waterfall.

Craig Hall waterfall off the Northside Road. Just park the car and there it is. SJ

More waterfall fun.

The waterfall is south of Moriah and north of Mason Hall, though the 2011 tourist map puts it south. SJ

Back to Richmond Bay, not too far from the treehouse.

Now, just missed getting an alligator in shot. NO sign of the elephant at all. SJ

Mills bids MacArthur farewell as the elder boys go exploring.

Still on Richmond Bay. SJ

Off the boys go. Jaz has stated, "In Belle Garden but not at Shipwreck Bay; in fact at the adjacent Boat Bay. The land mass on the horizon is real but the rocks are a matte painting."

MacArthur (Fritz), Kirk (Ernst), a headland and a lot of sea, as the pair explores the coastline around the island. Pigeon Point, found by Jazz.

Jazz's shot today. (SJ)

Another headland, another clue. The sea looks serene, perhaps the northwest coast: definitely if it's a sunset rather than a sunrise... Grange Beach (The Wall). Thanks to Jazad Ali.

Jazz got the timing correct too. (SJ)

That may well be Trinidad on the horizon so that puts this at somewhere to the west ... Yes on the west at Pigeon Point but wrong horizon, thanks to Jazz's identification ...

... The matching shot today from Jazz. Pigeon Point, Tobago with Buccoo reef in the background. On the horizon is Buccoo and Mt. Irvine, so I was wrong about Trinidad: in fact we are looking north-east along Tobago not south-west. (SJ)

Back to the rugged southeast coast, the Atlantic side.

Shipwreck Bay (yes, named after the film), Belle Garden just a little further east of Richmond Bay. Jazz (SJ)

The boys rescue Munro but leave Parker behind.

And there is the very rock to be found at Mount Irvine Bay. SJ

The pirates on the same bay

Mount Irvine Bay, just by the hotel. SJ

The trio flee from the pirates

Mount Irvine Bay again. SJ

The pirates, led by Hayakawa, give chase

Mount Irvine Bay, on the (usually calmer) Caribbean side in the north of Tobago. SJ

This could be Green Hill waterfall in the centre of Tobago... New info from Jazz in 2019. "I was told that this was a tiny waterfall in the Richmond/Great Dog River just as you turn off the Windward road onto the unpaved road heading to Richmond Bay. The site is now a WASA (Water Company) catchment dam. I still need provenance ... perhaps an old photo may popup - the site was the villagers' wash area until the dam was built."

Above Richmond Bay, now very overgrown.

Richmond Bay again.

Preparing to resist the pirates above Richmond Bay.

MacArthur and Munro on Richmond Bay.

Not sure how I managed to miss this on my trip but Jazz has made up for it eight years later, telling us that the river changed course in 1972, now running parallel to the shore for a much shorter distance. (Information from Michael (Bata) Bartholomew, fisherman from Richmond Bay). (SJ)

Above Richmond Bay.

The headland supposedly below the Robinsons' last stand.

The pirates scale the cliff.

Nice shot of Mills.

There's Richmond Island in the background to help pinpoint this location.

MacArthur and Munro are interrupted by Kirk's farewell.

This is back at Craig Hall waterfall. SJ

Some added stills supplied by Jazz. Fritz, Ernst and Roberta walking up the hill on their way home after escaping from the pirates. (In the film at 1:00:14 for chronological purposes)

Runnemeade overlooking Celery Bay and King Peter’s Bay, Tobago. Jazz took this in May 2019 (SJ)

Fritz, Ernst and Roberta on their way home after escaping from the pirates. Roberta spent her first sleepless night here. (1:00:19)

Richmond Point (between Point Bay, Belle Garden and Richmond Bay), Tobago. Jazz May, 2019 (SJ)

Fritz, Ernst and Roberta on their way home after escaping from the pirates. Roberta spent her first sleepless night here. (1:02)

Goodwood on the hill heading to Studley Park, Windward Road overlooking Smith’s island. J (SJ)

Shipwreck after the storm. The stern of the shipwreck was on the large rock close to the cliff, with the bow out in the water. The shipwreck was anchored onto the rocks with steel bars - some of which are still underwater - verified by Norman (Taw) Hade, Belle Garden fisherman and diver. (0:08)

Shipwreck Bay, Belle Garden, Tobago. Jazz (SJ)

Fritz and Ernst exploring the coastline around the island. They've just spotted the pirates on the beach and decided to hide behind the rocks. Scene filmed at Shipwreck Bay, Belle Garden, Tobago. (0:51)

Jazz finds the spot. (SJ)

Mother Robinson views the progress of the tree-house under construction by Father Robinson, Fritz and Ernst with skepticism. Cow Farm Road off Windward Road, Goldsborough. (31:04)

The canopy of the tree is very much altered and the two large lowermost branches are now gone. The Saman tree suffered its first extensive damage by hurricane Flora in 1963, when the tree-house (sans furnishings) left by The Walt Disney Company, was blown away. In 2018 the tree suffered some burn damage to part of its base and extensive damage to the lower right branch which had to be severed. In this May 2019 photo, the huge, lower branch is on the ground awaiting disposal. Jazz (SJ)

Tree-house complete and ready for unveiling to Mother Robinson. An artificial stream was built at the right with water pumped from the nearby Goldsborough River about 50 metres away. (34:14)

View of the Saman tree from Cow Farm Road with the Windward Road about 100 metres behind, taken by Jazz in July. (SJ)

Father Robinson working the bellows for the fire.

View of the Saman tree from Cow Farm Road with the Windward Road about 100 metres behind. Jazz who tells us, "The family of two of my contacts on the island worked on building the tree-house: the uncle of Norman (Taw) Hade and Francis Lashley, father of Estephan ‘Whatty’ Barrow. Mr Clifford Cook also witnessed the animal races scene around the tree-house and took tourists to visit until hurricane Flora blew it down in 1963." (SJ)

Vine swinging scenes: Ernst is at the edge of the small pool below the upper tier of the waterfall. Craig Hall Waterfall, Northside Road, Tobago in 1959. (43:07)

Upper tier of waterfall and small pool. Jazz (SJ)

Pirate sailing the coast looking for the Swiss Family Robinson. (1:49:22)

Richmond Bay, Tobago, 2019. Jazz (SJ)

Captain Moreland's ship appears on the horizon and starts bombing the pirate ship in the bay. The captain’s ship on the horizon was not real! The ship scene was created using a matte painting on glass in front of the camera. Peter Ellenshaw was the Swiss Family Robinson movie matte artist. Source: the audio commentary of the dvd special. (2:01:58)

Richmond Bay, Tobago, 2019. Jazz (SJ)

The Swiss Family Robinson and Bertha (who chose to stay with Fritz), waving goodbye to Ernst and Captain Moreland (Bertha’s grandfather).(2:05:49)

In a twist to my joke that I had captured the same tree in 2011 (see capture 1), we find that 8 years later that "my" trunk still survives and Jazz has managed the same view. (SJ)

Fritz, Ernst and Bertha are on the way back to the treehouse after escaping from the pirates. 1:14:15

Studley Park, Tobago. The movie site is now the Studley Park Quarry. Jaz (SJ)

Fritz, Ernst and Bertha rescue a zebra trapped in the quicksand. A tired Bertha rides the zebra alongside the boys, as they walk back to the treehouse. 1:17:30

Studley Park Quarry. Jaz (SJ)

Ernst (Tommy Kirk) says goodbye to Mother Robinson before setting off with Fritz (James MacArthur) to explore around the island. Francis (Kevin Cochran) plays with the juvenile Asian elephant, Rocky who pulled the raft into the water. Scene filmed at Richmond Bay, Tobago 1959. 0:47:40

Richmond Bay, Tobago, 2019. Jaz (SJ)

The Robinson boys, Ernst (Tommy Kirk) and Fritz (James MacArthur) get into difficulty controlling the canoe. Granby Point is visible in this screenshot. Scene filmed at John Dial Beach, Hope Bay, Tobago 1959. (0:51:41)

Crown Point businessman, Mr Joseph Alfred, witnessed the filming done at John Dial, Hope Bay in 1959. Back then, Mr Alfred was a schoolboy living in a house on top of the cliff overlooking the filming location. Jaz took Mr Alfred out to John Dial and he recounted what he saw back in 1959. (SJ)

The Robinsons get into difficulty controlling the canoe as it races towards the rocks. (0:51:48)

These John Dial shots were all taken by Jaz in November 2019. (SJ)

Canoe flipping over at John Dial beach, Hope Bay, as Fritz (James MacArthur) and Ernst (Tommy Kirk) jump into the water. In this screenshot, the headland at Mt. St. George, Studley Park, Granby Point and Smith’s island are identifiable.

Jaz (SJ)

After jumping off the canoe, which smashes to pieces against the rocks, Ernst and Fritz wade out of the water. This sequence was filmed among the large rocks close to the cliff at John Dial Beach, Hope Bay, Tobago. Smith’s island, off Granby Point, is at the top left of the screenshot.

Jaz from close to the cliff (SJ).

Pirates running around the rocks to attack the family fort from the sea. Richmond Bay 1959, 1:57:27

Richmond Bay, Tobago, 2020. Jaz (SJ)

Scene with Father, Fritz and Ernst rescuing the animals from the shipwreck on a flotilla of wine kegs and barrels. This scene was filmed in the calm waters at Boat Bay, Belle Garden, 1959. (22:44)

And here is a calm scene at Boat Bay from Jaz. (SJ)