Who doesn't know the story of "Robinson Crusoe"? Well, apparently me. I thought I knew it, but for the life of me, I cannot remember how it ends, or what happens to Friday. This movie is the story of Robinson Crusoe, but primarily told from the point of view of Friday, the native savage, whom I remember Crusoe turning into a servant to help pass his time on the island. This sounds like a one-note idea, and for the most part, it is.

"Man Friday" is a 1975 movie based upon a 1972 British play, and it shows. The film is definitely a product of its time. I definitely felt a sense that Friday is far more of a hippie than he is a black savage. The always incredible Peter O'Toole plays Crusoe, and Richard Roundtree (the original Shaft) plays Friday. This is practically only a two man show.

The story starts not with Crusoe's shipwreck, but many years later, after he has built himself a small fort to bring himself to as much a level of English comfort that he could from what remained from the shipwreck. Crusoe's home is less like Tom Hank's in Castaway, and more like the Swiss Family Robinson's. It almost looks like a nice Caribbean vacation getaway.

In the beginning of the film we see Friday talking to his tribe about his time spent with Crusoe. As a matter of fact, I would say the first 95% of the film is spent as part of Friday's flashback. He describes being shipwrecked with three of his fellow natives. One unfortunately died before reaching shore, so they are preparing to eat him when O'Toole comes running along the beach and shoots all of them screaming obscenities like 'Godless Savages'. Friday does not run because he knows that to run will only make the demon chase you, so as his companions are shot, he pretends to be a prisoner who was about to be eaten too. Crusoe spares his life, and more or less makes him his slave, although he treats him a little more like an uneducated savage in need of an education and finding God.

The majority of the movie is spent being a satire of the English (our) culture, and its failure to work while trapped on a deserted island. Friday tries to explain to his people how Crusoe would say things like "This hat is mine." and "That fishing pole is mine". This is a concept that the tribe couldn't understand. Friday tries to teach Crusoe about his gods that exists within everything. He doesn't understand the point of Crusoe's God, whom continually seems to want to punish his followers for doing what is natural to them. Peter O'Toole is of course an incredible actor, and he really speaks with authority when he is trying to convince Friday of the importance of following the Christian way.

Friday feels like a slave doing all the work while Crusoe supervises. When he complains, Crusoe decides to pay Friday a gold coin per day. Friday doesn't understand the importance of this, or why he would want money to buy anything when he can use anything in the fort that he wants already. After the money runs out, Crusoe has Friday dive where the English ship sank to get more coins. It is a silly notion, but one both men perform.

Crusoe tries to explain what his home is like, and when he describes England as being a cold wet island, Friday asks why he would want to leave this warm sunny island. All Crusoe can mutter is that England has coal. Friday cannot understand why Crusoe wants to go back to his home when Friday's home is within a much closer reach, and seems like a much happier place.

There is a lot of comedy in this movie. Just seeing Peter O'Toole with his big fuzzy shoes and hat will bring a smile to your face. Richard Roundtree gives his Friday a very unusual laugh and mannerisms that will also make you laugh with him. There is a very frustrating attempt by Crusoe to teach Friday how to play soccer. And then there is the infamous hang-gliding scene I mentioned in my title.

After watching a hawk (?) fly off with a pig, Friday suggests to Crusoe that they try to build a flying ship instead of a canoe to fly to his island. First off, Crusoe didn't seem to want to build a canoe because he didn't want to go to Friday's island. Instead, he wanted to wait for a large ship that could take him all the way back to England. Yet, we get a montage of various failures in their attempts to build a flying machine. These tend to all look like the kind of failed attempts we see in old black & white footages of early flying machines. The hang-glider they build is obviously a professional hang-glider, except covered in straw around the handles so it looks as convincing as a "Gilligan's Island" bicycle. And the fact that the wing is painted in an extremely detailed 'hippie' type pattern that could have easily been painted onto the side of a VW Bus from the 70's didn't help. This is their final attempt, and after floating out above the ocean, and then returning back to the beach they decide to give up.

The movie seems to have many messages. But they are all very similar to the various hippie manifestos of the time. There is a little bit of stating that we need to be more understanding of other cultures. Even though it predates roots, it makes some strong statements against the idea of slavery. There is no need for money if we were all willing to share. Free love even gets its say-so in the film.

There is one very interesting scene that has stuck with me, that I cannot quite find the appropriate 60's belief to match with it. One day Crusoe comes across Friday who is staring down at the ground crying. He says this is what you most do on a 'day of sorrow'. He tells Crusoe to do the same, and they both sit together and cry. I really liked the scene, and I wish I knew more of what it represented.

Friday eventually realizes he has power over Crusoe. Over time Friday realizes that Crusoe could not bear to be alone again. He also discovers that his gun isn't magic that only a white man can use. The final straw seems to be when he realizes that Crusoe insists upon being stuck in these beliefs that do not make sense. He becomes certain that Crusoe is a little insane. This gives Friday the strength and bravery to insist that they must go back to his island, back to his tribe. That is where the present story takes place. The tribe must now vote to see if Crusoe can join the tribe, or if his beliefs will only taint the tribe.

I don't want to spoil anything, but if anyone else sees this film, I'm curious for any opinions on what they got out of the ending. Is it merely the logical conclusion? Did Crusoe learn something from Friday? Did he feel guilty about any, or all of it? Or is he simply unhappy with the possibility of being alone again?

Note: On my personal website, I gave "Man Friday" 3½ stars, which I am unable to do on Epinions.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older
Special Effects: Well at least you can't see the strings