Mr. Robinson Crusoe (1932) - Edward Sutherland

Douglas Fairbanks didn't do much with sound, and some people who see this film wouldn't bother to change their opinions. I for one admire the film. Fairbanks, who was responsible for the screen story, again under the name Elton Thomas, plays a city man who makes a bet he can live the life of Riley on a deserted island with nothing but a tooth brush. When his dog jumps overboard to join him, he throws the tooth brush back. Unlike most desert island films where the newly arrived would have some problems adapting at the start, Fairbanks seems to be absolutely perfect here. His boy scout training comes in real handy. Along with his dog they quickly find food, water, and start building a shelter.

The film is a monument to American imperialism. Within a month's time Fairbanks has proven himself smarter and better than the people who have been natives of these islands for centuries. He uses animals as his slaves, even having hot water, building a penthouse, and through some unexplainable way building a radio, even though there'd be no reception several hundred miles from land. The story would be boring with just Fairbanks proving that he's a superman genius so of course the conflict of a woman forced into a marriage on a nearby island is thrown in. She escapes and well who would of guessed it she winds up in Fairbanks arms and he has to fight off a horde of natives who just so happen to be cannibals. His slaves/animals help him out and he gets away just as his friends are arriving back from their hunting in Africa to shoot some natives and hail the white man with his remarkable intelligence and great weapons. A lot of this is hard to swallow, but Fairbanks charisma helps make it bearable.