Name: Robby
Released: 1968
Duration: 1 min
Cast: Warren Raum, Ryp Siani, John Garces, Rita Elliot, John Woodbridge

Brief Synopsis

Shipwrecked on a tropical island, a young boy befriends an aban- doned native youth, forcing him to reevaluate societal prejudice about race, religion and nudity.

Cast & Crew

Film Details

Release Date

Jan 1968

Premiere Information

New York opening: 14 Aug 1968

Production Company

Bluewood Films

Country

United States

Technical Specs

Duration

60m

Sound

Mono

Color

Synopsis

A National Geographic writer and his wife place their 8-year-old son, Robby, in a tiny lifeboat before perishing in stormy seas. After being washed up on the shore of a lush tropical island, Robby attempts to apply the knowledge of self-survival taught him by his nature-loving parents. He appears doomed despite his valiant efforts, until he spies a black boy his age, who was banished with his now-deceased mother to the island years before by a wrathful tribal chief. Terrified by the stranger, Robby remains guarded even after the boy saves him from drowning. Eventually, however, they become friends, and Robby names him "Friday" to commemorate the day they met. Robby soon discovers that the civilized ways he tries to teach Friday are not as practical as Friday's ways. Together they enjoy many idyllic days and adventures until Horton Crandall, a drunken beachcomber, lands on their island in a battered little boat. The next day Crandall, a writer, recognizes Robby from newspaper photographs. He tells Robby that his wealthy aunt and uncle, Janet and Lloyd Woodruff, have offered a reward for information about the boy and takes Robby, and also Friday, back to the States in his leaky boat. Arriving at the aunt's estate, Crandall speaks glowingly of the boys to the aunt, who assures him that the boys will be allowed to remain together. But when Robby's uncle, a fortune hunter, arrives home and sees the situation, he persuades his wife to place Friday in an adoption agency. There, Lloyd Woodruff reasons, a black family can adopt him. Thus disposed of, Friday will no longer threaten the Woodruffs' social standing. When a man from the orphanage comes for Friday, Robby desperately, but futilely, tries to prevent him from taking his friend. Perplexed as to why he and Friday cannot remain together, Robby tearfully watches as Friday is taken away.