Miss Robin Crusoe 1953

On September 28, 1659, a ship founders, stranding the captain’s daughter Robin Crusoe Amanda Blake and a sailor named Sykes on a deserted island. When Sykes tries to force Robin to show her appreciation for his efforts, she flees up a hill. In the ensuing struggle, he falls over a cliff and is killed.

She soon settles in, building herself a tree house, praying to God for protection from the hostile animals, and keeping track of her island life in her diary. She explores the rest of the island and briefly goes skinny dipping.

One day, a group of savages shows up with two women captives. She watches from hiding as they execute one in gruesome fashion. She then rescues the other, and the two fight off the men with the aid of her flintlock. She names her new companion Friday Rosalind Hayes, as that was the day of her rescue. The two women become friends. Robin teaches Friday some words and soon starts to wear the same dress as her. Friday does caution her about a deadly fruit while they are foraging.

In December, Royal Navy officer Jonathan George Nader washes ashore after a storm sinks his ship and kills his crewmates. Robin’s experiences with lecherous sailors and her cruel father have embittered her against men, and she is hostile and suspicious at first. When Jonathan learns that she is repairing a longboat that can hold only two, he suggests that the fittest take it and send help back for Friday. Robin insists she and Friday will use the boat. Eventually, Robin overcomes her prejudice against him, and they spend the night together.

The next morning, she awakens to find he has stolen the longboat and is sailing away. When he returns, she assumes he is a coward, and sets out to kill him. He informs her that he turned back for her. Before she can shoot him, however, the savages return and capture Friday. Robin and Jonathan rescue her, but are surrounded. When all seems lost, Robin admits she wants to marry Jonathan. Just then, a warship appears and bombards the attackers, enabling the trio to steal an outrigger canoe and reach the safety of the ship.

Robin writes the final entry in her journal with Jonathan’s help as his hand is shown touching her hand.