Man Friday (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | Jack Gold (director) |
| Products | Adventure film |
Man Friday is a 1975 adventure film helmed by director Jack Gold, featuring performances by Peter O'Toole and Richard Roundtree. The movie is an adaptation of Adrian Mitchell's 1973 theatrical play, itself inspired by Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe. This version subverts the conventional narrative by portraying Crusoe as a strict Englishman, while Friday emerges as the more insightful and compassionate indigenous character. The story offers a critique of Western civilization, set against the backdrop of Caribbean tribal existence.
Plot
Friday arrives on Crusoe's island accompanied by four others, who partake in a ritualistic cannibalism of a fallen companion. Crusoe kills these visitors and detains Friday. Friday swiftly acquires English and is introduced to Western ideologies such as ownership, games, discipline, and faith—concepts he finds confusing and often ridicules. After resisting servitude, Crusoe concedes that Friday is human but denies him equality, compensating him with a single gold coin daily—a token gesture with little meaning on the island.
When an English vessel appears, Crusoe initially greets it warmly; however, the newcomers reveal themselves as slave traders intent on capturing them. Friday assists in eliminating these threats, resulting in their continued isolation. A fragile alliance forms between the two; Friday aspires to impart a liberated way of life devoid of "power, guilt and fear" to Crusoe.
Later, Crusoe lapses into racial superiority delusions during an improvised lesson on "civilization." In a moment of rage, he restrains Friday and threatens violence but ends up shooting his own parrot instead. This incident fractures their relationship, reverting to a hierarchical master-servant structure.
Years pass, and Friday accumulates 2,000 gold coins—the amount Crusoe once mockingly demanded for his hut—and claims ownership over Crusoe’s belongings, including his firearm. He orders Crusoe to construct a raft, and together they sail to Friday’s native island. There, Friday narrates their history to his tribe, who refuse Crusoe’s offer to educate their children, arguing that he only instills fear. Crusoe returns alone to his island and takes his own life.
Cast
- Peter O'Toole as Robinson Crusoe
- Richard Roundtree as Friday
- Peter Cellier as Carey
- Christopher Cabot as McBain
- Joel Fluellen as Doctor
- Sam Seabrook as Young Girl
- Stanley Bennett Clay as Young Boy (credited as Stanley Clay)
Production
This film originated from Adrian Mitchell’s 1972 BBC Play for Today television drama starring Colin Blakely. Mitchell adapted the material for the stage as well, with its London debut occurring in 1973.
It was one of the earliest projects financed through Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. Although initially intended to be shot in Hawaii, production was relocated to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico due to cost efficiencies. Filming began after a fortnight of rehearsals and spanned five weeks starting in December 1974.
Release and reception
The film made its debut at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival, where director Jack Gold earned a Palme d’Or nomination. Subsequently, the movie was re-edited without Gold’s participation, incorporating a more hopeful conclusion by removing the original suicide scene.
Critic Roger Ebert characterized it in the Chicago Sun-Times as "a metaphor in which everything... serves the ultimate, and murky, meaning," marking a departure from a simple survival narrative.