Robinson soll nicht sterben (1957)

Daniel Defoe is the famous writer and author of Robinson Crusoe, but for pleasure he also tells stories to Ben, Charly, and Jim, boys who have to work hard in a cotton mill. Maud Cantley also works at the mill; Defoe rents a room from her mother. Defoe was once an adviser to King George II. But ever since he fell out of the king’s favor and Defoe’s books were banned because too many sailors were fleeing to islands in the manner of Robinson, the writer has struggled to make ends meet. On top of that, he is estranged from his son, Tom. Tom gets into debt and is sent to debtors’ prison. But his father is unyielding and still does not want to help him. Maud, on the other hand, believes in Tom and visits him in prison. She leaves herself as security for Tom so that he can visit his father, who has fallen seriously ill from all the trouble. She wants the two of them to reconcile. Defoe, however, remains adamant, so his son steals his greatest treasure: the precious handwritten manuscript of his novel Robinson Crusoe. Tom sells the manuscript to a junk dealer for a laughably low price and uses the money to pay his debts, securing his release. He then disappears with crime boss Carlton Heep and a few shady characters. Maud and the children immediately set out to find him, including Ben, Charly, and Jim, who had actually planned to sign on to a ship that evening and flee forever, following Robinson’s example, because of their terrible work in the cotton mill. They find Tom at Carlton Heep’s tavern and take him with them. In Hyde Park, they hold him briefly while Maud secures an audience with the king himself. The king gives Tom money so he can buy back the manuscript, and also promises to ensure that children will no longer have to work so hard. They all then visit Defoe at Mrs. Cantley’s home. Tom and Maud read aloud to the seriously ill writer from Robinson Crusoe.