Peter O'Toole, the man who brought The Ruling Class to its knees in 1972, here crucifies Defoe's Robinson Crusoe in a spin-off on the classic tale that turns into a highly amusing (but brutal) attack on racism and colonialism. After living alone on “his” island for 12 years, Crusoe discovers a recently stranded troup of tribesmen engaged in a cannibalistic ritual. Bent on preserving the standards of Christianity and sportsmanship as defined by the British Empire, he dutifully shoots them - all but one, Friday (Richard Roundtree), whom he turns into a slave and student (of Christianity and sportsmanship...). Britain's 1976 entry at Cannes, Man Friday was called by Variety “a choice morsel for the discriminating.... (C)austically humorous...it also has its deeply moving moments.... (U)p to and beyond its surprise ending, it remains stimulating and thought-provoking....” (JB)