{"id":43537,"date":"2016-02-09T08:00:12","date_gmt":"2016-02-09T13:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/?p=43537"},"modified":"2022-02-05T23:37:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-06T04:37:15","slug":"movie-review-the-island-at-the-top-of-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/movie-review-the-island-at-the-top-of-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Movie Review: The Island at the Top of the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

DVD Cover Copyright Disney<\/em><\/p>\n

Based on Ian Cameron\u2019s 1961 novel The Lost Ones<\/em>, The<\/em> Island at the Top of the World <\/em>was theatrically released on December 20, 1974. The 93-minute flick, a commercial flop, was preceded by the short \u201cWinnie the Pooh and Tigger Too,\u201d which was subsequently repackaged as the third segment in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh <\/em>(1977). (1)<\/p>\n

Plot Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1907, a widower British aristocrat named Sir Anthony Ross (Donald Sinden) has one goal, to find his son, Donald Ross (David Gwillim), who went missing two years earlier while attempting to locate a legendary island in the Arctic where \u201cwhales go to die.\u201d To aid his quest, Ross bypasses the help of Santa Claus and essentially coerces Professor John Ivarsson (David Hartman), an archeologist from the University of Minnesota temporarily teaching in Europe, to join the mission along with Captain Brieux (Jacques Marin), who has invented an impressive airship, Hyperion<\/em>, for transportation. The trio then locates Oomiak (Mako Iwamatsu), an Eskimo who had traveled with Donald but got separated in the midst of danger, for potentially crucial instructions.<\/p>\n

Back onboard the Hyperion<\/em>, Ross, Ivarrson, Brieux, and Oomiak see something incredible, a place where whales go to die but humans went to live. This place is Astragard, an uncharted volcanic island with immense greenery and mountains, where Vikings have covertly resided in peace for centuries. With Ivarrson translating Norse into English, it soon becomes obvious that Donald is living happily in this utopia and that the natives are willing to arrange a reunion. Now deeming Donald a spy, however, Astragard\u2019s High Priest, The Godi (Gunnar \u00d6hlund), is in a less-than-accommodating mood, and he prepares to execute the newcomers. Donald\u2019s girlfriend, Freyja (Agneta Eckemyr), frees the men, but they are hardly out of harm\u2019s way. Will they survive this ordeal?<\/p>\n

Reviews<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martin Levine contributed a relatively positive review of The Island at the Top of the World <\/em>in Newsday<\/em>, praising especially the visuals and deeming the film superior to recent Disney efforts. Levine said, \u201cParents must find few Yuletide gifts more welcome than a good children\u2019s movie. That\u2019s what \u2018The Island at the Top of the World\u2019 is, and it comes from what recent years have made to seem an unlikely source\u2014Walt Disney Productions. Since [Walt] Disney\u2019s death, the company\u2019s films have looked cheap and featured acting of sitcom broadness, with plots of like absurdity. \u2018Island,\u2019 which opened Friday at Flagship Theaters, shouldn\u2019t be taken as heralding the return of the golden age; director Robert Stevenson has been too busy in the Disney mill for optimism. But the careful [word unintelligible] of the novel on which it is based (Ian Cameron\u2019s \u2018The Lost Ones\u2019) has been retained, and the sets and special-effects reflect what must have been a larger-than-usual budget.\u201d (2)<\/p>\n

I would concur with Levine\u2019s take on the acting in Disney\u2019s live action films between 1967 and 1974\u2014the performances in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes <\/em>(1969) and Now You See Him, Now You Don\u2019t <\/em>(1972), for example, are borderline wretched\u2014but while these movies are hardly cinematic masterpieces, I find them immensely entertaining and would definitely recommend checking them out. You will be hard pressed not to laugh, sometimes hysterically.<\/p>\n

Continuing his review, Levine offered a quip with The Island at the Top of the World<\/em>, saying, \u201cThe story\u2019s final twist is badly forced.\u201d (3) I understand Levine\u2019s point, though on viewing the film a second time, the moment is adequately foreshadowed by words uttered during the walk between Donald\u2019s house and The Godi\u2019s temple. For one protagonist, the past is the future.<\/p>\n

Hyperion<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Hyperion<\/em> airship is a reference to 2719 Hyperion Avenue, the Hollywood location of the Disney Studio from 1926 to 1940, when operations moved to a larger campus in Burbank, California. Disney\u2019s first full length animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs<\/em> (1937), was created at the Hyperion Avenue studio. (4)<\/p>\n

According to Dave Smith, chief archivist emeritus of The Walt Disney Archives, the gargantuan Hyperion<\/em> was a mirage. Smith said, \u201cThe airship Hyperion<\/em> was designed by Peter Ellenshaw, the movie\u2019s production designer, and various-sized miniatures were built for the filming of the flying sequences by the special-effects department at the Disney Studios. For the segments featuring the cast in the gondola, a full-size gondola was built with only the very bottom part of the balloon. This was filmed on Stage 2 at the Studio. A full-scale airship was not constructed.\u201d (5)<\/p>\n

In 1991, Disney christened its new publishing division \u201cHyperion.\u201d (6)<\/p>\n

Relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sir Anthony Ross and Donald Ross come to realize their excesses. The former was too demanding in grooming his son for the family business, while Donald overreacted and risked his life. Sir Anthony\u2019s concern for Donald is shown through the former\u2019s willingness to take every transportation risk in the dead of winter to locate his son.<\/p>\n

Visuals<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Island at the Top of the World<\/em> is visually interesting with fire, lava, arrow battles, cascades, explosions, and the Hyperion<\/em>, though the quality of the actual settings is dated from a 2016 perspective. The volcano\u2019s surroundings look especially unrealistic as does the appearance of The Godi\u2019s temple. These locales are clearly painted sets on a soundstage.<\/p>\n

If nothing else, the film is colorful. The varied colors during the opening credits and the volcano scene are reminiscent of those from the \u201cRite of Spring\u201d segment of Fantasia<\/em> (1940), albeit without dinosaurs.<\/p>\n

Acting<\/strong><\/p>\n

The acting in The Island at the Top of the World <\/em>is adequate, definitely superior to that in other Disney films of the era. Much of the dialogue, however, is either not in English or, in the case of Captain Brieux, uttered with a heavy accent, rendering comprehension problematic. Subtitles would have been a useful addition.<\/p>\n

Humor<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Island at the Top of the World <\/em>is not a comedy, though comic relief is occasionally provided, most notably by Josephine the dog and Oomiak.<\/p>\n

Professor Ivarsson notes that sulfur is good for the lungs. The element\u2019s effect on one\u2019s nose is less beneficial, however, unless you like the smell of rotten eggs.<\/p>\n

I found one exchange late in the film between Freyja and Ross over the rise of the Vikings from the sea awkwardly hysterical.<\/p>\n

Coincidentally, Ivarrson, a professor at the University of Minnesota, interacts with Vikings, \u201creal\u201d Vikings, not members of the popular National Football League franchise.<\/p>\n

Relationship to Other Disney Films<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Island at the Top of the World <\/em>was the seventeenth of nineteen films directed by Robert Stevenson for Disney, dating back to Johnny Tremain <\/em>(1957). Stevenson was named a Disney Legend in 2002. (7)<\/p>\n

One of the minor characters in The Island at the Top of the World <\/em>is named Sven (Torsten Wahlund). Sven is also the name of Kristoff\u2019s reindeer in Frozen <\/em>(2013). Both films contain arctic and Norwegian overtones.<\/p>\n

Sir Ross deems Captain Brieux \u201cbrave, but mad as a hatter.\u201d The Mad Hatter was a key player in Alice in Wonderland <\/em>(1951).<\/p>\n

In the Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

The box office failure of The Island at the Top of the World <\/em>was a factor in the demise of the proposed \u201cDiscovery Bay\u201d expansion to Disneyland\u2019s Frontierland in the mid-1970s. The area\u2019s headliner attraction was to be based on The Island at the Top of the World<\/em>, and the Hyperion airship was featured in Disney\u2019s concept art. (8)<\/p>\n

A replica of the Hyperion<\/em> sits atop the \u201cCaf\u00e9 Hyperion\u201d restaurant in Discoveryland at Disneyland Park Paris. (9)<\/p>\n

The amphitheater at Disney\u2019s California Adventure is called \u201cHyperion Theater.\u201d A new Broadway-caliber production based on Frozen <\/em>is scheduled to debut in the summer of 2016, replacing the long-running \u201cDisney’s Aladdin \u2013 A Musical Spectacular.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

Photo Copyright Rikki Niblett<\/em><\/p>\n

In 2015, the Superstar Television Theater at Disney\u2019s Hollywood Studios was renamed \u201cHyperion Theater.\u201d The venue currently houses an interactive show, \u201cFor the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

In late 2010, Disney announced that the former Pleasure Island area at the then-Downtown Disney would be altered into \u201cHyperion Wharf.\u201d The idea was eventually scrapped, and in 2015, Downtown Disney as a whole was rechristened \u201cDisney Springs.\u201d (10)<\/p>\n

Guests can experience the cuisines and cultures of England, France, and Norway at their respective pavilions in Epcot\u2019s World Showcase.<\/p>\n

Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Island at the Top of the World <\/em>picks up after a slow start, and features interesting visuals and a suspenseful plot. \u00a0Disney history buffs should definitely watch it because of the Hyperion and Discovery Bay connections. Relatively speaking, it is a 2.5 out of 4-star film.<\/p>\n

Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) Levine, M. (1974, December 23). MOVIES: Stylish odyssey. Newsday<\/em>, p. 11A. Retrieved December 31, 2015, from http:\/\/0-search.proquest.com.alpha1.suffolk.lib.ny.us\/docview\/920553369?accountid=35174<\/a><\/p>\n

2) Ibid.<\/p>\n

3) Ibid.<\/p>\n

4) Nugent, F. (1939, January 29). THIS DISNEY WHIRL: A Visitor to Hollywood Explores the Best Laid Plans of Mickey’s Dad. New York Times<\/em>, p. X5. Retrieved December 31, 2015, from http:\/\/0-search.proquest.com.alpha1.suffolk.lib.ny.us\/docview\/102854986?accountid=35174<\/a><\/p>\n

5) Smith, D. (2012). Live-Action Films. In Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered<\/em> (p. 138). New York: Disney Editions.<\/p>\n

6) Lee, E. (2013, June 28). Hachette Will Acquire Disney’s Hyperion Book Publishing Business. Retrieved December 31, 2015, from http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2013-06-28\/hachette-will-acquire-disney-s-hyperion-book-publishing-business<\/a><\/p>\n

7) Listing of Legends by Year. (n.d.). Retrieved January 1, 2016, from https:\/\/d23.com\/listing-of-legends-by-year\/<\/p>\n

8) Krosnick, B. (2015, July 30). Disney Canned the Best Theme Park Concept it Ever Had. Here’s Why. Retrieved December 31, 2015, from http:\/\/www.themeparktourist.com\/features\/20150727\/30436\/discovery-bay-inventive-tale-disneylands-astounding-lost-land?page=3<\/a>;\u00a0 Hill, J. (2005, May 22). Let’s take a stroll around Discovery Bay. Retrieved December 31, 2015, from http:\/\/jimhillmedia.com\/editor_in_chief1\/b\/jim_hill\/archive\/2005\/05\/23\/609.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n

9) Cafe Hyperion. (n.d.). Retrieved December 31, 2015, from http:\/\/www.disneylandparis.co.uk\/dining\/disneyland-park\/cafe-hyperion\/<\/a>; Spence, J. (2009, March 25). Disneyland Paris – Discoveryland \u2013 Part 2 \u2013 Orbitron and Videopolis. Retrieved December 31, 2015, from http:\/\/land.allears.net\/blogs\/jackspence\/2009\/03\/disneyland_paris_discoveryland_2.html<\/a><\/p>\n

10) Weiss, W. (2013, March 29). Hyperion Wharf Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World. Retrieved December 31, 2015, from http:\/\/www.yesterland.com\/hyperwharf.html<\/a><\/p>\n

What do you think of The Island at the Top of the World? Let me know in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n

Sponsored Ad:<\/strong>\u00a0 Would you like to help support The Mouse For Less website in continuing their mission of being THE Disney vacation planning resource?\u00a0 You can do so by purchasing The Island at the Top of the World<\/a><\/em> from our Affiliate Link through Amazon. Thanks so much for your support!<\/p>\n

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