The Island at the Top of the World

The Entrance to Hell!

The Island at the Top of the World is directed by Robert Stevenson and adapted to screenplay by John Whedon from the novel The Lost Ones written by Ian Cameron. It stars Donald Sinden, David Hartman, Jacques Marin, Mako and Agneta Eckemyr. Music is by Maurice Jarre and cinematography by Frank Phillips.

Out of Walt Disney productions, this is a pic that finds the house of the mouse desperately trying to keep their live action fantasy flame ablaze. Unfortunately, in spite of some appealing production shunts, it's really rather dull and performed in the same manner.

Plot has Sinden as an aristo type who has arranged an expedition to search the Arctic wastes for his lost son, Donald, who disappeared two years prev...

A very good film!

I felt thoroughly entertained for the entirety of the 93 minute run time of 'The Island at the Top of the World'. The special effects may have aged in quite funky and mildly chucklesome fashion, but the great adventure elements, pinpoint pacing and terrific cast help the film keep a high footing.

Donald Sinden (Ross), David Hartman (Ivarsson) and Jacques Marin (Brieux) are all fantastic in their respective roles, none of them necessarily stand out by themselves but they really do bounce off each other impressively - kudos to the casting. I would've liked a tad more development into Sinden's character and his concurrent decisions, especially with what occurs with Mako (Oomiak).

The music is done ably by Maurice Jar...

Jules Verne-like adventure about finding a lost colony of Vikings

A British aristocrat (Donald Sinden) in London, 1907, arranges an expedition to the arctic in a state-of-the-art airship to find his lost son (David Gwillim). Along for the ride are an archaeologist (David Hartman), the captain of the vessel (Jacques Marin) and a fearless Eskimo (Mako). They are astonished to find a settlement of Vikings, but they value their privacy.

"The Island at the Top of the World" (1974) is in the tradition of Jules Verne or Edgar Rice Burroughs-inspired adventures like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) and Mysterious Island (1961). Unfortunately it failed at the box office while the similar The Land that Time Forgot, released a few wee...

Discovered this the other day in a tin of DVDs. It is a little bit far-fetched, but nonetheless a smashing Disney family adventure about a millionaire who sets off to the Arctic in an airship with a professor and a slightly grumpy French captain (the frequently scene-stealing Jacques Marin) to track down his missing son. They pick up an unwilling Eskimo en route to a volcanic island inhabited by long lost Vikings and there their enterprise begins. There is some lovely scenery and wildlife photography interspersed with the action and the dramatic scenes hold up well after almost 50 years. The acting isn't great nor is the script, but it boasts a fine Maurice Jarre score and it did take me fondly down memory lane back to when I saw this in the cinema aged 7.