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The Island at the Top of the World

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The Island at the Top of the World
Promotional poster for The Island at the Top of the World by Eric Pulford
Directed byRobert Stevenson
Written byIan Cameron (novel)
John Whedon (screenplay)
Produced byWinston Hibler
StarringDonald Sinden
David Hartman
Jacques Marin
Mako
Agneta Eckemyr
CinematographyFrank V. Phillips
Edited byRobert Stafford
Music byMaurice Jarre
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Distribution
Release date
20 December 1974
Running time
93 mins
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
Swedish
Norwegian
Danish
Icelandic

The Island at the Top of the World is a 1974 Disney film starring Donald Sinden and David Hartman.

Synopsis

In London in the year 1907, a British aristocrat named Sir Anthony Ross (Donald Sinden) hastily arranges an expedition to the Arctic to search for his lost son Donald. Donald had become lost on a whaling expedition to find the fabled island where whales go to die.

Sir Anthony employs the talents of a Scandinavian-American archaeologist Professor Ivarsson (David Hartman) and Captain Brieux (Jacques Marin), a French inventor/aeronaut who pilots the expedition in a French dirigible named the Hyperion, which Captain Brieux invented. Upon reaching the Arctic, they meet Oomiak, a comically cowardly/brave Eskimo friend of Donald's, and trick him into helping them join in the search.

Ultimately, the expedition becomes (temporarily) separated from Captain Brieux, and discovers an uncharted island named Astragard, occupied by a lost civilization of Vikings, cut off from the rest of the world for centuries. The Vikings capture Sir Anthony and Ivarsson, but Oomiak escapes. Shortly thereafter they find Donald, but are nearly put to death by the fanatic Godi (pronounced "Go-dah"), a sort-of Lawspeaker/Soothsayer authority figure. The three men (Sir Anthony, Ivarsson and Donald) are saved from being burned alive by a brave and beautiful Viking girl named Freyja, with whom Donald is deeply and mutually in love. They escape, and are rejoined by Oomiak and eventually find the Whales Graveyard, but are attacked by Killer Whales. Here they are saved by the sudden reappearance of Captain Brieux, but they are still being pursued by the angry Godi and his rather unwilling warriors. Finally, the Godi is killed by the explosion when he shoots a fiery arrow at the Hyperion, but the Vikings will not let the expedition return to their world unless one of them remains behind as a hostage. Ivarsson however, willingly volunteers to stay, because this is a chance to live history. Ivarsson also points out that if someday Mankind is ever foolish enough to destroy itself, places like Astragard may become humanity's final refuge. And so, Sir Anthony, Donald, Freyja, Captain Brieux and Oomiak, are allowed to depart in peace, promising not to tell the Outside World about Astragard.

Background

The film was based on the novel The Lost Ones, written by Ian Cameron, set in the location of Prince Patrick Island. To tie-in with the film, the novel was reissued with the movie's title. There were several changes from the book to the film. The novel is set in 1960, but the film is set in 1907. Instead of Prince Patrick Island, the island in the film is located due north of Ellesmere Island (cf. Crocker Land). Several extra characters and the airship Hyperion appear in the film, but not in the novel. Also, the greatest departure in the film is Freyja survives to (presumably) live happily ever after with Donald, whereas in the book she tragically dies, sacrificing herself to save Donald and Sir Anthony.

The film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures, and in a family-based package was accompanied by Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! The film received an Academy Award nomination for its Art direction/set decoration (Peter Ellenshaw, John B. Mansbridge, Walter H. Tyler, Al Roelofs, Hal Gausman).[1]

A sequel was planned, entitled The Lost Ones, based more closely on the original novel, but was abandoned when it became apparent that Island at the Top of the World would not be a box office success.

Reception

Despite the lukewarm reception upon it's first release, it has been given better reviews in previous years and is often regarded as a family classic.

Soundtrack

The film's score was created by film composer Maurice Jarre. This was Jarre's first score for a Disney film. The score featured sweeping themes that were tinged with ethnic string and percussion instruments that helped to portray the various cultures represented in the film. The recording of the score was done on 35mm magnetic film. Multiple film reels were synchronized in order to have all the tracks in the recording. Several recording sessions were used. Many of the exotic percussion instrumentation was overdubbed after the initial orchestral sessions were completed. The score was then mixed down to mono for insertion into the film. The final film's dialog, sound effects and score were all mixed to mono.

In 1974, to accompany the film release, Disney released a story record album containing audio clips from the film, an eleven page illustrated booklet. The story was narrated by famous baritone voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft. Jarre's score for the film was performed on solo organ for the storybook record release. It does not contain the orchestral recording of the score that was used in the film. (1974: Disneyland Records - Catalog No. 3814, Mono, LP format)

During the 1970's, portions of the orchestral score to "Island at the Top of the World" were used in Disneyland's Adventureland. Jarre's music was mixed with various other music cues from other Disney films and attractions to create a continuous loop of ambient adventure music. The music collage was played in ride cues, restaurants and shopping areas inside the park.

In 1994, the laser video disc release of the film, included the score isolated on a separate audio track.

In 2010, The main title music from the film was presented on a 4-CD compilation of Maurice Jarre film music entitled "Le Cinema De Maurice Jarre", released in France. The track was in mono and presumably from the original session mixdown.

In March, 2012, Intrada record label, released the complete score to the film on compact disc (Intrada Special Collection, Volume 193). For the release, engineers were given access to the Disney vaults containing the complete original recordings, which were recorded onto multiple reels of 35mm magnetic film. Intrada synchronized the recording elements and remixed the entire film score in stereo. The result is a beautifully restored version of the score, heard in stereo for the first time.

Cultural references

Disneyland (Anaheim, CA)

A new land, Discovery Bay, was planned but never built (in the area now occupied by Big Thunder Ranch), which would have contained a reproduction of the Hyperion airship protruding from a recreation of Captain Brieux's hangar. Sections of the design for this land was used in Disneyland Resort Paris' Discoveryland area.

Disneyland Paris

The Hyperion airship was recreated at Disneyland Resort Paris in the Discoveryland area of the park, and was at its time in 1992 considered as the largest prop ever at any Disney theme park.

Other

Hyperion is a brand used by Disney for publishing endeavours, from the early 1990s. Disney had a studio on Hyperion Avenue in Los Angeles early in their history.

Cast list

See also

Hyperion airship

References

  1. ^ "NY Times: The Island at the Top of the World". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-12-29.

External links

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