The Last Flight of Noah's Ark

The Last Flight of Noah's Ark
Directed by Charles Jarrott
Produced by Ron Miller
Jan Williams
Written by George Arthur Bloom
Steven W. Carabatsos
Ernest K. Gann (story)
Sandy Glass
Starring Elliott Gould
Geneviève Bujold
Ricky Schroder
Music by Richard Bowden
Maurice Jarre
Cinematography Charles F. Wheeler
Edited by Gordon D. Brenner
Production
company
Distributed by Buena Vista Distribution
Release dates
  • June 25, 1980
Running time
 97 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $11,000,000

The Last Flight of Noah's Ark is a Disney film released by Buena Vista Distribution on June 25, 1980. The film stars Elliott Gould, Geneviève Bujold and Ricky Schroder.

Plot

A jaded pilot named Noah Dugan (Gould) is unemployed and owes a large amount of money due to his gambling. He goes to an old friend, Stoney (Vincent Gardenia), who owns an airfield. He is offered a job flying a cargo of animals to a remote South Pacific island aboard a B-29 bomber. Bernadette Lafleur (Bujold) is the prim missionary who accompanies him. Bernadette has raised the animals at an orphanage and is close to two of the orphans, Bobby and Julie (Schroder and Tammy Lauren).

The two children cannot bear to part with their beloved animals and stow away aboard the bomber as it takes off. During the flight, the plane goes off course and Dugan is forced to crash land on an uncharted island. While on the island, the group meets two elderly Japanese holdout soldiers who have lived there alone for 35 years. At first they treat them as enemies as the soldiers are unaware that World War II is over. However, Bernadette wins their friendship and trust, and they propose to turn the plane into a boat to sail back to civilization.

Noah and Bernadette (or "Bernie", as he calls her) fall in love. The two had resented each other at first. Bernie even paints the logo "Noah's Ark" on the converted boat-plane. The animals are also brought on board at Bobby's urging. Bobby resents Dugan at first, but the two eventually develop a close bond, especially after Dugan saves Bobby's life when the boy falls overboard while fishing for sharks. During the treacherous sea voyage, the characters are rescued by a United States Coast Guard Cutter

Cast

Background and production

Director Charles Jarrott had previously directed Geneviève Bujold in Anne of the Thousand Days. The main story for the film was written by Ernest K. Gann (who also wrote the classics The High and the Mighty and Fate Is the Hunter). Tammy Lauren was his stepdaughter.

Elliott Gould has said that this was the finest film he ever did and the one of which he was proudest.

Four B-29 airplanes were used in the film production.

The feature film was released to many drive-in theaters on a double bill with One Hundred and One Dalmatians (a Disney classic). The films' promotional slogan was "treat your family to a Disney summer".

Reception

The feature received a mixed reception from critics.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Last Flight of Noah's Ark :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews". Rogerebert.SunTimes.com. Retrieved 2012-09-29.

External links