The Island at the Top of the World is a
1974 Disney film starring
Donald Sinden and
David Hartman.
Synopsis
A
Victorian Englishman named Sir
Anthony Ross (
Donald Sinden), hastily
arranges an expedition to the
Arctic to
search for his lost son. His son had become lost on a whaling
expedition to find
Astragard, a fabled
island where whales go to die.
Sir Anthony employs the talents of an archeologist Professor
Iverson (
David Hartman) and Captain
Brieux (
Jacques Marin), who pilots the
expedition in a Jules Vernesque French
airship named
Hyperion.
Upon reaching the Arctic, the expedition discovers an uncharted
island occupied by a lost civilization of
Vikings, cut off from the rest of the world for
centuries.
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.
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).
The film contains a score by film composer
Maurice Jarre.
To accompany the film release, Disney released a story record album
containing audio clips from the film, an eleven page illustrated
booklet, and narration by
Thurl
Ravenscroft. The album contains theme from the Jarre score, but
rearranged for solo organ, in place of the film's full
orchestration.
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.
Cultural references
Disneyland (Anaheim, CA)
A new land,
Discovery Bay, was planned
but never built (in the area now occupied by
Toontown), which would have contained a
reproduction of the
Hyperion
airship protruding from a recreation of Captain Brieux's
hanger.
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
External links
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