The Island at the Top of the World is a 1974 American live-action lost world fantasy adventure film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Winston Hibler. It was released by Walt Disney Productions, distributed by Buena Vista Distribution and starring Donald Sinden and David Hartman.
Plot
In London in the year 1907, a British aristocrat, industrialist and millionaire named Sir Anthony Ross (Donald Sinden) hastily arranges an expedition to the Arctic to search for his lost son Donald. Donald has 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 John 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 (Mako Iwamatsu), 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 Norsemen, hidden from the rest of the world for centuries. They capture Sir Anthony and Ivarsson, but Oomiak escapes. Shortly thereafter they find Donald, but are nearly put to death by the outrageously fanatical and xenophobic Godi (pronounced ), a lawspeaker/authority figure.
The three men (Sir Anthony, Ivarsson and Donald) are saved from being burned alive by a virtuous girl named Freyja, with whom Donald is deeply and mutually in love. They escape, and are rejoined by Oomiak and eventually find the Whale's 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 reluctant warriors.
Finally, the Godi is killed by an explosion when he shoots a flaming arrow at the Hyperion; the Vikings feel sorry for the four adventurers for their prejudice-driven aggression led by the Godi. They believe his dark behavior towards the newcomers have angered the Norse gods. To appease the gods, they will not let the expedition return to their world unless one of them remains behind as a hostage, to prevent them from divulging the existence of Astragard to the outside world.
Ivarsson willingly volunteers to stay, as this represents a chance to relive 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.
Sir Anthony, Donald, Freyja, Captain Brieux and Oomiak, are allowed to depart in peace, promising not to tell the outside world about Astragard. As Ivarsson heads back to Astragard, he turns to look back just in time to see his five friends move further and further away until they vanish into the Arctic mist.
Cast
Donald Sinden – Sir Anthony Ross
David Hartman – Prof. Ivarsson
Jacques Marin – Captain Brieux
Mako – Oomiak
David Gwillim – Donald Ross
Agneta Eckemyr – Freyja
Gunnar Öhlund – The Godi
Lasse Kolstad – Erik
Erik Silju – Torvald
Rolf Søder – The Lawspeaker
Torsten Wahlund – Sven
Sverre Anker Ousdal – Gunnar
Niels Hinrichsen – Sigurd
Denny Miller – Town Guard
Brendan Dillon – The Factor
James Almanzar as French Engineer
Ivor Barry as The Butler
Lee Paul as Chief of Boat Archers
Production
The film's pre-production lasted for several years. The 30th Anniversary Edition of the film, released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment in 2004, includes a "1968 Pre-Production Trailer" as a bonus feature, which includes an interview with producer Winston Hibler.
Hyperion Airship
Hyperion is the name of the airship featured in The Island at the Top of the World. The airship appears for only a relatively small portion of the overall length of the film, but plays a prominent role, both as a memorable set piece and in the film's plot line. Hyperion was featured prominently in all film promotional materials.