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Unidentified Flying Oddball
Unidentified Flying Oddball
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Russ Mayberry
Written by	Don Tait
Based on	A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court; novel by Mark Twain
Produced by	Ron Miller
Starring	Dennis Dugan; Jim Dale; Ron Moody; Kenneth More; John Le Mesurier;
Cinematography	Paul Beeson
Edited by	Peter Boita
Music by	Ron Goodwin
Production; company	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release dates	July 19, 1979 (London); August 3, 1979 (Los Angeles);
Running time	93 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom; United States
Language	English
Budget	$5.25 million
Box office	$4.475 million (US/Canada rentals)

Unidentified Flying Oddball is a 1979 science fiction comedy film. It is based on Mark Twain's 1889 novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, directed by Russ Mayberry and produced by Walt Disney Productions. Released in the United Kingdom as The Spaceman and King Arthur, then subsequently re-released in the United States as A Spaceman in King Arthur's Court, the film stars Dennis Dugan as NASA employee Tom Trimble who unintentionally travels back in time with his look-alike android Hermes.

Plot

After Trimble's NASA spacecraft travels faster than the speed of light, it takes him and his android back to King Arthur's Camelot in the year 508 AD. They then use their 20th-century technology to help defeat a plot by the evil Sir Mordred and Merlin to oust King Arthur from his throne.^[4]^[5]

Cast

Dennis Dugan as Tom Trimble/Hermes
Jim Dale as Sir Mordred
Ron Moody as Merlin
Kenneth More as King Arthur
John Le Mesurier as Sir Gawain
Rodney Bewes as Clarence
Sheila White as Alisande ("Sandy")
Robert Beatty as Senator Milburn
Cyril Shaps as Dr. Zimmerman
Kevin Brennan as Winston
Ewen Solon as Watkins
Pat Roach as Oaf
Reg Lye as Prisoner

Production

The spacecraft featured in this movie was on display at the Blackgang Chine theme park in the Isle of Wight.

Filming

The film was shot on location and at Pinewood Studios London.^[2] Shooting locations included Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.^[2]

Release

The film had its premiere at the Odeon, St. Martin's Lane, London on July 19, 1979 attended by Princess Margaret.^[6] It was later released through VHS on July 26, 1986.^[7]

Reception

Variety wrote, "Pic has some good slapstick touches and offers a generous serving of visual tricks and space hardware, though on a par with Star Wars in that department it ain't."^[8] Linda Gross of the Los Angeles Times stated, "The film will provide mildly amusing summer fun for those having their first encounter with castles and kings. However, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Knights of the Round Table and Camelot all captured the vigor of medieval England with more passion."^[9] Carla Hall of The Washington Post wrote: "The plot—obviously derived from 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'—has the customary quantum of Disney cuteness as the story unravels predictably. But it takes advantage of the situation for some funny lines."^[10] Martyn Auty of The Monthly Film Bulletin stated: "Quintessentially Arthurian locations and resplendent colour quality (that owes more to the processing lab than to Northumberland) put this updated version of Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court a cut above its predecessors in the current Disney craze for space-visitor yarns."^[11]

The film earned theatrical rentals of $4.475 million in the United States and Canada.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Unidentified Flying Oddball - Details". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Unidentified Flying Oddball - History". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Big Rental Films of 1979". Variety. January 9, 1980. p. 21.
^ Mayberry, Russ (2004-08-03), The Unidentified Flying Oddball, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, retrieved 2016-08-27
^ "Unidentified Flying Oddball". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
^ "The Royal 'Spaceman' takes off to benefit Year of the Child". Screen International. July 28, 1979. pp. 14–15.
^ "Walt Disney Home Video". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 30. July 26, 1986. p. K18.
^ "Film Reviews: Unidentified Flying Oddball". Variety. July 18, 1979. p. 16.
^ Gross, Linda (August 3, 1979). "'Flying Oddball' in Days of Yore". Los Angeles Times. Part IV, p. 16.
^ Hall, Carla (August 11, 1979). "Tracking the 'Oddball'". The Washington Post. B4.
^ Auty, Martyn (July 1979). "The Spaceman and King Arthur". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 46 (546): 154.