The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (TV 1981)

The staff of the island resort need the aid of the Harlem Globetrotters to keep their island from a greedy millionaire.

Director:

Peter Baldwin

Writers:

David P. Harmon, Gordon Mitchell,

Stars:

Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Denver	...	Gilligan
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Skipper Jonas Grumby
Jim Backus	...	Thurston Howell III
Natalie Schafer	...	Lovey Wentworth Howell
Constance Forslund	...	Ginger Grant
Russell Johnson	...	Prof. Roy Hinkley Jr.
Dawn Wells	...	Mary Ann Summers
David Ruprecht	...	Thurston Howell IV
Martin Landau	...	J.J. Pierson
Barbara Bain	...	Dr. Olga Schmetner
Scatman Crothers	...	Dewey Stevens
Whitney Rydbeck	...	George (the robot)
Dreama Perry Denver	...	The Howells' secretary
Rosalind Chao	...	Hotel clerk
Stu Nahan	...	Sportscaster #1

Storyline

The famous Harlem Globetrotters crash land on Gilligans Island, immediately dispatching a terrifying 'shark' by throwing basketballs at it. A mad doctor and his accomplice plan to take over the island for its rich energy supply by scaring off Gilligan and his buddies, but it soon settles to a basketball match between the doctors robots and the aforementioned Globetrotters

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Plot Keywords:

basketball | robot | resort | gilligans island | sequel | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Sport

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Gilligan's Island

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally written as a vehicle for the famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the film was retooled for the Harlem Globetrotters when the Cheerleaders were unavailable.

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Connections

Follows Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978)

User Reviews

Strangely fascinating

I've had a strange fascination with this movie since it came out in '81. It's not great cinema, not a great TV movie, not very good by the TV-series' standards. But...

*It is the "last roundup" for the original cast. Jim Backus, Alan Hale and Natalie Schaefer have passed on in the years since, and there seems no clamoring to reunite the surviving members with a new Skipper and Mr/Mrs. Howell. As an admirer of the spirited, surreal comedy of the original series, I found this movie to be a not-too-bad farewell.

*I'm a big hoops fan, and this is one of the rare opportunities to see the Globetrotters on film. (The Globetrotters' cartoons and old film clips are shown occasionally, and ABC televises a Globetrotter game once a year, but that's about it.) They are master ballhandlers and showmen, and they demonstrate that here. (Also, we get to hear "coach" Scatman Crothers sing "Sweet Georgia Brown," which ain't bad.)

*This may be the final joint film appearance of Martin Landau and Barbara Bain before they divorced. In any case, it's fascinating to watch Mr. Landau mug and overact, in the days before he became a "serious," bankable character actor in films.

*Because Jim Backus was ill during the filming, the "Mr. Howell" role is filled mostly by the Howell's son, "Thurston Howell IV" -- played by David Ruprecht, who now hosts "Supermarket Sweep." I don't believe the Howells ever mentioned having a son in all the prior episodes/movies, but there he is, all of a sudden. (Backus does make a cameo at the end, thank goodness.)

*Longtime Laker announcer Chick Hearn's in the film, as the announcer for the "big game" between the Globetrotters and the Robots. He talks and talks and talks...and after a while, his yakking gets somewhat distracting. (The very final scene, the producers cut off Chick's mike while he was still talking!)

The humor's cornball and slight, and the site of the aging Bob Denver as the supposedly child-like Gilligan is laughable. But Ruprecht acquits himself pretty well, as do Russell Johnson and Alan Hale. (Dawn Wells doesn't have much to do, Natalie and Jim are too old -- and minus Tina Louise, the character of Ginger is lifeless.)

It's not as good as "Rescue From Gilligan's Island," but better than "Castaways On Gilligan's Island." For fans of the show (and the Globetrotters), it's worth a watch.