Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979)

An astronaut and his android double travel back to the time of King Arthur.

Director:

Russ Mayberry

Writers:

Don Tait (screen story), Don Tait (screenplay)

Stars:

Dennis Dugan, Jim Dale, Ron Moody

Cast

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

Storyline

A NASA spacecraft proves Einstein right when, traveling faster than light, it ends up near King Arthur's Camelot. On board are big-hearted Tom Trimble and Hermes, the look-alike robot he built. Tom immediately makes friends with pretty Alisande and enemies with the awful knight Sir Mordred. It seems Mordred is out to oust Arthur, while Alisande's father is not the goose she believes him to be but is also a victim of Mordred's schemes. It's as well the Americans have arrived.

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Plot Keywords:

time travel | time travel into the past | reference to a connecticut yankee in king arthur's court | backwards time travel | accidental time travel | 

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Taglines:

A sixth century space adventure!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ron Moody would later reprise his role as Merlin in A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995).

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Goofs

Before Mordred comes to get his sword, Tom finds a way to magnetize it. Afterward, Mordred has a difficult time getting the sword out its sheath, and it tends to "stick" to his armor. However, he later walks down a corridor with it pointed in the air, close enough to a chandelier, and there is no effect. Not only that, he walks past a table that has metal goblets, with his sword close enough to them, and no effect. However, when Tom fights Mordred, they are close enough again to the table of goblets, and this time, the goblets are attracted to the sword.

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Quotes

Merlin: It is metal it attracts, Sir Mordred! Touch not metal with the blade!
Sir Mordred: May his head be not of metal!

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Connections

Edited into The Magical World of Disney: The Spaceman and King Arthur: Part 1 (1982)

User Reviews

Trying to Educate which it does but to entertain it lacks slightly

Disney was in a pathway of making films with an educational twist.My previous review of "2000 leagues under the sea" is likewise to this as its aim also was to educate as well as entertain.

"Unidentified Fying Oddball" is a film educating its audience (mainly targeting children) of science. Scenes include "Making Robots" & "Maganetisim".

This film itself has a whole ray of cast.We are presented with Jim Dale, "British Actor" whom worked in numerous Carry On's such as "Screaming" & "Don't lose your head".Kenneth More is also present which is more known as playing the German King "Kaiser Wilhelm" in "Oh what a lovely War"

The film itself though entails the time travel of an Astronaut into King Arthur's time,landing in Cornwall.

The film has various good scenes and do provide a good laugh.The additional adding of cutlery to Sir Mordred sword by Clarence or the Magnatising of the troops to Tom's spaceship.

The film does however fall flat in several occasions,and it does drag a bit.Kids might enjoy it but certainly myself couldn't see myself picking this over other Disney classics,but it is a good film to watch and be educated.

Details

Official Sites:

Disney's Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Spaceman in King Arthur's Court

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording) (uncredited)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1