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The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island

  • TV Movie
  • 19811981
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
4.2/10
651
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981)
AdventureComedySport
The staff of the island resort need the aid of the Harlem Globetrotters to keep their island from a greedy millionaire.The staff of the island resort need the aid of the Harlem Globetrotters to keep their island from a greedy millionaire.The staff of the island resort need the aid of the Harlem Globetrotters to keep their island from a greedy millionaire.
IMDb RATING
4.2/10
651
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter Baldwin
  • Writers
    • David P. Harmon
    • Gordon Mitchell
    • Al Schwartz
  • Stars
    • Bob Denver
    • Alan Hale Jr.
    • Jim Backus
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter Baldwin
  • Writers
    • David P. Harmon
    • Gordon Mitchell
    • Al Schwartz
  • Stars
    • Bob Denver
    • Alan Hale Jr.
    • Jim Backus
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos4

    The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981)
    The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981)
    The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981)
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    Top cast

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    Bob Denver
    Bob Denver
    • Gilliganas Gilligan
    Alan Hale Jr.
    Alan Hale Jr.
    • Skipper Jonas Grumbyas Skipper Jonas Grumby
    Jim Backus
    Jim Backus
    • Thurston Howell IIIas Thurston Howell III
    Natalie Schafer
    Natalie Schafer
    • Lovey Wentworth Howellas Lovey Wentworth Howell
    Constance Forslund
    Constance Forslund
    • Ginger Grantas Ginger Grant
    Russell Johnson
    Russell Johnson
    • Prof. Roy Hinkley Jr.as Prof. Roy Hinkley Jr.
    Dawn Wells
    Dawn Wells
    • Mary Ann Summersas Mary Ann Summers
    David Ruprecht
    • Thurston Howell IVas Thurston Howell IV
    Martin Landau
    Martin Landau
    • J.J. Piersonas J.J. Pierson
    Barbara Bain
    Barbara Bain
    • Dr. Olga Schmetneras Dr. Olga Schmetner
    Scatman Crothers
    Scatman Crothers
    • Dewey Stevensas Dewey Stevens
    Whitney Rydbeck
    Whitney Rydbeck
    • George (the robot)as George (the robot)
    Dreama Perry Denver
    • The Howells' secretaryas The Howells' secretary
    Rosalind Chao
    Rosalind Chao
    • Hotel clerkas Hotel clerk
    Stu Nahan
    Stu Nahan
    • Sportscaster #1as Sportscaster #1
    Chick Hearn
    • Sportscaster #2as Sportscaster #2
    Bruce Briggs
    • The refereeas The referee
    Cindee Appleton
    • Lindaas Linda
    • Director
      • Peter Baldwin
    • Writers
      • David P. Harmon
      • Gordon Mitchell
      • Al Schwartz
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    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 —Paul cartwright <cartwrit@vianet.net.au>
    1980sgilligan's islandbasketball teamharlem globetrottersbasketball8 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
      • Sport
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      At the time this movie was being made Jim Backus was suffering from Parkinson's disease thus preventing him from being in the movie. Originally his character was written out of the storyline but at the last minute Backus felt well enough to make a small cameo at the end of the movie.
    • Goofs
      In the series Season 1 Episode 35 Mr and Mrs Howell state they have no children and adopt Gilligan giving him the name "Gilligan Thurston Howell IV". But in this movie the Howells now have a son.
    • Quotes

      Skipper Jonas Grumby: Of course he did Gilligan. He made us all limited partners - only you're a little more limited than the rest of us.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #18.58 (2010)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    It Almost Worked
    I am probably one of the few Gilligan fans who can say that they like this picture, but there are several things wrong with it. Ginger has regressed backward in age so that she looks like her own daughter. Lovely Constance Forslund, an actress who once played Marilyn Monroe, is obviously too young to play the role when she would be better off doing it in a remake. The Howells who once said they never had a son suddenly have one, so either they had lied way back then, or they adopted the oldest kid in the orphanage to avoid parental duties." Oh no, we meant we didn't have a son ON THE ISLAND." This was supposed to set off a new series with the castaways running a resort on their old island, such a series would have allowed them to close all the old plot points of the series and bring back their old guest stars, but instead there is a culture shock as the castaways meet the Harlem Globetrotters. An illogical bet is made just for the team to play and show off their magic on a ridiculous looking court that has to be seen to be believed. Husband and wife team Martin Landau and Barbera Bain play financial rivals of the Howells in order to bilk them out of a valuable new element on the island. The plot as well as the jokes are straight out of the series, as are the Skipper's and Gilligan's wardrobe. Couldn't they have got more new clothes by now ? Still, this movie to end all movies does follow the spirit as well as the craziness of the series. I can only assume the next movie will be called: "Return to Gilligan's Island: Balingkoff's Revenge."
    helpful•12
    2
    • aesgaard41
    • Mar 10, 2001

    FAQ1

    • What movies feature games of wacky basketball?

    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 15, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Gilligan's Island
    • Production company
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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