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Unidentified Flying Oddball

Original title: The Spaceman and King Arthur
  • 1979
  • G
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979)
An astronaut and his android double travel back to the time of King Arthur.
Play trailer0:57
1 Video
38 Photos
Space Sci-FiTime TravelAdventureComedyFamilyFantasySci-Fi

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

  • Director
    • Russ Mayberry
  • Writers
    • Don Tait
    • Mark Twain
  • Stars
    • Dennis Dugan
    • Jim Dale
    • Ron Moody
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Russ Mayberry
    • Writers
      • Don Tait
      • Mark Twain
    • Stars
      • Dennis Dugan
      • Jim Dale
      • Ron Moody
    • 21User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:57
    Trailer

    Photos38

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    Top cast16

    Edit
    Dennis Dugan
    Dennis Dugan
    • Tom Trimble
    Jim Dale
    Jim Dale
    • Sir Mordred
    Ron Moody
    Ron Moody
    • Merlin
    Kenneth More
    Kenneth More
    • King Arthur
    John Le Mesurier
    John Le Mesurier
    • Sir Gawain
    • (as John le Mesurier)
    Rodney Bewes
    Rodney Bewes
    • Clarence
    Sheila White
    Sheila White
    • Alisande
    Robert Beatty
    Robert Beatty
    • Senator Milburn
    Cyril Shaps
    Cyril Shaps
    • Dr. Zimmerman
    Kevin Brennan
    Kevin Brennan
    • Winston
    Ewen Solon
    Ewen Solon
    • Watkins
    Pat Roach
    Pat Roach
    • Oaf
    Reg Lye
    Reg Lye
    • Prisoner
    Bruce Boa
    Bruce Boa
    • Air Force Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Al Lampert
    • NASA Technician
    • (uncredited)
    Derek Suthern
    • NASA VIP
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Russ Mayberry
    • Writers
      • Don Tait
      • Mark Twain
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews21

    5.21.4K
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    Featured reviews

    5socrates4

    An Oddball of a Film

    This movie certainly has its moments. It's quirky and weird, with some truly original scenes, which is what makes it intriguing. Unfortunately, that is the only thing that is good about it, and it's not enough to keep it entertaining for its entire runtime.

    Those little bits of weirdness might work better in a short film, but ultimately I was bored with this feature very quickly. The acting is bad and the goofiness of the whole thing gets annoying after a few minutes. Do not recommend.
    5MovieBuffMarine

    Unidentified Flying Oddball, Undeniably, LUKEWARM

    I was in the second grade when this came out. I remember seeing the commercials/trailers and hoping to see it as I was into Disney movies and and science fiction. It never happened.

    Fast forward decades later and I finally see it on Disney+, I was not impressed.

    Yeah, yeah, one could say I saw it through adult eyes and took the film too seriously, not even close.

    It was not written very well. Again, I love SciFi and time travel stories are at the top of my faves, but this wasn't anything special.

    Very good premise of a present day astronaut traveling back in time to King Arthur's court, but how they executed it left little to be desired.

    I get it that it was supposed to be funny, but even comedies need good writing.

    Even as a kid, I was able to pick up on well written work on TV and the big screen. I would not have been able to appreciate this movie if I saw it as the kid who always wanted to see it at the time.

    This movie was a good idea that turned out lukewarm.
    Jason-173

    Surprise! It is crap after all.

    This is one of those films that starts with a bad title and only gets worse.

    If I recall, I saw this at my friend Kirk's tenth birthday party and it was the first time I used the word 'dreck' in a sentence.

    'Unidentified Flying Oddball' has all the appearance of having been written and filmed over a long weekend. Edited in someone's basement one night over a keg of beer.

    One thing sticks in my memory like an oak splinter: the way Spaceman Tom never called King Arthur 'your majesty' or 'sire,' but instead just plain ol' good ol' 'King.' As in 'hey, King, get yer hands offa my girl, see.' If you like that sort of talk, and your brain development arrested in grade three, then the team behind 'Unidentified Flying Oddball' wants you.

    The science was excellent, however. I know now that if I ever need to defend myself from a deathly laser beam, I need only wear the shiniest armour I can find ('Say, King, gimme yer armor! Now don't get all persnickety on me, see? I'll give it back all nice and proper-like, and polished up with good ol' American spit shine').

    Disney produced this matted ass-hair sandwich in the days before they became the media Godzilla they are now. Their stock was leaning into the toilet in those days and, hey, so will you after seeing this film.

    Incoherent plot, humourless gags, crummy special effects, poor sets. It's not a good kid's film. Not a good film, even though based on a Mark Twain story. But I may change my tune. Perhaps someday I'll see this movie the way I presume it was meant to be seen. On crack.
    6r96sk

    I don't like or dislike 'Unidentified Flying Oddball'

    Average.

    I don't like or dislike 'Unidentified Flying Oddball'. It features a cool concept, but the film never really gets overly intriguing while the cast are rather plain and uninteresting.

    Dennis Dugan never really works for me as Tom. I feel his character is way too content with what occurs, especially at the beginning - no surprise, no shock... nothing. That's odd to me, given what occurs. Jim Dale, who is excellent in 1978's 'Hot Lead and Cold Feet', is underwhelming. Kenneth More, meanwhile, is alright as King Arthur.

    In a word, forgettable. Glad it only lasts 93 minutes.
    7inkblot11

    Let's give love to Oddballs!

    Tom Trimble (Dennis Dugan) is an oddball scientist for NASA. Very clever but somewhat clumsy, he builds a robot named Hermes who looks just like him. Its NASA's wish to send Hermes on an experimental flight where, if all goes as planned, the rocket will travel faster than light and go back to the days of Camelot. However, as Tom is readying Hermes for the journey, the rocket blasts off and both of them go back in time. Once there, a pretty maid name Alisande takes Tom to see King Arthur while Hermes stays with the ship. Mordred (Jim Dale) takes an instant disliking to Tom but the young scientist captivates the King with tales of the history of the world, including his own time period. However, after a long listen, the King sends him to the dungeon anyway. It'll be up to Hermes to rescue Tom and change the King's view in their favor. In addition, can Alisande truly prefer Hermes to Tom himself? This funny take on Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is a pleasure to watch. Dugan is quite a charming and kooky performer and rest of the cast is great. Kids and families will love the re- created Camelot's scenery and costumes as well as the new gadgets Tom brings with him. No, its not the greatest thing since sliced bread but it is bound to bring smiles to young and old faces!

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    Related interests

    Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in Star Trek (1966)
    Space Sci-Fi
    Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future (1985)
    Time Travel
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Stardust ship prop now resides in a very old fairground/theme park called Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight in the UK. Visitors used to be able to explore the interior, but is now off-limits except to look at from the outside.
    • Goofs
      When Tom is flying during the battle scene near the end, wires that are holding the jet are clearly visible in several shots.
    • Quotes

      Clarence: [Waving a US flag] It's from his Uncle Sam!

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

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    FAQ15

    • How long is Unidentified Flying Oddball?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 26, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Disney's Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Spaceman in King Arthur's Court
    • Filming locations
      • Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Walt Disney Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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