Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Of 2025Holiday Watch GuideGotham AwardsCelebrity PhotosSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

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
    • 22User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:57
    Trailer

    Photos38

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 30
    View Poster

    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
    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 reviews22

    5.21.5K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6Hey_Sweden

    Decent entertainment, especially for kids.

    An engaging Dennis Dugan ("Happy Gilmore") plays Tom Trimble, a scientist accidentally launched into space along with the robot created in his own likeness (also played by Dugan). He breaks the time barrier, and is transported back to England in the time of King Arthur (Kenneth More, "A Night to Remember") and the villainous Sir Mordred (Jim Dale, "Pete's Dragon").

    "Unidentified Flying Oddball" is *of course* no great shakes, but it delivers reasonable entertainment for a family audience. There are some mild laughs, and the action is full of slapstick, just like many other live-action Walt Disney movies of the period. The filmmakers do appear to be having *some* fun, placing this 20th century unlikely astronaut in a thoroughly antiquated setting, allowing for all the standard fish-out-of-water jokes.

    What really helps keep this watchable is Dugans' sincerity, and the straight-faced efforts of a superb British supporting cast.

    Disney had definitely done better live-action movies around this time, but I still say one can do a LOT worse if they want to have a family movie night.

    Six out of 10.
    4dhsb58

    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.
    6miniskunk

    UFO was a great film for kids

    I remember first seeing this film when it first came out and again in the early 80's as a special film showing at the elementary school I attended. While I agree with the "Suprise it's crap after all" comment that this was not Disney's best movie, I disagree that it was not an entertaining film for a child as I was one when I saw this. First at age 9 and a few years later I still enjoyed it.

    I did find it amusing that the title changed a few times and even recall part of the original trailer song. It went something like..."The Unidentified Flying Oddball, it's undeniably oddball, he's the wrongway astronaut that traveled back to Camelot, lasers flash...." I cannot recall the rest perhaps someone can help there. It was very hokey sounding but hey, this film wasn't meant to be serious, just good old fun. I recommend it as a rental.
    5Leofwine_draca

    Undemanding fun

    UNIDENTIFIED FLYING ODDBALL is a '70s version of the classic Mark Twain story, A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT. The story has been updated to the space age, with a lone young astronaut and his android double breaking through a time barrier in space and finding themselves back in King Arthur's day, where they must battle evil and romance willing maidens and the like.

    It's all very juvenile, of course, but then you expect little else from a Disney production. However, like a lot of Disney movies, UNIDENTIFIED FLYING ODDBALL is a colourful romp through medieval times and one that's filled with incident, so there's plenty to enjoy here, as long as you like your entertainment basic and your jokes rather obvious. I thought the main American star, Dennis Dugan, was poor indeed, but the supporting cast of British character actors makes up for him: Jim Dale, cast against type as the villain; Ron Moody as the delightfully sneaky Merlin; a near unrecognisably aged Kenneth Moore as Arthur; and the reliable Rodney Bewes and John Le Mesurier in comic support.
    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.

    More like this

    Return from Witch Mountain
    5.7
    Return from Witch Mountain
    The Million Dollar Duck
    5.8
    The Million Dollar Duck
    The Island at the Top of the World
    6.2
    The Island at the Top of the World
    The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
    6.0
    The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
    The Cat from Outer Space
    6.0
    The Cat from Outer Space
    The Strongest Man in the World
    5.9
    The Strongest Man in the World
    Candleshoe
    6.7
    Candleshoe
    Treasure of Matecumbe
    6.0
    Treasure of Matecumbe
    Escape to Witch Mountain
    6.3
    Escape to Witch Mountain
    Herbie Rides Again
    5.7
    Herbie Rides Again
    Gus
    5.7
    Gus
    The Shaggy D.A.
    5.8
    The Shaggy D.A.

    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)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    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

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.