IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
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.
John Le Mesurier
- Sir Gawain
- (as John le Mesurier)
Bruce Boa
- Air Force Officer
- (uncredited)
Al Lampert
- NASA Technician
- (uncredited)
Derek Suthern
- NASA VIP
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
5.21.5K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Featured reviews
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.
"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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Did you know
- TriviaThe 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.
- GoofsWhen Tom is flying during the battle scene near the end, wires that are holding the jet are clearly visible in several shots.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Magical World of Disney: The Spaceman and King Arthur: Part 1 (1982)
- How long is Unidentified Flying Oddball?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- A Spaceman in King Arthur's Court
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 33m(93 min)
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content








