The Last Flight of Noah's Ark

First off, I'd like to say that I haven't seen this movie since I was a kid. I just finished watching for the first time in 16 years, with mixed opinions. First, the story is good. The dialogue is decent (swearing in a Disney kids movie? Right on!). The cinematography is ok. The directing is pretty good. The acting is okay. The music is HORRIBLE. I've noticed, not only with this picture, but almost every Disney movie from the late 60s on into the mid 80s, if you turn the music off, it's actually more enjoyable to watch. Being a music theory major in college, I have come to really appreciate good scoring for movies. There are several scenes where the music is entirely inappropriate (such as after the crash, when they're rounding up all the equipment and animals and the music is straight from Yee Haw). Still, after all these years, it was good to watch it again. So if you can cringe your way through the sappy music, you're good to go with this edgy Disney movie.

Aside all mismatches in the plot this picture is plenty enjoyable for Disney patten, Elliott Gould was in the peak of his career, however starts running down the hill in slowing process, he was not in great shape anymore, a little fat for the role, the Canadian French ancestry Genèvieve Bujold was a little bit aged, in fact both around de forty years old, the highlight certainly is the child-star Rick Schroder that had a resounding success as T. J. Flynn at "The Champ" previously one year before, also the duo-comic Japanese Soldiers stranded in the island for 35 years long.

Elliott Gould plays a single pilot Noah Dugan that was in bit of a pickle for gambling on a wrong horse, pursuit by mobster for five grants, further there no jobs at sight, in a forlorn hope he looking for his old pal Stoney (Vincent Gardenia) who needs frantically a crazy pilot for a scrapyard of a cargo plane from WWII's era, Noah needs money but tries to flight this outdated giant plane to transport to south seas a load of living animals including a huge pair of bull & cow, chickens, ducks, pigs among others specimens, the crazy idea coming for a Reverend lady Bernadette Lafleur (Bujold) who is intent settle a small missionary in a isolate pagan island to help the natives.

He just accepts the job because have two mobster (Dana Elcar & John P. Ryan) at your neck, stealtily a couple of children come on board (Schroder & Tamin Laurie), Noah takes off the hunk of junk cargo, nonetheless Mrs. Lafleur tries help fly the airplane, unwittingly she puts a radio near the compass, through the radio's magnetism the route is change for a unknown south area, Noah got landing in a deserted island for lack of fuel, there they face two older Japanese soldiers from WWII, they stay there without known that the war is over, aided by the skillful craftsmen Japanese soldiers they made a raft using the old cargo upside-down trying reach somewhere or cross path with some ship around.

As I said early the premise is silly driven to family audience, let it see so easily, nostalgic picture for any age, I'd never watched this one before the DVD's advent, whereby I bought my original copy.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2010 / Source: DVD / How many: 2 / Rating: 7.

In fact, it wasn't Bette Midler who first brought new blood into the heavy-handed 7O's and 80's Disney productions. It was people like Elliott Gould who originally provided the shot in the arm that Disney needed. In this movie he lends his wise-cracking, go-to-hell character to the role of Noah Dugan and it's a joy to watch! The whole cast is great, and the whole movie is a delight from start to finish.

I remember it being very good. Christians won't be offended. A missionary brings a man to Christ, and they do not make Christians appear to be idiots. A good adventure movie, with a tinge of action and adventure, though not violent.

When high-living pilot Noah Dugan (Elliott Gould) agrees to fly prim missionary Bernadette Lafleur (Genevieve Bujold) and her cargo of animals formed by an array of minor-menagerie (such as goats , bulls , assorted poultry , pigs , sheep and a four-legged potential scene-stealer : a cow , among others) to a far island , it is only because he is on the run from a pair of hoodlums (two bookies played by notorious secondaries : John P. Ryan and Dana Elcar) . What neither of them know is that two of Miss Lafleur's little pupils (Rick Schroder , Tammy Lauren) have stowed away hidden into plane rear . As a Boeing B 29 carrying various animals makes a forced landing on a desert island, and the only chance to escape is to convert the broken-down plane into a boat . There they discover which it is not as abandoned as they thought. Then they meet two Japanese soldiers isolated from second world war .

This amusing Disney movie packs fun situations , easygoing characters , emotions , humor and features impressive flying sequences with a Boeing B-29 Superfortress . However , it failed at box office and was panned by some reviewers , but is today well considered . Enjoyable cast , whose roster of interpretations includes a sympathetic acting by Elliott Gould as a pilot who must scheme their way off a deserted island following the crash landing and attractive Genevieve Bujold who holds her own admirably . And two likable little boys playing as orphans, Rick Schroder and Tammy Lauren , both of whom would have an important career , especially in TV . Furthermore , two Japanese actor as Yuki Shimoda as Hiro and John Fujioka as Cleveland , the latter would play one year later : "Keep Your Hands Off the Island" a similar role along with Terence Hill and Bud Spencer . Nice production design by Preston Ames , five B-29 Superfortresses were acquired in the spectacular flying images . One was used for interior shots at the Disney studio. Another was used for night sequences afloat in MGM's outdoor tank. The third was used for the crash site on the island and the fourth was made into the floating Noah's Ark. Colorful and bright cinematography by Charles Wheeler . Agreeable musical score by the prestigious Maurice Jarre , including some catching songs .

The motion picture was well directed by Charles Jarrott , recently deceased . Jarrot's filmmaking largely keeps sentimentality throughout . Charles was a brilliant craftsman who directed all kind of genres , and he stood out in his historical movies as ¨Mary , Queen of Scots¨ and ¨Anne of the Thousand days¨. He directed adventure as ¨The Dove¨, dramas as ¨The other side of midnight¨ , Biography as ¨Boy in blue¨ , thriller as ¨The amateur¨ , TV movies as ¨Night of the fox¨ , ¨Daniel Steel's changes¨ , ¨Barbara Hutton story¨ and Disney movies as ¨The littlest horse thieves¨, Condorman¨ and this ¨The last flight of Noah ark¨. Rating : 6.5/10 . Worthwhile seeing .