''Race for the Yankee Zephyr'' (also known as ''Treasure of the Yankee Zephyr'') is a 1981
action adventure film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include lif ...
directed by
David Hemmings and starring
Ken Wahl
Ken Wahl (born October 31, 1957) is a retired American film and television actor, popular in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for the CBS television crime drama '' Wiseguy''.
Early life and career
Wahl, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, Note: ...
,
Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946) is an American actress and singer.
She made her Broadway debut in 1963, aged 17, in '' 110 in the Shade''. In 1965 she received wide recognition for playing the title role in the television musical prod ...
,
George Peppard
George Peppard (; October 1, 1928 – May 8, 1994) was an American actor. He is best remembered for his role as struggling writer Paul Varjak in the 1961 film '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'', and for playing commando leader Col. John "Hannibal ...
and
Donald Pleasence
Donald Henry Pleasence (; 5 October 1919 – 2 February 1995) was an English actor. He began his career on stage in the West End before transitioning into a screen career, where he played numerous supporting and character roles including RAF ...
.
Plot
Gibbie Gibson (
Donald Pleasence
Donald Henry Pleasence (; 5 October 1919 – 2 February 1995) was an English actor. He began his career on stage in the West End before transitioning into a screen career, where he played numerous supporting and character roles including RAF ...
) has discovered a World War II-era plane wreck in the mountains of New Zealand. When his discovery gets around town, Gibson, his daughter Sally (
Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946) is an American actress and singer.
She made her Broadway debut in 1963, aged 17, in '' 110 in the Shade''. In 1965 she received wide recognition for playing the title role in the television musical prod ...
), and his lodger Barney Whitaker (
Ken Wahl
Ken Wahl (born October 31, 1957) is a retired American film and television actor, popular in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for the CBS television crime drama '' Wiseguy''.
Early life and career
Wahl, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, Note: ...
) find trouble from a group of treasure hunters led by a Mister Theo Brown (
George Peppard
George Peppard (; October 1, 1928 – May 8, 1994) was an American actor. He is best remembered for his role as struggling writer Paul Varjak in the 1961 film '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'', and for playing commando leader Col. John "Hannibal ...
), who are intent on finding the cache of money they believe is on the wreck.
Cast
Barney Whitaker (
Ken Wahl
Ken Wahl (born October 31, 1957) is a retired American film and television actor, popular in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for the CBS television crime drama '' Wiseguy''.
Early life and career
Wahl, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, Note: ...
) — A hunter who owns a helicopter and lives with Gibbie Gibson. He is the nemesis of Theo Brown who kidnaps Gibbie and Barney eventually falls in love with Gibbie's daughter Sally Carson.
Sally Carson (
Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946) is an American actress and singer.
She made her Broadway debut in 1963, aged 17, in '' 110 in the Shade''. In 1965 she received wide recognition for playing the title role in the television musical prod ...
) — A receptionist who is the daughter of Gibbie Carson. She is caught up between the war between Gibbie's lodger Barney Whitaker and his rival Theo Brown, but eventually falls in love with Barney.
Theo Brown (
George Peppard
George Peppard (; October 1, 1928 – May 8, 1994) was an American actor. He is best remembered for his role as struggling writer Paul Varjak in the 1961 film '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'', and for playing commando leader Col. John "Hannibal ...
) — A gangster who is the arch rival of Barney Whitaker. He kidnaps Barney's lodge host Gibbie Gibson, bent on finding the wreck.
Gilbert Carson/Gibbie Gibson (
Donald Pleasence
Donald Henry Pleasence (; 5 October 1919 – 2 February 1995) was an English actor. He began his career on stage in the West End before transitioning into a screen career, where he played numerous supporting and character roles including RAF ...
) — A hunter and the lodge host of Barney Whitaker, he finds the plane wreck in the mountains and is the father of Sally Carson and Gibbie is eventually taken prisoner by Theo and his henchmen.
Baker (
Bruno Lawrence) — A civilian and friend of Barney and Gibbie's.
Collector (
Grant Tilly
Grant Leonard Ridgway Tilly (12 December 1937 – 10 April 2012) was a New Zealand stage, movie and television actor, set designer, teacher and artist.
Life and career
Grant Tilly was educated in Wellington, taking art at Wellington Tech ...
) — A civilian and owner of a local pawn shop.
Harry (Harry Rutherford-Jones) — A civilian and Sally's fiancé. It is not known what becomes of Harry when Sally falls in love with Barney Whitaker.
The Bartender (Robert Bruce) — A civilian and owner of a local bar.
Additional cast
*
Tony Sparks
* Clark Walkington
* Frank Taurua
* Steve Nicolle
* Dick Jones
*
Dennis Hunt
Production
The film was an original story by writer
Everett De Roche
Everett De Roche (July 12, 1946 - April 2, 2014) was an American-Australian screenwriter who worked extensively in the Australian film and TV industry. He was best known for his work in the thriller and horror genre, with such credits as ''Long ...
, who said he got the idea from a neighbour of his in
Mount Isa
Mount Isa ( ) is a city in the Gulf Country region of Queensland, Australia. It came into existence because of the vast mineral deposits found in the area. Mount Isa Mines (MIM) is one of the most productive single mines in world history, base ...
. It was based on a true incident about the war-time disappearance of an American
DC3 military aircraft carrying the payroll for the Pacific fleet which was later discovered off
Cape York.
Richard Franklin was originally attached as director, and
Antony I. Ginnane produced.
The script was originally set in
Queensland, Australia
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, but the producers wanted to import four overseas actors, and
Actors Equity
The Actors' Equity Association (AEA), commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing those who work in live theatrical performance. Performers appearing in live stage productions without a boo ...
objected. De Roche re-wrote the film so it was set in New Zealand. Richard Franklin dropped out of the film because he was unhappy with the change in location, and David Hemmings, who was attached to the film as a producer, was appointed director.
Funding was obtained privately.
The film was one of the leaders of Soviet film distribution in 1983, when it was seen by 29 million Soviet viewers.
Reception
Ginnane was so annoyed with Australia's Actors Equity that he made his next four films in New Zealand.
References
External links
* {{IMDb title, 0082968
''Race for the Yankee Zephyr''at Oz Movies
1981 films
1980s action drama films
1980s adventure films
1980s English-language films
Films directed by David Hemmings
New Zealand drama films
Films shot in New Zealand
Treasure hunt films
Underwater action films
Films scored by Brian May (composer)
Australian drama films
1981 drama films