Island at the Top of the World
In an attempt to recapture the glory of their earlier Jules Verne days (“20,00 Leagues Under the Sea,” “In Search of the Castaways“), Walt Disney Pictures dished up “The Island at the Top of the World” in 1974.
While it failed to capture the hearts of America, “Island” was nonetheless an entertaining attempt. 
Based on the book “The Lost Ones” by Ian Cameron, “The Island at the Top of the World” contained all of the elements of a grand Jules Verne adventure. Set in 1907, the story follows professor John Ivarsson (David Hartman at the peak of his career), an American archaeologist who has been summoned to the English manor of Sir Anthony Ross (Donald Sniden).
Ivarsson learns that Ross’ son Donald (David Gwillim) disappeared while on an expedition to the Arctic, and that the wealthy Ross is ready to launch a search for the youth. Ivarsson learns that he has been drafted for the expedition due to his extensive knowledge of Viking history. The two join airship Capt. Brieux (Jacques Marin) aboard the Hyperion, and set sail for the Arctic. Their trip is filled with numerous close calls and adventures, including a stop at an Eskimo village, where they pick up a native and one of Donald’s friends, played by Mako.
From there, it’s off to a lost Viking Village where time has stood still for hundreds of years. It’s here where Ross finds his son, but is not amused when the locals refuse to allow the expedition to leave. Their escape takes them through an active volcano and to the fabled lost whale graveyard. Directed by Robert Stevenson, “Island at the Top of the World” features decent performances and exotic locations (the film was shot in England and Norway) that take us to places that no longer exist. The production design is admirable, but still suffers from obvious matte painting and blue screen effects.
I have to admit that I really have a soft spot in my heart for films like “Island at the Top of the World.” “In Search of the Castaways” remains one of my all-time favorites, so I warmed up to this film when I saw it in theaters back in 1974. Watching it again (even though the transfer isn’t up to snuff) brought back a sense of nostalgia. It’s not a great film, but it does manage to entertain. All of the elements are in place for a grand time.
COMPLETE CHECK-UP
VISION: [ ] 20/20 [ X ] Good [ ] Cataracts [ ] Blind
Less than stellar original negative lends itself to a transfer filled with scratches and glitches. While the colors are nice, with good saturation, the overall picture is marred by the wear and tear of the print, plus some glitches that seem to have attached themselves to the print during the transfer. There are several scenes with little circles burned into them. Other than that, the quality is hit and miss, with more hits than misses. The fantasy look of the film transfers well, and the blacks are solid. The DVD features both the 1.66:1 widescreen version and a full-frame version.
HEARING: [ ] Excellent [ X ] Minor Hearing Loss [ ] Needs Hearing Aid [ ] Deaf
Standard issue Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack gets the job done, but there’s very little excitement or adventure in the mix. Dialogue is front and center, but everything else just seems ordinary.
ORAL: [ ] Excellent [ ] Good [ X ] Poor
No closed captions or subtitles.
COORDINATION: [ ] Excellent [ ] Good [ ] Clumsy [ X ] Weak
No extras.
PROGNOSIS: [ ] Excellent [ X ] Fit [ ] Will Live [ ] Resuscitate [ ] Terminal
Hey, it’s not a great transfer, but it’s a film that should keep fantasy-adventure fans and children entertained. Definitely a rental rather than a purchase.
VITALS: $24.98/Rated G/94 Minutes/Color/25 Chapter Stops/Keepcase/#DV10825
ATTENDING RESIDENT: John Larsen
PATIENT: ISLAND AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD
BIRTH DATE: 1974
HMO: Anchor Bay Entertainment
