Unidentified Flying Oddball

Based off the Mark Twain novel `A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979) aka The Spaceman and King Arthur, may not have been one of the more popular live action Disney films of the past, but I liked it for a number of reason which I'll talk about later...the film, written by Don Tait (Hell's Angels '69, The Apple Dumpling Gang), was directed by Russ Mayberry, who primarily worked in the medium of television directing on shows like "Bewitched", "I Dream of Jeannie", "That Girl", "The Brady Bunch", "The Partridge Family", "The Rockford Files", along with many others, but did find time to do a few films, including this one. Starring in the film is Dennis Dugan (The Howling, Problem Child, Happy Gilmore), Sheila White (Confessions from a Holiday Camp), Ron Moody, whom many will recognize as the dastardly character Fagin in the 1968 film Oliver!, and Jim Dale, a fixture in the British `Carry On...' film series. Also appearing is Kenneth More (Sink the Bismarck!), John Le Mesurier (I'm All Right Jack, Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?), Rodney Bewes (Jabberwocky), and Pat Roach, whom you may have never heard of, but surely have seen in any one of his villain roles like in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - he played two roles in that film, one being the big Sherpa in the bar and another as the mechanic/brawler, the character of Lippe (he fought Bond in the health spa) in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again (1983), the chief guard in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and skeleton masked General Kael in Willow (1988), to name a few.The story begins as we see a group at NASA discussing a new project featuring a shuttle called Stardust that has the ability to travel faster than any previous ship. There's a bunch of scientific mumbo jumbo presented, but the gooberment officials are reluctant to approve sending humans up in an untested craft (it's an election year), so scientific brain boy Tom Trimble (Dugan) is tasked to build a humanoid robot to pilot the ship, which he does (in his own image), but the robot, named Hermes, was apparently made too human, and is afraid to make the 30 year trip. Trimble, in an effort to convince Hermes that everything will be all right, gets caught in the shuttle during an accidental launch, and both end up in orbit. The ship does what it was designed to do (traveling faster than the speed of light), subsequently travels back in time, and, on returning to Earth, Trimble discovers he's in 6th century England, specifically King Arthur's court at Camelot! Trimble meets a local girl named Alisande (White), and she believes him to be some sort of monster (in his spacesuit), despite his protests. Soon Trimble is captured by the rotter Sir Mordred (Gale), taken to Camelot and sentenced to death. It's around this time Trimble learns of Mordred's treacherous plans to overthrow King Arthur (More), and now must use his intelligence and wits to not only keep himself alive, but also prevent the despicable Mordred and his cronies from their foul machinations through.First off I just want to say it felt good to watch a family friendly film that doesn't insinuate toilet humor into the story to get laughs...not that I mind that kind of thing, but it seems so much more prevalent nowadays for these types of films, geared towards general audiences, to rely on techniques of the lowest common denominator to try and entertain. As far as the story goes, it was very straightforward, and moved along well. Dugan seemed a decent choice for the role of Trimble (I guess Dean Jones and Kurt Russell, both frequent stars in Disney's mid 60's/early 70's live action pics, were busy on other projects), and he does well presenting pre-MacGyver like character who uses his intelligence to get out of sticky situations. As far as the others, my favorite was Dale as Sir Mordred. He did a wonderful job bringing his character to life, and could have easily been transposed to more serious films with respect to Arthurian legend despite being a bit over the top at times (what good villain isn't?) As far as the character of Merlin, played by Moody...I thought he also did very well, but the way the character was written seemed to go against most of what I think I know in the respect the Merlin here was not a very nice guy...and what was up with his hair? It looked like they shaved the top of Moody's head, giving him a horseshoe hair pattern, leaving a handle-like tuft at the very top....very weird...another character I enjoyed was that of Sir Gawain, played by Le Mesurier. The role wasn't very big, but incorporated a sort of subtle humor (a slight touch of that droll, British humor) that complemented the sequences he appeared in very well. The odd man out was that of King Arthur, played by More. He did all right, but he lacked the majestic qualities I normally associate with the character. It's not like he ruined the movie or anything, but he just seemed a little out of place. The sets and costumes were very good, relaying better than average production values, along with most of the special effects, although there is a sequence with Trimble in a flying rocket chair where the wires are plainly visible, but again, this wasn't something that ruined the film for me. My favorite sequence was the magnetized sword bit and I also liked how, through a good part of the film, Trimble was perceived by the 6th century inhabitants as not so much a dangerous threat, but sort of a pitiful oddity, one that might be better put out of his misery. I'm unsure how kids today, what with their Harry Potters and such, would receive a film like this, but for those of us who grew up in the 70's and 80's, this is a welcome trip back to simpler times.The widescreen (1.85:1) picture, enhanced for 16 X 9 TVs, looks sharp, but there are some very minor signs of age deterioration in the film (nothing to get too hung up on). The Dolby Digital mono audio comes through clearly, and there are English subtitles available. There are no other special features.Cookieman108

Another take on the classic Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, this is a laugh-out-loud treat. The line about Velcro in the space suit is worth the price of the movie.

I wasn't sure what to think at first, being I recalled only fragments of this film during its original box office release. So, I felt compelled to rewatch it. So glad i did. What a cute film about a 20th century NASA astronaut Tom Trimble(Dugan) who ends up in Camelot during King Arthur's Court. Maiden Alisandre (White) mistakes him for a "monster" after his 'crash landing', but impetiously yet kindly escorts him back to Arthur's kingdom, her home, to speak with the magistrates about getting him returned back home. However, head knight Sir Nordred (Jim Dale) sees him as a threat, in his spacesuit, and desires to oust Trimble from the kingdom once and for all. What follows is a cornucopia slapstick like mayhem. And Alisandre is duped, or convinced that her imprisoned father was turned into a goose which she carries around with her.While at times the scripting appears a tad flightly, most of the acting and direction are decently executed. Kudos to Jim Dale for a very fine performance as the disgrunted oxed Sir Nordred, whose performance, opposite Red Buttons I absolutely loved earlier in Pete's Dragon. While Kenneth Moore (King Arthur) reminded me more of Dom De Louise (who also could have played the role), Dugan and White also give convincing performances.

Dennis Dugan [now a director] plays a likable guy that goes back in time with an identical android thatprovides some comedy to this --- favorably-remembered --- Disney feature from the days before seam-less CGI SFX. The director of this feature was a director during the time of I DREAMED OF JEANNIE,and assembled a film that LOOKS more like a made-for-TV movie of the week.The FX are not convincing, but the likability of the cast makes it an enjoyable film. If you are able to for-get the technical impossibilities of launching a spaceshuttle --- without a booster rocket --- into Earth-orbit,from medievel times, you might rate this 5 stars.I enjoyed the film when I originally saw it in a theatre. Bought it when it came out on VHS, but this wide-screen transfer --- though MONO --- is a great upgrade. Watch it with the eyes of a child, and you'll enjoyit as well!I recommend this for that inner-child in us all.

Like other reviewers, this is a film with which I have been familiar for many years under the title "The Spaceman and King Arthur". Although basically a children's comedy film, my wife and I still enjoy it immensely, despite some rather outdated graphics. We first saw it many years ago on TV and videoed it although, regrettably, this no longer works and, in any event, it contained numerous annoying commercial breaks, which is why - being a child at heart - I jumped at the chance to order the dvd when I discovered it on Amazon.Briefly, it tells the story of an astronaut, who becomes trapped in a spacecraft about to be launched on what is intended to be an unmanned space mission carrying an android constructed in his likeness. The pair end up travelling backwards in time, returning to Earth and landing in Camelot in the time of King Arthur. The astronaut (regarded as a monster due to his space helmet which has become stuck and is only removed with the help of a "wench" when, after being seized and interrogated, the King misunderstands his request for a "wrench") undergoes a series of challenges and punishments, including attempted burning at the stake. Eventually, the King and his advisers realise the astronaut's good intentions as he and the android endeavour - with the help of a serf and another "comely wench" (adding a touch of innocent romance)- to save Camelot by exposing and foiling a plot to overthrow the King.A great family film for a little light relief.

If The Spaceman and King Arthur aka Unidentified Flying Oddball merited an entry in The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it would doubtless read 'mostly harmless.' The kind of family special effects comedy that Disney continued to push out to diminishing returns long after Uncle Walt left the building and audiences lost interest, this umpteenth reworking of Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in the Court of King Arthur doesn't have many jokes and even fewer of them are any good, but the film's so good-natured and relentlessly eager to please that you can't really hold it against it. Denis Dugan is the NASA scientist who finds himself accidentally shot into space in an experimental spacecraft alongside his robot double and ends up going back in time to King Arthur's court where he crosses swords with Jim Dale's evil Sir Mordred (in Disney's final attempt to turn him into a US star) and Ron Moody's Merlin, for once on the side of the villains. Nothing terribly imaginative or amusing happens, but it passes the time pleasantly enough, Ron Goodwin's score revisiting the odd motif from his earlier score for Sword of Lancelot, Paul Beeson's photography throwing up a couple of pretty images, and Kenneth More ending his movie career with his dignity intact as King Arthur, displaying some nice chemistry with John Le Mesurier's vague Sir Gawain even if it's no valedictory performance.No extras on the DVD, which uses the film's American title, Unidentified Flying Oddball, but a decent widescreen transfer.

Great time travel film fool of laughs and a lot of well known British stars like Jim dale Ron moody and Kenneth Moore and Rodney bewes

I previously knew this film as "A Spaceman in the Court of King Arthur".Nasa had intended to send out a spaceship with a robot on board.The designer accidently was on board when the ship took off. Instead of going into space it went back in time the time of King Arthur. He and the robot foil a plot to overthrow Arthur, both fall in love with a peasant girl.It is a light, pleasant film, which I enjoyed.

Well as I was an extra ( the chicken seller) in this film I am a little bias but the younger ones will love it its all Good fun, like all Disney films ideal for family viewing .)