This Christmas, Walt Disney Studios will be tackling the realm of science speculation rather somberly in their $17,5 million opus The Black Hole. During the summer months, however, Disney denizens will be presenting a somewhat lighter approach to science fiction in Unidentified Flying Oddball; a slightly outof-whack tale of time travel.
The film stars Dennis Dugan (TVs Richie Brockelman, Private Eye) as space engineer Tom Trimble, an unassuming chap who unwittingly becomes both a time traveler and a historical hero before the films conclusion. Tom and his lookalike robot, Hermes, are accidentally sent reeling into relativistic speed after lightning strikes their spacecraft. The shuttle craft spins dizzily out of control. When it finally re-enters the Earths atmosphere, it alights in the green countryside of sixth century England, a country ruled by King Arthur and his knights.
Spacesuit-clad Tom is discovered by a fair young maiden, Alisande (Sheila White), who believes she has run across a monster. (To make matters even more interesting, Alisande carries around a gander which she believes to be her father..,sent into goosedom by Merlin the magician.) Sir Mordred (Jim Dale) and his page, Clarence (Rodney Bewes), appear on the scene and take the monster back to Camelot.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Merlin (Ron Moody) secretly plots with Mordred in a land-grabbing scheme that will lead to King Arthurs (Kenneth More) downfall. Toms appearance before the assembly causes great concern and the monster, as he is called, is scheduled to burn at the stake. Fortunately, his inflated, air-conditioned suit saves him = and he is able to walk through the flames much to the mystification of local spectators. :
Toms invulnerability infuriates the powermad Mordred who challeges him to a duel. Tom once again relies on NASA know-how. He magnetizes Mordreds sword. Every piece of metal in sight attaches itself to the knights blade and the weight topples Mordred off the castle wall.
With enemies already made, Tom discovers the plot against Arthur and, using such technological wonders as his robot, laser gun, Moon rover and jet rocket seat, attempts to quell the rebellion. During his various assaults on the senses of, sixth century soldiers, he also attempts to find a way to get back into his own time.
Scripted by Don Tait, Unidentified Flying Oddball is very loosely based on Mark Twains A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court. Produced by Ron Miller and directed by Russ Mayberry, the movie was filmed, in part, in the 11th century fortress of Ainwick Castle in the northeast part of England. NASA-inspired inflatable space suits were designed by Olinkha Horne, a London-based space garb specialist. Cliff Culley supervised special photographic effects.
Culley and teammate Ron Ballinger did their homework in space science and came up with Hermes, a robot capable of losing his head and an arm in a jousting scene while still remaining mobile, a jet-pack to fly the contemporary astronaut high above battle encampments, a 25-foot long space shuttle with a retractable ramp and a compact four-foot Moon rover that expands to seven feet, with various screens, a solar disc and a large hydraulic arm that operates on cue.
