Il tesoro dello Yankee Zephyr

On the one hand, it is possible to view this film only as an attempt to make a star out of Ken Wahl, whose "The Soldier" had some box-office success. However, the film is infinitely more intresting if taken as an action-adventure in the mold that Spielberg would adopt for "Raiders of the Lost Ark", a film which when released around the same time, served to bury "Race" for all but the dilligent. Certainly the film is similar in certain respects, and may be seen as the first of the imitators, its plot and characters anticipating Robert Zemeckis' hit adventure, "Romancing the Stone". But it is individual enough to warrant some attention.

It was a US/Australia/New Zealand co-production, made by English actor/director David Hemmings on marvellous New Zealand locations. The story focuses on two helicopter pilots and hunters who search for the wreckage of an American plane reported missing during World War II, and carrying a large amount of gold and money. Naturally as the villains appear (led by dapper George Peppard), the film becomes a chase scenario in an agreeably old-fashioned mode, populated by eccentrics.

Donald Pleasance effortlessly steals his scenes, with a characterization resembling that in John Sturges' western epic comedy, "The Hallelujah Trail" some fifteen years earlier. And tpical of the movie's allusive nature, the music score by Brian May ("Mad Max") pays tribute to the theme from John Sturges' "The Great Escape", in which Pleasance also starred.

With sundrenched visuals, and a Europeanized use of open-frame compositions, this adventure is used by Hemmings to explore the lengths to which people are prepared to go to to justify their self-image and self-indulgence. It is less about obsession than about pride. Spielberg would also examine this theme in his later films, as would Hemmings, but to vastly different results.

In many respects, it is a minor film, and unlikely to come under any retrospective scrutiny. But for what it sets out to be, it is lean, charming and entertaining in a way that many film's strive for, but rarely achieve. A curiosity, for completists.

Race for the Yankee Zephyr is a typical low-budget adventure film from the 80s. It looks in one breath, vaguely resembles films about Indiana Jones (but only by concept, comparing them is certainly stupid). Race for the Yankee Zephyr has a classic plot, love arc and caricature villain and predictable ending. If the film at least somehow surprised the viewer, and so you literally know what will happen next. You can watch the film as a family, there is humor and funny scenes. But this is a completely passing film that will be forgotten the next day, it will literally be made according to the template and with a small budget.

A crashed WWII plane (The Yankee Zephyr) containing a fortune in gold is found by Gibbie Gibson (Donald Pleasence) who partners Barney (Ken Wahl). Back in town the partners, now financially supported by Gibson's daughter Sally (Leslie Anne Warren) head out in search of it. However the plane has long been sought by baddie Theo Brown (George Peppard) and his henchmen who will stop at nothing to get to the gold.

Certainly simplistic - it is essentially one long chase - and yet it is an enjoyable bit of lightweight adventure with some comic two dimensional characters. Pleasence is a laugh although albeit prone to roaring with laughter rather too much and Peppard camps it up nicely as a James Bond type villain. There are no great surprises here but the chase sequences on speed boat and especially helicopter plus the amazing New Zealand scenery are terrific.

A solid film with exceptional production values a few flaws. What really surprises me about this film is just how well acted it is by the supporting cast and the three protagonists. Combine that with some very good cinematography and you have a respectable film.

Toss in a very sumptuous looking New Zealand background and you have a an exceptional production.

The only downside to this production is perhaps the casting of George Peppard as the mercenary antagonist. His accent and overall performance are very misplaced and almost serve as comic relief for a film that needed a good solid villain to anchor it. Peppard nearly derails this film with a horrible effete British accent, but the action and the three leads.

The character driven moments are finely staged, and the action sequences are old fashioned classic pre-CGI film making. Aeriel sequences and boat chases, and even a few fire fights are all in this film combined with the elements I already mentioned.

It's just a few notes shy of being an outstanding film. As it is now it's just a good action film with good drama, some comedy, and one mis-cast villain. It's worth seeing once.

Enjoy.

If you've ever wondered what the high country of New Zealand's south island looks like, this will provide decent introduction. It looks a little like the video clips we've seen of the Falkland Island, only with mountains, rocky snow-veined crags.

The story features Ken Wahl as an adventurous helicopter pilot, his bibulous side kick Donald Pleasance, and the requisite young lady who gets swept up in the race to find the Yankee Zephyr, an American C47 that crashed during WWII, carrying a cargo of Purple Hearts, whiskey, cash, and gold bars. I don't know why everyone in the movies finds wrecks filled with treasure. All the old crashed airplanes I''ve found contained nothing. The wrecked ships were worse.

In any case the three good guys are doing their best to find the wreck, the drunken Donald Pleasance not being too sure of its location. In hot pursuit are the bad guys, led by George Peppard, one of those suave villains who sounds like he graduated from college and is dead set on demonstrating it. I can't locate his accent. I won't tell you who wins.

It's all fast paced with obvious direction by David Hemmings. The editing is a bit clumsy and the film is overscore. The music is mostly generic adventure but shoehorns in a little Sibelius. Leslie An Warren looks pretty good.

It's harmless entertainment, along the lines of "High Road to China."