RACE FOR THE YANKEE ZEPHYR
Australia/NZ, 1981, 108 minutes, Colour.
Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, George Peppard, Donald Pleasence, Bruno Lawrence, Grant Tilly.
Directed by David Hemmings.
Race for the Yankee Zephyr caused some controversy in the Australian film industry in the late '70s. Producer Tony I. Ginnane, who made Patrick, Snapshot, Harlequin, The Survivor amongst other films, wanted to import a number of over
seas stars. Actors' Equity opposed him and he moved the production to New Zealand. The use of New Zealand scenery enhances the film - which is a rather pedestrian chase story with raucous style. It is based on a screenplay by Everett de Roche who wrote a number of enjoyable Australian thrillers including Patrick, The Long Weekend, Road Games. The Australian contribution included photography by Vincent Monton, costumes by Aphrodite Kondos and Brian May's music. Direction is by British actor David Hemmings, who also directed The Survivor. Donald Pleasence has another of his loud roles but George Peppard is a strange villain - a bit like Frank Thring suddenly appearing amid the glaciers with champagne and glasses. Ken Wahl and Lesley Ann Warren are no more than adequate in the central roles - indicating that international names are not necessary for the success of a film.
1. An interesting and enjoyable adventure? Its qualities as action adventure?
2. Australian and New Zealand production values? Location photography, musical score, special effects? International stars? Australasian atmosphere and flavour? International flavour?
3. The opening and the atmosphere of World War Two, American involvement, transport planes? The newsreel effect and enhancing credibility? The crash of the plane, the gold? A popular World War Two story about lost transport and lost treasure?
4. The transition to the present with Gibson and his assistant? Their work in New Zealand, rugged adventure, helicopter work, chasing the deer by helicopter and foot? Outdoor types? Non-New? Zealand types! Their way of life, work, money? An introduction to their skills which were to help them chasing the Yankee Zephyr? The use of locations and their possibilities? The basic situation of being stranded, discovering the plane? Gibson and his attention on the whiskey and missing the gold?
5. New Zealand's South Island beauty and its use for the many chase sequences - by helicopter, car, special vehicles constructed,, horseback and the final speedboat chase?
6. The hero and his preparation for the trek? The encounter with Sally and her reluctance to help with the money? Gibson's discussing the matter with his daughter and her giving in? The detailed preparation for the expedition? The confronting of the criminals? Their being captured? Their escape and the variety of ways in which they reached the plane? The discovery? Gibson and his raucous style and drinking? The tough hero? The resourceful heroine? Their ultimate success?
7. George Peppard as Brown? The criminal fop? His vehicles, clothing, good life out in the open e.g. his wines? His capacity for violence? His criminal advisers and henchmen and their toughness, violence, shooting? Ultimate confrontations? The final chase along the river? The ultimate greed and deaths in the lake? The tough American hero? His action and heroics? How much characterisation? Sally and her presence during the expedition?
8. The impact of special effects. chase photography? The dramatising of the tricks to elude pursuit? The violence?
9. The Yankee Zephyr and its cargo, towing the plane, its going down? The whiskey versus the gold? The irony of saving some of the gold?
10. The happy ending for the goodies and the destruction of the baddies? Saturday matinee adventure and morals?
