The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island
Encyclopedia
The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island is a made for T.V. movie released in 1981
.
. Gilligan and his friends still own and operate the vacation resort The Castaways. In the film, the Harlem Globetrotters
, a traveling troupe of merry basketball players, are on a plane ride over the Pacific Ocean
when it has engine trouble and they are forced into an emergency landing onto Gilligan's Island
. After a brief time struggling in the jungle, they are discovered by Gilligan and Skipper and welcomed to The Castaways. Meanwhile, a corporate raider has a plan to bamboozle the owners of The Castaways (Gilligan and his friends) into signing over ownership to him, as the island contains ore which provides large sources of energy. Eventually Gilligan and the Skipper uncover the conspiracy, and it results in a basketball game between the Globetrotters and a team of robots assembled by the corporate raider.
on Gilligan's Island, but was changed to have the Harlem Globetrotters star instead. On the original series, the Howells are childless (in fact in one episode they adopt Gilligan). Despite this, a new character of Thurston Howell IV (the Howells' never-previously-mentioned son, portrayed by David Ruprecht
) was added due to the ailing health of actor Jim Backus
. Thurston Howell III was written out of the script by saying he was tending to business on the mainland United States, and ordered his son, Thurston Howell IV, to manage the island resort. Backus was only featured briefly, appearing towards the end of the film. Neither of the previous actresses who played Ginger agreed to reprise their role in this film and a new actress was selected. This would be the final performance together of Martin Landau
and Barbara Bain
, the husband and wife team best known for their starring roles in Mission: Impossible
and Space 1999. They divorced in 1993.
1981 in film
-Events:*January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. UA was humiliated by the astronomical losses on the $40,000,000 movie Heaven's Gate, a major factor in the decision of owner Transamerica to sell it....
.
Synopsis
The film is a sequel to the TV movie The Castaways on Gilligan's IslandThe Castaways on Gilligan's Island
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island is a television movie that continues the adventures of the shipwrecked castaways from the 1964-1967 TV series Gilligan's Island and the first reunion movie, Rescue From Gilligan's Island, featuring the original cast from the television series with the exception of...
. Gilligan and his friends still own and operate the vacation resort The Castaways. In the film, the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
, a traveling troupe of merry basketball players, are on a plane ride over the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
when it has engine trouble and they are forced into an emergency landing onto Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
. After a brief time struggling in the jungle, they are discovered by Gilligan and Skipper and welcomed to The Castaways. Meanwhile, a corporate raider has a plan to bamboozle the owners of The Castaways (Gilligan and his friends) into signing over ownership to him, as the island contains ore which provides large sources of energy. Eventually Gilligan and the Skipper uncover the conspiracy, and it results in a basketball game between the Globetrotters and a team of robots assembled by the corporate raider.
Production
The original script was going to be known as The Dallas Cowboys CheerleadersDallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is the National Football League cheerleading squad representing the Dallas Cowboys.- 1960s :The original cheerleading squad was a made up of a male-female group called the CowBelles & Beaux. The group made its sidelines debut in 1960 during the Cowboys' inaugural...
on Gilligan's Island, but was changed to have the Harlem Globetrotters star instead. On the original series, the Howells are childless (in fact in one episode they adopt Gilligan). Despite this, a new character of Thurston Howell IV (the Howells' never-previously-mentioned son, portrayed by David Ruprecht
David Ruprecht
David Martin Ruprecht is an American actor/writer primarily known for his work as host of the Lifetime/PAX game show, Supermarket Sweep. He has hosted the live stage show version of The Price Is Right at casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Mississippi and Connecticut. He has also hosted Family...
) was added due to the ailing health of actor Jim Backus
Jim Backus
James Gilmore "Jim" Backus was a radio, television, film, and voice actor. Among his most famous roles are the voice of Mr...
. Thurston Howell III was written out of the script by saying he was tending to business on the mainland United States, and ordered his son, Thurston Howell IV, to manage the island resort. Backus was only featured briefly, appearing towards the end of the film. Neither of the previous actresses who played Ginger agreed to reprise their role in this film and a new actress was selected. This would be the final performance together of Martin Landau
Martin Landau
Martin Landau is an American film and television actor. Landau began his career in the 1950s. His early films include a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . He played continuing roles in the television series Mission: Impossible and Space:1999...
and Barbara Bain
Barbara Bain
Millicent Fogel , known professionally as Barbara Bain, is an American actress.-Early life:Bain was born in Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in sociology. She moved to New York City, where she was a dancer and high fashion model. Bain studied with...
, the husband and wife team best known for their starring roles in Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
and Space 1999. They divorced in 1993.