floyd beck
I thought this was one of those older 1980 sci-fi movies about a spaceman going to a distant planet or an alien coming to earth. It is about an older man who lost his parents years ago, fantastically played by William Holden, who wants to go back to his roots and a "10 year old" boy, fantastically played by Rick Schroder, on vacation with his mom and dad. The incredibly beautiful scenery is set in Australia, with quality scenes of landscapes, brooks, mountains, forests, insects and animals that resemble National Geographic specials.The movie never gets boring. Here I am at 60, a serious guy, boo-hooing towards the ending. Women should like it too because of the sufferings and different views of love.
edgarhurtado
great movie, great message, when you see this movie just try to see what lies inside a very moving film. Holden's perform is really good this is almost his last film before he die in a tragic house accident, and the performance of the boy (Shoedrer) is good too. The story its tragic but its a life lesson, so i think this is one of my favorites films cause is gentle and humanism with a great sense of what the life is and how the life sometimes is hard but this film teaches you to respect your world and teaches you that we need to be strong to survey cause the weak confuse standing people the wind can blow them away like the tree sheets. I like to see this movie when I'm spiritually lost and then i just remember one of the teaches of the old man Foley "Remember Go to the north boy"
leebertarian@yahoo.com
A dying man finds love and compassion in his final days as he treks to his birth place accompanied by a spoiled whining child orphaned in a freak accident in the outback. The cinematogrpahy was 1st rate, the plot understated.While vacationing in the Australian Outback with his parents, American youngster Shawn Daley suffers from the loss of his parents in a freak accident, finding himself orphaned and marooned in the Australian outback. Shawn eludes a variety of insect and reptilian life before he meets Patrick Foley, a grumpy adventurer who is headed back to his parent's resting place deep in the woods. Foley grudgingly lets the boy follow along and teaches him how to live off the land. When Foley's condition worsens, Shawn discovers he has to leave Foley behind and start his journey back to civilization with his newfound skills that'll allow him to survive the return trek alone. Filmed between September and October 1979 on location in Blue Mountains and Barrington Forest, New South Wales, Australia.
dtucker86
I like The Earthling. This was the first film Ricky Schroder made after The Last Flight Of Noah's Ark (now there is a real classic). He does a wonderful job appearing with one of Hollywood's legends. I read a biography of Bill Holden's and it said that he and Ricky had a ball working together and it surely shows in this fine film. The chemistry between them is sensational. This man teaches the boy how to survive and he teaches the man how to love. Yes it is dark and depressing, but I feel that makes it a better movie because it is not typical Hollywood schmaltz. Peter Collinson, the director of the film was dying of cancer as it was being made and less then a year after the film was released, William Holden died in a drunken fall in his home. He fell and gashed his head on a nightstand and bled to death his body not being found for several days. Holden is truly one of Hollywood's most tragic fatalities. This man was loved by all who knew him, but he just didn't love himself. I don't think the Earthling has ever been shown on Tv and I think that is a real shame. It is not a happy film to watch yes, but it is an example of fine filmaking. A sort of film noir if you will. A possible spoiler here, Holden's character dies and I always wondered if Ricky made it back to civilization in the end.
AD
