The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981) (TV)

Director:

Peter Baldwin

Writers:

David P. Harmon (writer)
Gordon Mitchell (writer)

Release Date:

15 May 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Sport

Plot:

The staff of the island resort need the aid of the Harlem Globetrotters to keep their island from a greedy millionaire.

Plot Keywords:

Basketball | Robot | Resort | Gilligans Island | Sequel

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Bob Denver	...	Gilligan
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Skipper Jonas Grumby
Jim Backus	...	Thurston Howell III
Natalie Schafer	...	Lovey Wentworth Howell
Constance Forslund	...	Ginger Grant
Russell Johnson	...	Prof. Roy Hinkley Jr.
Dawn Wells	...	Mary Ann Summers
David Ruprecht	...	Thurston Howell IV
Martin Landau	...	J.J. Pierson
Barbara Bain	...	Dr. Olga Schmetner
Scatman Crothers	...	Dewey Stevens
Whitney Rydbeck	...	George (the robot)
Dreama Perry Denver	...	The Howells' secretary
Rosalind Chao	...	Hotel clerk
Stu Nahan	...	Sportscaster #1

Also Known As:

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Gilligan's Island (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

At the time this movie was being made Jim Backus was suffering from Parkinson's disease thus preventing him from being in the movie. Originally his character was written out of the storyline but at the last minute Backus felt well enough to make a small cameo at the end of the movie.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nanny: Schlepped Away (#1.15)" (1994)

It Almost Worked

I am probably one of the few Gilligan fans who can say that they like this picture, but there are several things wrong with it. Ginger has regressed backward in age so that she looks like her own daughter. Lovely Constance Forslund, an actress who once played Marilyn Monroe, is obviously too young to play the role when she would be better off doing it in a remake. The Howells who once said they never had a son suddenly have one, so either they had lied way back then, or they adopted the oldest kid in the orphanage to avoid parental duties." Oh no, we meant we didn't have a son ON THE ISLAND." This was supposed to set off a new series with the castaways running a resort on their old island, such a series would have allowed them to close all the old plot points of the series and bring back their old guest stars, but instead there is a culture shock as the castaways meet the Harlem Globetrotters. An illogical bet is made just for the team to play and show off their magic on a ridiculous looking court that has to be seen to be believed. Husband and wife team Martin Landau and Barbera Bain play financial rivals of the Howells in order to bilk them out of a valuable new element on the island. The plot as well as the jokes are straight out of the series, as are the Skipper's and Gilligan's wardrobe. Couldn't they have got more new clothes by now ? Still, this movie to end all movies does follow the spirit as well as the craziness of the series. I can only assume the next movie will be called: "Return to Gilligan's Island: Balingkoff's Revenge."