The Earthling

The Earthling is a 1980 American-Australian adventure film directed by Peter Collinson, and starring William Holden and Ricky Schroder. It was filmed in Australia in 1979, and was the last to be directed by Collinson before his death the following year.

The Earthling
Film Poster
Directed byPeter Collinson
Written byLanny Cotler
Produced bySamuel Z. Arkoff
Elliot Schick
John Strong
StarringWilliam Holden
Ricky Schroder
CinematographyDonald McAlpine
Edited byNicholas Beauman
Music byDick DeBenedictis
Bruce Smeaton
Distributed byFilmways Pictures
Release date
24 July 1980
Running time
97 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Australia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4.5 million[1]
Box officeA$72,000 (Australia)

Plot

Patrick Foley is a jaded loner who has been a drifter for much of his life. Discovering he has terminal cancer, he decides to return to the Austrailian outback where he grew up to die in solitude. His plans are interrupted however when ten year old Shawn Dailey's parents die in a horrific accident leaving the boy alone and helpless. Reluctantly, Foley teaches the boy survival and they eventually bond in love before Foley dies and Shawn begins his trek back to civilization.

Production

The film was shot from September to October 1979 in the Blue Mountains, Barrington Forest and Warrumbungle National Park. It was reported that Holden and Schroder got along while filming. Schroder named one of his children Holden in honour of his co-star.[2]

Briann Kearney was assistant to the director.[3]

Reception

The film drew greatly mixed reviews, with some critics reviling it, while others praised it. It played to little notice in theatres, but later became something of a daytime staple on HBO and other cable-movie channels in the 1980s. It grossed $72,000 for box office in Australia.[4]

See also

References
  1. AN AUSSIE WELCOME FOR 'EARTHLING'. Johnson, Patricia. Los Angeles Times. 20 January 1980: n24.
  2. Scott Murray, "The Earthling", Australian Film 1978-1992, Oxford Uni Press 1993 p 56
  3. "Jindalee Lady". Ozmovies. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  4. Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office


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