The Earthling [Blu-ray]

Director: Peter Collinson Peter Collinson

Overview

A terminally-ill Australian (William Holden) befriends an orphan (Ricky Schroeder) he encounters in the wilderness in this drama from director Peter Collinson.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/12/2019
UPC:	0738329234621
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	PG
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound]
Language:	English
Time:	1:37:00

Special Features

Includes both the 97-minute US Cut and the 99-minute alternate International Cut; Three deleted scenes (no audio); Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ricky Schroder	Shawn Daley,Dalton
William Holden	Patrick Foley
Jack Thompson	Ross Daley
Olivia Hamnett	Bettina Daley
Alwyn Kurts	Christian Neilson
Redmond Phillips	Bobby Burns
Willie Fennell	R.C.
Ray Barnett	Parnell
Pat Evison	Meg Neilson
Jane Harders	Molly Ann Hogan
Allan Penney	Harlan
Walter Pym	Uncle
Harry Neilson	McGroaty
Tony Barry	Red
Ray Barrett	Parnell
Maggie Blinco	Jessica
Tui Bow	Lyla
Danny Adcock	Bus Driver
Dick De Benedictis	Composer

Technical Credits

Lanny Cotler

Peter Collinson	Director
Elliot Schick	Producer
Stephen W. Sharmat	Executive Producer
John Strong	Producer
Lanny Cotler	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The final film of director Peter Collinson and one of the last for ill-fated star William Holden, this adventure drama is thoroughly absorbing, a surprise artistic success given its ill-chosen title, meditative pace, and somberly hushed, serious tone. The central tragedy that provides the film's impetus, as well as its recurring motifs of death's random capriciousness, render it inappropriate for younger children -- but more mature viewers will savor the script's ruminations on the struggle to survive, on mortality, and on the need of one generation to pass along its collective wisdom to another. There's also the filmed-on-location Australian backdrop, impressively forbidding and remote, but striking to behold and alien enough to set the action apart from other wilderness survival tales. Holden brings a worldly, cynical gravitas to his role that seems appropriately grizzled and hard-earned, while the then-young Rick Schroder turns in one of his two best childhood performances (the other in 1979's remake of The Champ) as a severely traumatized boy who learns to -- in the parlance of modern-day therapy-speak -- "deal with his reality." Its slow-moving story line and thoughtful nature virtually guarantee it a limited audience, but for those who stick around for the full running time, The Earthling (1980) yields rich thematic material to savor.