Race for the Yankee Zephyr

Gibbie Gibson has discovered a World War II-era plane wreck in the mountains of New Zealand. When his discovery becomes known Gibson, his daughter Sally and his lodger Barney Whitaker find trouble from a group of treasure hunters led by a Mister Theo Brown, who are intent on finding the cache of money they believe is on the wreck.

Ken Wahl as Barney Whitaker; a hunter who owns a helicopter and lives with Gibbie Gibson. He is the nemesis of Theo Brown who kidnaps Gibbie and Barney eventually falls in love with Gibbie's daughter Sally Gibson.

Lesley Ann Warren as Sally Gibson; a receptionist who is the daughter of Gibbie Gibson. She is caught up between the war between Gibbie's lodger Barney Whitaker and his rival Theo Brown, but eventually falls in love with Barney.

Donald Pleasence as Gibbie Gibson; a hunter and the lodge host of Barney Whitaker, he finds the plane wreck in the mountains and is the father of Sally Gibson and Gibbie is eventually taken prisoner by Theo and his henchmen.

George Peppard as Theo Brown; a gangster who is the arch rival of Barney Whitaker. He kidnaps Barney's lodge host Gibbie Gibson, bent on finding the wreck.{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|date=29 December 2024|access-date=29 December 2024|title=Movie Star Cold Streaks: George Peppard|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/movie-star-cold-streaks-george-peppard/}}

Bruno Lawrence as Barker; one of Brown's henchmen.

Grant Tilly as the Collector; a civilian and owner of a local pawn shop.

The film was an original story by writer Everett De Roche, who said he got the idea from a neighbour of his in Mount Isa. It was based on a true incident about the war-time disappearance of an American DC3 military aircraft carrying the payroll for the Pacific fleet which was later discovered off Cape York. Richard Franklin was originally attached as director, and Antony I. Ginnane produced.

The script was originally set in Queensland, Australia, but the producers wanted to import four overseas actors, and Actors Equity objected.{{cite journal|title=Equity |journal=Cinema Papers |date=Oct–Nov 1980 |page=312}} De Roche re-wrote the film so it was set in New Zealand. Richard Franklin dropped out of the film because he was unhappy with the change in location, and David Hemmings, who was attached to the film as a producer, was appointed director.{{cite journal|first=Ross |last=Lansell |title=David Hemmings |journal=Cinema Papers |date=May–June 1979 |pages=351–355}}

Funding was obtained privately.{{cite journal|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55458290 |last=Alderton |first=Eileen |title=Adventure and intrigue by a lonely mountain lake |journal=The Australian Women's Weekly |volume=48 |number=40 |date=11 March 1981 |access-date=2014-08-30 |page=24}}

The film was one of the leaders of Soviet film distribution in 1983, when it was seen by 29 million Soviet viewers.{{cite web|url=http://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/14526/ |script-title=ru:К сокровищам авиакатастрофы |website=KinoPoisk |language=Russian |access-date=2014-08-30}}

Ginnane was so annoyed with Australia's Actors Equity that he made his next four films in New Zealand.

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0082968}}
• [http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/race-for-the-yankee-zephyr Race for the Yankee Zephyr] at Oz Movies
• [http://www.rotaryaction.com/pages/raceftyz.html Race For The Yankee Zephyr on RotaryAction.com]

Category:1981 films

Category:1980s action drama films

Category:1980s adventure films

Category:1980s English-language films

Category:Films directed by David Hemmings

Category:New Zealand drama films

Category:Films shot in New Zealand

Category:Films about treasure hunting

Category:Underwater action films

Category:Films scored by Brian May (composer)

Category:Australian drama films

Category:1981 drama films

Category:English-language action drama films

Category:English-language adventure films