Journey to Spirit Island

Journey to Spirit Island is a 1988 U.S. Emmy Award-winning family adventure film directed by Lásló Pal, produced by Bruce Clark, with a screenplay by Crane Webster from a story by Lásló Pal and Crane Webster. "Journey to Spirit Island" stars Bettina Bush, Brandon Douglas and Marie Antoinette Rodgers. The cinematography is by the Oscar-winning Vilmos Zsigmond.[1][2]

Journey to Spirit Island
Directed byLászló Pal
Produced byBruce Clark
Screenplay byCrane Webster
Story byCrane Webster
Lásló Pal
StarringBettina Bush
Brandon Douglas
Marie Antoinette Rodgers
Music byFred Myrow
CinematographyVilmos Zsigmond
Edited byBonnie Koehler
Release date
1992 (U.S)
Running time
93 mins.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

On the Olympic Peninsula and a nearby, unspoilt San Juan island; a young Native American girl, her brother and their two new friends battle land developers determined to build a holiday resort on the sacred burial site that is Spirit Island.[3][4][5]

Plot

Two brothers Michael (Brandon Douglas) and Willie (Gabriel Damon) are on vacation from Chicago to Spirit Island with a teenaged Native American girl named Maria (Bettina Bush) and her brother. They plan to save Spirit Island to preserve their heritage, when a conflict arises regarding the development of tribal burial grounds. When her Grandma organizes a protest against defiling their ancestors' sacred burial ground, Maria takes up the cudgel. The villains are land developers who seek to transform Spirit Island into a vacation resort.

Cast

Release

"Journey to Spirit Island" went unreleased until 1992 when it premiered in the U.S. on the Disney Channel.[6]

Reception

The TV Guide Reviewer of "Journey to Spirit Island" commented: "This film, beautifully photographed by topnotch cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, is good hearted family fare marred by a hopelessly naïve conclusion".The reviewer added: "...Ostensibly a lesson in environmental protection, respect for Native American culture and the exploitation of that culture by the 'white man', 'Journey to Spirit Island' negates what impact it might have had by making an Indian the villain and a white businessman the noble hero".[7]

Hal Erickson for Allmovie, praised "the superlative photography by Vilmos Zsigmond.[4]

In his review for the Radio Times, John Ferguson concluded: "The members of a largely unknown cast give winning performances, director Laszlo Pal expertly brings together the mystical and adventure elements of the tale and the rugged northern locations are gloriously captured by Zsigmond".[8]

Award

"Journey to Spirit Island" received the following award:

  • 1993 Emmy Award: Directing, Children's Special to Lázsló Pal for "Journey to Spirit Island".(Disney)[2]
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References
  1. "Journey-to-Spirit-Island - Cast, Crew, Director and Awards - NYTimes.com". www.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-08. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  2. Press, From The Associated (1993-05-28). " Lucci Loses Emmy for 14th Time : Television: She's beat out of best actress honors by 'Another World's' Linda Dano. CBS' 'Young and Restless' wins the best drama series award.". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  3. "Journey to Spirit Island". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  4. "Journey to Spirit Island". Allmovie Retrieved 2016-8-2
  5. Hilger, Michael (2015-10-16). Native Americans in the Movies: Portrayals from Silent Films to the Present. Rowman & Littlefie, pages 55 and 56. ISBN 9781442240025.
  6. MENDOZA, N. F. (1992-09-20). "Today's headlines get a youthful interpretation from 'News for Kids' staff". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  7. "Journey To Spirit Island". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  8. "Journey to Spirit Island Film review and movie reviews Radio Times". RadioTimes. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
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