ViewGuide

Created Jul 25, 2011 10:23AM PST • Edited Jul 25, 2011 10:23AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Sally Struthers stars a Helen Klaben, a young girl who hitches a plane ride with a gruff older Canadian Ralph Florez – played by Ed Asner. Affected by engine trouble, their plane crashes and they are stranded in the Yukon for 49 days. This odd-couple tale was based on this incredible true story that happened in 1963 and the subsequent book written by Klaben. This makes the movie interesting, but unfortunately the film was plagued by being a a bit campy (after all, it was made for TV in the 70’s) and overbearing with an abundance of religious overtones that never would be put in a movie today. The movie mostly focuses on the interaction between Helen and Ralph rather than the survival, which causes it to be a bit annoying at times with its overdone drama and Ralph’s religious persistence.

4. Acting

   Barely OK 2.0

   Sally Struthers is a major drama queen, and not quite believable. Ed Asner fares a little better with his religious quirky character. Reading some old newspaper stories makes me inclined to believe that they were chosen for their likeness to Helen and Ralph, and I’m wondering if they were as ill-matched in real life as they were in the film.

5. Male Stars Barely OK 2.0

6. Female Stars Barely OK 2.0

7. Female Costars Barely OK 2.0

8. Male Costars Barely OK 2.0

10. Film

    OK 2.5

    Ok for a made-for-TV movie. I’m being a little forgiving considering it was made for TV in the 70’s.

11. Direction OK 2.5

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.0

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Polite 1.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.5

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.5

23. Biological Glib 1.5

24. Physical Glib 1.5