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 | |
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Directed by | Peter Collinson |
Written by | Lanny Cotler |
Produced by | Samuel Z. Arkoff Elliot Schick John Strong |
Starring | William Holden Ricky Schroder |
Cinematography | Donald McAlpine |
Edited by | Nicholas Beauman |
Music by | Dick DeBenedictis Bruce Smeaton |
Distributed by | Filmways Pictures |
Release date | 24 July 1980 |
Running time | 97 minutes |
Countries | United States Australia |
Language | English |
Budget | $4.5 million[1] |
Box office | A$72,000 (Australia) |
Patrick Foley goes to the outback while dying of cancer. He declines medicine and is at peace with his decision to die alone in the forest. As he sees a family camping, Shawn Daley discovers his parents losing control of the recreational vehicle and falling to their deaths. Despite having an ethical dilemma, Foley accompanies Shawn. After days of educating survival, they forgive each other. As Foley dies, Shawn continues travelling.
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]
The film drew greatly mixed reviews, with some critics reviling it, while others praised it.[citation needed] 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]
Films directed by Peter Collinson | |
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