And Cream - the delicious online magazine

So I was delighted when I asked somebody if they remembered a film called The Flight of Dragons, and they said yes.  I asked several people, in fact, and they all said yes.  My brother, my sister, friends from University, random people I met in a biker’s pub in Sheffield (because, why wouldn’t a load of northern heavy-metal bikers be into a kids’ cartoon movie?), everybody seemed to have seen this film.

The more people I asked about it, the more we discussed it.  The more we discussed it, the more stuff we were able to remember about it.  Stuff like: didn’t Don McLean write and perform the song at the start? or wasn’t there a Chinese dude who was obsessed with stating the obvious (“the thing about logic is, it’s so logical”)?

So, considering the fact that basically everybody in the world knew about this film - why was it so sodding difficult to track down?  The film had been on TV every Christmas from when I was 2 years old to when I was about 6.  Then it just stopped being shown.  The best I can figure is this, some TV exec was scouting my house out, and the very minute that he watched my mother tape over it for an episode of Flying Doctors (or some such) he said “quick, erase our copies of Flight of Dragons, I NEVER want that to be shown again”.

I spent quite a lot of time trying to find a copy, looking at dealers, car-boot sales, checking the internet, phoning random ‘cartoon fanboys’.  Nobody had it.  Then one day I received a call from my Dad (at this point I’m 21) saying “Just found that film you wanted, it’s in Woolworths for £2.  You want it?”

Bloody Woolworths!!!!!

It turns out they’d decided to re-release it on VHS with a brand spanking new (and also brand-spanking shite…I know that doesn’t work, but go with it) cover.  Of course, two days after I was able to get my copy it was everywhere I looked.  I’m only surprised I didn’t see that same TV Exec stood in the middle of Sheffield yelling “get your free copy of Flight of Dragons right here people” and lobbing tapes out into the screaming masses.

So - what’s it all about then?

Read on...........

Well, before we go into it, it’s worth a mention that this film is based on two (count ‘em) books:  Firstly, the plot comes from a novel by Gordon R. Dickson called The Dragon and the George, whilst the title - and some of the scientific discussion which is crowbarred into the movie - are lifted from the book/thesis entitled The Flight of Dragons which was written by a fellow named Peter Dickinson (fans of the film may recognise the name as that of the lead character).

There are plenty of reasons to like this film.  First up, it’s actually a great story.  I’m a huge fan of the late Gordon R. Dickson’s Dragon and the George (although I’ve never got around to reading the rest of the Dragon Knight series which he picked up in the 90s).

Secondly, the cast is just awesome.  With the lead roles taken by: John Ritter, James Earl Jones, Victor Buono (that’s King Tut to you and I), Harry Morgan (AKA Col. Sherman T. Potter from M*A*S*H), Don Messick and many more.

Yet another reason to like this film is that not only did Don McLean write and perform the theme music to The Flight of Dragons, but he also completely forgot that he had recorded it, denied all ‘rumours’ that he did, and then - after a decade or so - remembered that he did do it after all.  You’ve got to love that man.

The plot of the film actually varies from that of the book slightly (and is slightly worse for it) but is enjoyable nonetheless.

The film is set in a world where Magic is dying.  It is being crushed by logic, and reason.  As more people start to see things in a scientific manner, so the powers of magic dwindle accordingly.  The Green Wizard, Carolinus (Harry Morgan), therefore organises a meeting involving himself and his three brothers: Solarius, the Blue Wizard, Lo Tae Shao, the Golden Wizard (both voiced by Don Messick) and, finally, the Red Wizard, Ommadon.

At this point I should point out that Ommadon is probably the biggest reason why this film is good.  Firstly, because he’s a right Evil so-and-so.  He really is a terrific fantasy villain.  Secondly, and more importantly, because his voice is provided by James Earl Jones. 

Some people have actually suggested that, in their opinion, his performance as Ommadon is actually better than his turn as Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies (!!!)  This is clearly a load of rubbish…although I suppose there’s argument to suggest that you’re only as strong as your last performance, and as Vader’s last outing was:

“Padme, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”

then I guess there could even be argument to suggest that his turn as The Toilet in According to Jim was probably better.