Directed by actor David Hemmings and written by Everett De Roche (Patrick, Harlequin, Link), Race for the Yankee Zephyr is the tale of a World War II-era plane found in the mountains of New Zealand by Gilbert Carson (Donald Pleasence), who runs the hunting lodge with his daughter Sally (Lesley Ann Warren) where Barney Whitaker (Ken Wahl) is visiting.
Once the locals learn that there could be money in the plane, Theo Brown (George Peppard) leads a gang of men who want to take the treasure and get rid of Carson. The money they are after includes a shipment of gold war medals, Christmas mail correspondence, a crate of 100 bottles of Kentucky-made Old Crow bourbon whiskey, 1000 gold-bars in gold bullion and the entire payroll in cash for the American South Pacific Fleet which adds up to $15 million in the film and adjusted for inflation, that would be $50 million in 2024.
Richard Franklin was the original director, but after the cast didn't have enough Australia actors - three Americans and a British one had the lead roles - it couldn't get a permit to be shot there. The producers took the film to New Zealand and Hemmings came on. After he was behind schedule directing, Brian Trenchard-Smith was brought in as a potential second unit director. As this was an implied threat of replacement, Hemmings finished the movie on time. He also directed The Survivor that same year.
It's also the reason why Donald Pleasence wasn't in The Thing as this went over schedule.
Once the locals learn that there could be money in the plane, Theo Brown (George Peppard) leads a gang of men who want to take the treasure and get rid of Carson. The money they are after includes a shipment of gold war medals, Christmas mail correspondence, a crate of 100 bottles of Kentucky-made Old Crow bourbon whiskey, 1000 gold-bars in gold bullion and the entire payroll in cash for the American South Pacific Fleet which adds up to $15 million in the film and adjusted for inflation, that would be $50 million in 2024.
Richard Franklin was the original director, but after the cast didn't have enough Australia actors - three Americans and a British one had the lead roles - it couldn't get a permit to be shot there. The producers took the film to New Zealand and Hemmings came on. After he was behind schedule directing, Brian Trenchard-Smith was brought in as a potential second unit director. As this was an implied threat of replacement, Hemmings finished the movie on time. He also directed The Survivor that same year.
It's also the reason why Donald Pleasence wasn't in The Thing as this went over schedule.