Island at the Top of the World, The (1974)

[bunniefuu]

Good evening, sir.

I'm professor ivarsson.

Yes, sir. Sir anthony's

Been expecting you.

It's in your hands, marlow.

Stand fast with those

Steel fellows.

They'll come to terms. If

Any other problems come up,

Consult with the board.

They know my thinking.

Ah! Professor ivarsson.

I cannot tell you

How grateful I am...

That you've agreed

To join me.

I haven't agreed to anything.

All I know is that somebody

Woke me up at 6:00 yesterday

Morning saying he was...

The british ambassador.

It was the

British ambassador.

He'd arranged my passage

On a mail boat from norway

To england.

Then a large man

Appeared at my door.

He helped me pack my bags...

And drove me to the dock.

Your train leaves

In ten minutes, sir.

Good. Come along, ivarsson.

But, uh, sir anthony...

An expedition

To the arctic?

I'm... I'm hardly a

Professional explorer...

Ah, let me finish.

I've had you

Looked into.

Oh?

You're an american from

The university of minnesota,

Currently a guest lecturer at

The university of christiania.

Your speciality

Is the archaeology

Of the north.

In the past, you've led

Several successful expeditions.

You've done some very

Interesting work in greenland.

Oh, no, no.

You're the right man

For the job, all right.

The right man for what job?

And what's so urgent?

What is it you hope to find?

My... Son.

You see, my wife died

When donald was a child.

As he grew older,

I began to groom him...

To take my place

In the business.

I pushed him too hard.

I... Anyway, we had words.

Then suddenly donald dropped

Everything and went off

On a whaling ship...

As an ordinary seaman.

Three months later,

I got word that he'd left

The ship in baffin land.

Why?

I had no idea...

Until I received this

From a trading post

At fort conger

On ellesmere island.

Apparently, donald had

Left it with the factor

For safekeeping...

When he'd gone off on

Some sort of expedition.

When he didn't come back,

The factor sent it on to me.

Hmm. It's an old page

From a hudson's bay company

Journal.

Look at the entry

For january 15, 1856.

"To this post this day

Came john murchison

With his eskimos,

"Who hunt the white bear

Far beyond the land's end.

"He told of seeing

A lone cloud as if

Lying on the ice,

"And hidden beneath it,

An island.

"This island

He sought to examine,

"But his eskimos

Refused him, saying...

"It's guarded

By evil spirits,

For it's the place where

The whales go to die."

We're coming

Into dover now, sir.

Thank you.

Sir anthony,

The graveyard of whales...

Is just a fantasy,

A whaler's el dorado,

Where he thinks he's

Going to find a huge fortune

In whale bone and ambergris.

The fact is,

It simply doesn't exist.

Graveyard of whales

Is a legend, nothing more.

A legend or not,

The graveyard is what

My son went after.

It's my son

I'm looking for.

Porter, sir?

Yes, take our luggage

To the admiralty pier.

Very good, sir.

Sir anthony,

I'm afraid this has to be

The end of the line for me.

I'd help if I could.

I know how much

This means to you.

But you're trying

The impossible:

To try to find one man...

With nothing more

To go on than a page

From an old journal...

There is something more.

Donald also left this

With the factor.

I was hoping you

Might know what it was.

It's carved bone.

It's eskimo work.

It's quite common

In the arctic.

This one's a kind of a map.

Map?

If I had the right chart,

I could show you how

This thing works.

My yacht is at the pier.

You can have all the charts

You need.

This pattern hopefully

Will correspond...

To some part of the shoreline

Here on the chart.

Look. See how

This matches?

It's not exactly

To scale, of course.

Then this red mark could be

The island we're looking for.

If there were such an island.

And why shouldn't

There be?

'Cause there's no land here.

It's just a gigantic frozen sea.

All the explorers agree to that.

Peary, nansen, all of them.

And what is

Ivarsson's opinion?

Of course, there's

A lot they haven't covered.

But if there were

Such an island,

If the graveyard of whales

Really did exist...

The world will never know,

Will it?

Unless you discover it.

Or unless someone else

Beats you to it.

Sir anthony,

You're a devious man.

Yes, I am, aren't i?

I've got your

Contract here,

Your leave from

The university,

Power of attorney.

My solicitors will

Handle your affairs

In your absence.

We're underway.

And have been

For some time.

We'll be in france

In the morning.

Why france? That's hardly

The most direct route

To fort conger.

On the contrary.

I think you'll find

That it is.

Can't you slow him down?

You'd think we were

Leaving tomorrow morning.

We are.

What?

I said we are.

First thing

In the morning.

Impossible!

It's winter. No ship

Can get through the ice

Before spring.

I've made

Other arrangements.

What arrangements?

If I told you,

You'd think I was mad.

Sir anthony,

You are mad.

Now you're going to meet

Another madman.

Captain brieux!

Ah! Monsieur ross!

What a pleasure!

He was building this for

A syndicate of americans,

But he ran through

All their money.

I heard of the project

And took it over. Ah!

Captain brieux!

Good evening,

Sir anthony.

Professor ivarsson.

I'm honored,

Professor.

It's my pleasure, captain.

Do you mind if I take

A closer look?

No, no, no.

Please. I'm proud

We shall have you with us

For the ceremony tomorrow.

Thank you very much.

What ceremony?

Why, the first flight

Of my creation.

Tomorrow, the whole world

Will know of me

And my hyperion.

France will rule the air!

Whatever you've planned,

Cancel it.

Tomorrow, we leave

For the arctic.

The arctic?

The arctic! Sir anthony,

That's ridiculous!

It can't be done!

That's impossible!

We would need food,

Supplies, fuel for

The motors!

The fuel I leave to you,

Captain.

All other necessities

Have been amply provided

By my staff.

Monsieur, I think

It is best that you and I

Have an understanding.

We have an understanding.

I bought and paid for

Your airship.

It's mine.

I intend to use it...

To find my son who is

Lost in the arctic.

But I cannot do it

Without your help.

I can offer you nothing

Except hardship and danger,

Except your place

In history.

History?

Think of it,

Captain.

You have an opportunity

Which comes but once

In a generation.

The world will know you,

Not only as the first man

To fly over the arctic,

But the first man,

Perhaps, to brave

The north pole itself!

Today we make history.

There should be flags,

Music, a speech

From the president.

But what do we have?

Two small children

And a herd of goats.

Don't worry, captain.

When you bring her

Back to france,

The celebration's

Gonna break all records.

Parez, mon capitaine.

Tres bien, marcel.

Mes compliments.

Now we are ready to depart.

Very good, captain.

Carry on.

Silence!

There will be

No speaking.

Marcel, lancez

Le moteur a babord.

Bien, mon capitaine.

Lancez le moteur a babord!

Contact!

Lancez le moteur

A tribord.

Liberez les cordages.

Liberez les cordages.

Well, we're

On our way.

A glorious day, messieurs.

We rise with the sun.

Congratulations, captain.

This'll be a morning

To remember.

Something in the food hamper

Just bit me.

That is not the food hamper.

That is, uh,

The small boudoir of josephine.

It's some kind of a dog!

But of course.

The best kind. French.

I am not interested

In its nationality.

Who brought it aboard?

No one brought her aboard.

She lives here.

This is her home, since

The airship was begun.

I'm not running

Some kind of flying kennel.

Get rid of it.

If you wish, monsieur.

But of course,

It will take time.

The sun has warmed the gas.

We must wait until night

To return to the hangar,

Then bring back

The ground crew...

Wait until night?

But that will mean 12 hours.

I can't lose the time.

You're absolutely right,

Sir anthony.

Congratulations, josephine.

We've just signed on

Our ship's mascot.

Very well.

But I don't like

Small dogs, and

I never did.

Britannia may rule

The waves, sir anthony,

But the french airship

Rules the sky.

Already we are

Speeding in triumph across

The shores of your homeland.

Raining as usual, I see.

How far have we come?

About 150 miles.

150?

In six hours?

That what you call

"Speeding in triumph"?

In a day or two,

We'll travel faster, but now

My motors are at half speed.

What on earth for?

They are new.

They must run

Themselves in.

Poppycock!

I want full speed.

There are the controls,

Monsieur. If you want

Full speed,

It's your responsibility,

Not mine!

What do you say now,

Sir anthony?

I say I want full speed.

And I mean to have it.

You have your wish,

Monsieur.

It's on your head.

[ Shouting in french ]

- Something about the propeller.

I followed your orders,

Monsieur, and you see

The result.

Now we must go back

To france for repairs.

We will not!

We will proceed

On one propeller.

In arctic winds?

That would be insanity.

Without full power, my

Airship could not survive.

I refuse to go forward!

And I refuse to go back.

Well, gentlemen,

We have to go somewhere.

Captain, you carry

A spare propeller,

Don't you?

Naturally.

Well, why don't we

Put it on now?

In midair?

Mm-hmm.

- Impossible!

- Nothing's impossible.

Splendid idea, ivarsson.

Come along. Give me a hand.

Gentlemen!

May I remind you that

I am in command here.

Only an idiot

Would attempt

Such a thing.

I will do it myself.

Do be careful. And don't

Take any unnecessary risks.

Take good care.

The wind's coming up.

Let's haul him up.

Well done, captain.

My congratulations.

Thank you, sir anthony.

I am deeply honored.

[ Josephine barking ]

What's he up to now?

Marcel, make contact.

Contact, mon capitaine.

[ Josephine barking ]

Vive la france!

Stout fellow,

Brieux.

The man's incredible.

Brave but

Mad as a hatter.

Musk ox.

Oh, really?

What are they doing?

They're forming

A defensive ring.

They think

We're attacking them.

Captain, is it really

Necessary to fly so low?

It's easier

To control the airship

At this altitude.

No need to be alarmed,

Sir anthony. Look.

I'm in full command.

You've made your point,

Captain.

There's no need

To overdo it.

Non! Attendez!

Take hold of the lines.

What I don't understand

Is why donald took

Only one eskimo with him.

Because only one

Could be persuaded

To go.

You see, they all knew

What he was looking for.

The mythical island

Where the whales go to die.

One man's myth is another man's

Gospel, mr. Ivarsson.

Anyway, the eskimos

Believe the island exists.

They're frightened

To death of it. Say it's

Guarded by evil spirits.

What about the eskimo

Who went with him?

Aye. Oomiak's

His name.

They call him

The fearless one,

Though he was

Far from fearless

When he come back.

He came back?

Oh, aye.

As a matter of fact,

That's him out there,

Showin' the captain

How to fly his airship.

Ha! Fetch the fellow.

Call him in.

I'm afraid you won't get

Anything out of him, sir.

Call him in at once.

Don't argue.

Very well, sir.

Any man who goes off

With my son and then

Comes back alone...

I'll see that

He talks, all right.

I think you'd better

Let me handle him.

You've never dealt

With eskimos.

They have a sort of

Diplomacy all their own.

Blast it, ivarsson.

Anyone would think

I had no tact.

Come along, oomiak.

Ah, so there you are.

Now, what I want from you

Is an exact account...

Of everything that happened...

Sir anthony,

This is the great oomiak.

- Your fame has travelled far.

What fame?

Not even my dogs

Know me.

You were my son's guide.

What happened to him?

- This is the father

Of donald ross.

We want to know

About your...

Tell us what happened

When you left here

To find the island.

- Island.

- Don't try to play

That game with me.

Oomiak, I think

You've seen this before.

This is the place where

The whales go to die.

It's the island...

Donald was looking for.

Well?

- Speak up, man.

- My mind forgets.

Is the fearless one

Afraid to help us?

We traveled many days.

Evil spirits watch us.

When we find island,

They make big blizzard.

Psssss!

Then they attack us.

I fight like bear. Ahhh!

Fight like bear,

But evil spirits too strong.

So you ran away

And left my son.

No! We both run

Blind in snow.

When blizzard stop,

I search for many hours.

No donald.

I tell truth.

You donald father.

I donald friend.

His whole story

Is a pack of lies.

Maybe.

But it's the only

Chance we have.

At least he could show us

Where he lost donald.

We could start our search

From there. I don't suppose

There's any chance...

He'd go with us.

Oh, no, sir. None at all.

Nothing on earth

Would make him go back.

Nothing on earth?

Captain! Why don't you let

Just one of them go on board?

Then he can tell the others...

All about it.

No, no, no, monsieur...

What about this fellow?

He's been a great help to us.

Would you like to see

The inside of the airship?

Me? Yes, I like.

Good man.

Give him a hand, captain.

Why don't you show him around?

Perhaps we can,

Ah, win him over.

Well, we can try.

Captain, a word with you.

Captain?

Mm-hmm.

No, no, no, monsieur.

Quite impossible.

There is no room,

And we are overloaded now.

We could leave the mechanic

Behind, pick him up

On the way back.

You ask me to fly the ship

Without a mechanic?

But you have me.

Just tell me what to do.

I could tell you

What to do, monsieur,

But you wouldn't do it.

Looks like we're

Getting ready to leave.

I better take you down.

Oomiak!

Let go the lines there.

Wait a minute.

Oomiak's still on board.

Hang it all, he's

The only one who knows

Where donald went to.

We'll bring him back.

After he's helped us

To find him.

Sir anthony, since I

No longer have a mechanic,

May I suggest that you

First make fast the door,

Then go aloft and take in

The landing lines.

Aye, aye, captain.

We're here. We can only guess

How far the island is.

This eskimo map's

A little vague.

It's a lot to gamble

On a piece of bone.

He's not much help

To us either.

Did you expect him to be?

Sir anthony!

Huh?

Come up, please!

It's very important.

What is it?

Look over there.

Whales.

White whales. Beluga.

Indigenous to the arctic.

Now look over there.

I say, that one's

Quite different.

The california grey.

It's supposed to be found

Only in the pacific.

A narwhal,

The unicorn of the sea.

That's a rare sight,

Sir anthony.

By jove, there are

Whales everywhere!

All kinds of whales.

And all moving

In the same direction.

Exactly.

So there is a place

Where whales go to die.

Captain! That big lead

Of open water.

Follow it!

If we really are

On the right track, we'd

Have seen something by now.

Look. You remember

The journal.

"A lone cloud,

As if lying on the ice."

Oomiak!

Is that where

The island is?

Wrong way!

Wrong way!

Island not that way!

Island back this way!

He just told us

What we wanted to know.

Yes.

Steady as you go,

Captain.

Look!

"And hidden beneath the cloud,

An island."

Captain! What happened?

Captain!

Captain?

Why are we stopping?

In such a cloud,

It's not safe to proceed.

Not safe?

What do you mean?

I could not see

To navigate.

And there will be

Strong winds.

My airship could be dashed

Against hidden cliffs

And torn apart.

We can't turn back now.

We don't have to.

We can go in on foot.

Oh.

Capital idea!

Take the ship down

To the ice, captain.

- I'll get everything ready.

- No, no. You cannot leave

The ship.

Professor! You know

The dangers that lie below.

Even if you survive the cold,

There are still the cliffs.

You could not climb the cliffs.

We must try,

Captain.

I know.

It's a gamble, captain.

But with my son's life at stake,

I have no choice.

No, sir anthony.

It is I who have no choice.

I'm not a man of stone.

There are times

When the heart

Must rule the head.

We will attack the cloud.

Can we go

Above them?

Impossible!

Our load is too heavy.

I'll soon lighten it.

Hurry up!

We are losing height!

You all right?

Yes, quite.

I can't help thinking

Of the captain, though.

Poor fella.

How long must we

Keep this up for?

We can't survive

In the open. We've

Got to keep moving...

'Til we find shelter.

There should be caves

In those mountains.

Oomiak.

Is this anything like

The place that you

And donald came to?

I tell you, donald father.

We see nothing

In blizzard.

Then spirits come, and...

And you fought

Like a bear.

Yes, you mentioned that.

- Somebody watches.

I don't see.

I feel.

Tommyrot!

Something moved!

Did you see anything?

I don't think so.

Neither did i.

All the same,

I think we should head

In that direction.

Oh, very well.

If you don't know

Where you're going,

I suppose one way

Is as good as another.

It's incredible.

I don't believe it.

Green and fertile

In all this...

Ice and snow.

Look.

There's the explanation.

The island must be

Volcanic.

Heat rising through

Fissures in the ground.

It's probably thermal

Springs, exactly like

Parts of iceland.

There are buildings

Down there.

Looks like

Some sort of settlement.

- There are people there.

That means that donald

Could be there.

[ Speaking norse dialect ]

The spirit! Spirit!

Wait a minute.

No, wait!

We're friends.

[ Speaking norse dialect ]

Do you understand

Their language?

It's norse.

The old norse

Of the sagas.

Their weapons,

Their clothes,

Their whole appearance.

They're vikings.

Vikings?

They think we're invaders.

We've come to take over

Their land.

What, the three of us?

No, they think

We're the first...

And that thousands more

Are gonna follow us.

Why, it's ridiculous.

Talk to them.

Explain why we're here.

Well, I'll try, but

I've never spoken old norse.

I've only read it.

Vener!

Fred vener.

Vi vil ingen noka ilt.

Vi er komme

For a liete...

Etter ein dei

Kaller donald ross.

Donald?

That's it!

Donald ross.

Where is he?

Tell them

I'm his father.

Dette er far at donald.

Vener.

What is it?

What's going on?

I know he understood me.

But now he's gone off

To sound an alarm, stir up

The whole countryside.

We're to be kept

Under close guard

And follow along.

That's not good.

If they think we're invaders,

Then donald could have been

A prisoner all these months.

Make them tell us where he is.

Oomiak! No!

Idiot. He might have

Got us all k*lled.

But he does fight

Like a bear.

He says you saved his life.

I'm glad he

Appreciates it.

But tell him

I don't want anything

To happen to oomiak.

Spara oomiak.

Ja.

Thank you.

He says your son

Is here and well.

He's living on a farm

With the family of the man

Who found him...

After the great blizzard.

I-i knew it.

I-i knew he was safe.

I veg.

Stogg.

Her kviller vi og et.

What's happening?

We're stopping to eat.

I just had a talk

With our friend.

I found out why they're

So panicky about invaders.

Oh

These people

Have been here

For centuries.

They're descendants

Of some early

Viking expedition.

We've actually discovered

A lost colony.

That's quite remarkable.

They've been so

Isolated up here...

That they've come

To believe that all

The rest of the world...

Is a frozen wilderness

Of ice and snow.

How very odd.

Ah. Takk.

Takk.

You mean none of them

Have ever left the island?

They have no reason to.

They call this island

Astragard...

And believe it to be

The garden of the gods...

And perfect and unique

In a desolate world...

And set aside

For them alone,

Forever.

Why do they fear invaders?

Because they have

A prophecy.

There'll be a day when

The barbarians from

The ice and snow...

Will try to conquer

Their paradise.

So that explains it.

They think that we're

The savages...

Who've come

To destroy them.

Could be

A bit tricky.

Anyway,

As soon as I get

To their head man, I'll,

Uh, straighten things out.

Reindeer. Probably

Serve them as cattle.

That's the house

Where donald's living.

Donald is there?

Well, come on!

Halt!

My son. I haven't

Seen him for two years.

Tell them, ivarsson.

I'll go with them, but

Not until I've seen my son.

Han vil berre sja

Son sin fyrst.

Thank you, my boy.

Very decent of you.

Takk.

They don't look

Very happy to see us.

That hunter must have

Stirred them up.

I don't see donald.

Thank you, sir.

Uh, donald.

Donald ross.

Where is he?

Can you tell us?

Ask him

About donald.

Is it true that you

Are donald's father?

Good heavens.

You speak english.

Donald taught me.

He lives with us since

He came to our land.

This is my father.

I'm grateful to you, sir,

For looking after my son.

Uh, where is he now?

He wants us

To go into the house.

We cannot talk out here.

Oh, very well.

Thank you.

What do you mean

They took donald away?

Who took him?

The godi's men.

They came with weapons.

The godi's

Their high priest.

It was because of the hunter.

He rode down from the mountain

Shouting of invaders.

It was that fellow

On the horse.

Yes.

When the godi heard,

He sounded the long horn.

The long horn...

Is their call to battle.

Battle

What has this to do

With donald?

When it was told that

One of the invaders

Was donald's father,

The godi said that

Donald was a spy...

Who came here to

Betray us to the enemy.

Well, surely you

Don't believe that.

We don't... Because

We know donald.

There were many

That did believe...

Because there was

An omen in the sky.

Omen?

A monster like a whale,

But bigger many times.

Oh, my dear girl,

That's easily explained.

What the people saw

Was my airship.

You see, it's like...

It... It...

It's like one

Of your boats, only

It sails in the air.

Now, look, if I could

Just talk to this godi,

I could explain everything.

We're to be taken

Before the council

At the temple.

Erik's a member.

You'll get your chance

To be heard.

That girl. She speaks

Better english than oomiak.

She's prettier too.

If she learned it all

From donald,

He must have spent

Quite a lot of time

In her company.

Can you blame him?

I can't say

I do, no.

This is like

An archaeologist's dream.

To go back in history

And walk the earth

As it was...

Ten centuries ago.

I suggest

You forget the past...

And start thinking

About the future,

Which, from the look of things,

I'd say is not very promising.

The clothes they wear,

The weapons they carry.

Each one of them

Could be a museum piece.

That's what I don't like.

Those museum pieces.

Look at that!

A viking long ship,

Exactly the way they were

Built a thousand years ago.

Here, none of that.

Now stop it.

Poor fella.

And it's all my fault.

Komm her.

The temple. That's where

We're gonna meet the council.

Ah, good. Go straight

To the top, I always say.

Odin, thor and frey...

The greatest

Of all the viking gods.

I hope they're

On our side.

We may need

All the help

We can get.

A viking council,

Straight out

Of a history book.

That's the girl's father.

He seems a sensible

Old fellow.

They probably still call

The one with the staff...

The lawspeaker.

They all look

Reasonable enough.

They might be

My board of directors...

If it weren't for

Their outlandish costumes.

He said, "bring out

The other prisoner."

- Donald!

- Father!

That's my son!

I've been looking for you.

I thought you might.

He's my son.

John ivarsson.

Donald.

How do you do?

He's, uh,

Keen on the past.

Archaeology.

Oh.

Sorry about all this.

It's a bit sticky, I'm afraid.

Donald ross...

He says that when

I came to this land,

I gave my oath

That I came alone

And in peace.

But now come others,

And with them, an evil

Omen in the sky...

That cannot be

Ignored.

That's my confounded airship.

Let the prisoners speak

Before they're judged.

That is precisely

What I wanted to do.

Father...

I'll handle this.

You just translate for me.

What do they call

This island?

Astragard.

But, father, it's...

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Honored council of astragard,

I come to your beautiful

Country as a friend,

In peace, [ speaking norse ]

Seeking only my son,

Who was lost to me.

[ Donald speaking norse ]

- The godi.

He's telling them

Not to listen

To our lies.

It's obvious that we're

Barbarians who covet

Their sacred lands.

And we must

Be condemned at once,

And without a hearing.

Now, look here,

I thought I explained...

It is no longer a matter

For the council,

For the gods have spoken.

If these men are spared,

More will come...

In armed hordes...

To pillage and profane

Our sacred land.

Doden! Doden! Doden!

There can be but one penalty

For the invaders: death.

Doden! Doden! Doden!

Doden.

Doden! Doden!

Doden! Doden!

Quite a send-off.

Full viking honors.

All very authentic.

Very final.

I'm sorry, father.

- Nonsense, my boy.

- Donald!

Freyja!

We're in your debt,

Young lady.

Here they come!

And pull!

The shore!

It's our only chance!

You stay here.

I will draw them away.

No, you won't!

It's too dangerous.

He's right, my dear.

It's you they're after,

Not me.

There is a hunters'

Cave up there...

With food and clothing.

I'll be back

When it's safe.

Freyja!

Here they come.

I think she's done it.

Good girl.

I should never

Have let her go.

If they catch her...

Oh, don't worry, my boy.

She knows what she's doing.

Let's find that cave.

Hello.

Oomiak,

My dear old friend!

I'm so glad to see you!

We all are.

- We thought we'd lost ya.

- Can't k*ll oomiak.

I hide in water,

Swim far like white bear.

Good! Good!

But let's go.

I watch now.

There's still nothing.

Oh, ivarsson's up above

Scouting around, right?

Good morning, father.

Hmm?

Good morning.

Did you sleep well?

Wretchedly. You must be

A bit done-in yourself.

Oh, I'm worried about freyja.

So am i, my boy.

So am i.

Well, I've made

A mess of it,

Haven't i?

Of what, father?

The whole miserable thing.

All this nightmare

We're living in, it...

It's all my fault.

Every bit of it.

Your fault

If anyone's to blame,

I'm the one that ran off

Chasing rainbows.

And you're not

Responsible for that.

I am. Right from

The beginning.

I was always

Trying to shape you...

Into my mold.

Bullying, badgering,

Never letting up.

If I hadn't driven you

Away from home, none of this

Would have happened.

Father, you didn't drive me.

Donald,

I rode an airship

Across the top of the world

To tell you this.

If we get out of this,

You can do anything

You want to do.

You'll be free of me,

I promise you.

But I don't want

To be free of you.

I never did.

I came here

Looking for adventure,

And I certainly found that.

But... I don't belong here.

Now, when we get

Out of this...

And we will...

Then I'm coming home with you.

I want to share in your work

And your responsibilities...

If you'll let me.

If I'll let you?

Wh...

You won't regret it.

I'll see to that.

Donald?

Freyja!

- He was quite worried

About you, my dear.

I went back

To the farm.

It will be just as we had

Arranged it. Father will

Give us dogs and a sled.

What had you arranged?

You see,

For some time now,

Freyja and I

Have been planning

To leave the island.

If we managed to escape,

We hoped to reach

Fort conger.

The two of you together?

Do you think

I'd leave her behind?

Not if you're

Your father's son, no.

Hello! Boats!

They come!

What do we do now?

There's not much cover,

But I think we can

Get to the top

Without being seen.

That settles it.

We can't stay here.

Those hounds would

Find us in no time.

Look. The godi's

Joined us.

Bloodthirsty bounder.

Come on, everybody.

Up we go.

They go! They go!

We've done it!

They've finally given up!

- Thank heavens for that.

- Look out, father!

Clumsy of me.

Now the wolves

Are after us again.

I'm afraid so,

Father.

It's incredible!

It's absolutely

Incredible!

Nasty sort of place.

- Oomiak, go watch below.

We're going to need

Somewhere to hide.

But where?

They must know

Every foot of this island.

The bay of whales!

Donald!

It's somewhere

Over there,

To the south.

It's sacred. Taboo.

The vikings won't

Go near it.

That's it, then.

Let's go!

No, donald, please!

The spirits!

Freyja, believe me...

What is it?

The spirits

Are good spirits.

Didn't they protect

Your people when

They first came here?

Surely they'll

Protect us.

They come!

They come! We go!

Freyja, trust me.

Come on up!

Oddly enough,

They say this sulfur's

Good for the lungs.

Ahh.

Sir anthony, this is

Hardly the time to rest.

I only hope we soon find

That blasted bay of whales.

Come on!

My father!

Father!

Burning one minute,

Freezing the next.

A man could

Catch his death.

Well, that's

What's so interesting

About the arctic:

Its, uh,

Contradictions.

You know, on my first

Expedition to baffin land...

Ivarsson, please. Stop!

What we need

Is a conference.

Conference?

About what, father?

Well, if we find

The bay of whales,

And if it's true

That the godi

Won't follow us there,

What do we do then?

We lie low for a bit,

Try and make our way across

The mountains to freyja's farm.

We can't go back

Through that inferno.

No, no, no, no.

We find ice boat, float.

Ffff, very good.

Boat?

What on earth's

He talking about?

I think he wants to find...

A piece of pack ice

Down there and float

Around the mountain.

Preposterous.

Where the whales

Go to die.

All those great creatures

From every sea lying there

From the beginning of time.

Just look at

All that whalebone!

Worth millions of pounds!

And heaven knows what price

The ambergris would fetch!

All that doesn't matter now,

Does it, father?

Freyja. Don't be afraid.

Think of the saga.

Doesn't it tell how,

Long ago, it was the whales...

That led your people here,

Where they found peace

And happiness?

So there's nothing

To fear, believe me.

We need ice boat.

How we get down there?

Yes, how? Not down

These cliffs, obviously.

There must be a way.

The vikings found one.

Freyja, is it in the saga?

Does it tell how they came

Up from the sea?

With the help

Of the gods.

It is told

That they came through

The... Mouth of hell.

That's not very explicit,

I'm afraid.

Wait a minute.

That volcano in iceland,

Mount hekla.

The early christians

Believed that was

The entrance to hell.

- Entrance.

It's a wild thought.

Come on!

The crater of

A dead volcano!

Quiet!

You hear that?

Down there somewhere

There's an underground river.

The river must

Flow down to the sea,

Which means there has to be

A passage from the bottom

Of the crater to the bay!

Hello!

Come on!

Look! The water's

Running out! Come on!

Where to?

Wherever the water went.

Look!

Do not worry.

I hunt seal this way

Many times.

It's not this

I'm worried about.

It's them.

Will they never give up?

I can't understand why

The bowmen haven't

Been sh**ting at us.

They do not

Have to.

They only wait

To see us die.

Freyja!

It's told in the sagas

That the bay is guarded

By sea beasts.

We cannot escape.

k*ller whales!

What do we do now?

Anything we can!

Here comes the other one!

Hold on, everybody!

- Hello, hello!

The hyperion!

And heaven be praised,

Our old friend

The captain!

My compliments,

Captain.

You keep an

Excellent table.

And you're an excellent shot.

You saved our lives.

Thank you.

An unexpected pleasure.

Since I landed two days ago,

I've been trying to save my own.

But getting

Out of here...

That's going to be

Quite a problem,

Isn't it, captain?

I have the solution.

My ship may be

Battered and torn,

But the mind

That conceived it...

That still functions.

As you see, the ship

Has lost much gas,

But it retains

Some, uh... Buoyancy?

So if we reduce

Sufficiently the weight,

Then it will rise.

How would you

Reduce the weight?

Abandon the motors.

The propellers

Are broken anyway.

The gondola too.

Strip the ship

Of everything

That weights it down.

What have we then?

A free balloon.

By jove!

At least it would

Carry us across the bay.

Yes, and if we can

Just reach the pack ice.

We shall go farther than that.

The prevailing wind

Is to the south.

If it holds,

We should be able

To drift to greenland.

When we reach the coast,

We descend...

And proceed on foot

To the nearest habitation.

Captain brieux, you are

A very remarkable man.

I've always felt so.

Sir anthony!

I'd say this is

A bit much, isn't it?

Hardly the time

For ceremonies.

Let's be off.

Please, sir anthony.

This is a moment to be savored.

Once more we stand

On the threshold of

A great adventure.

To my hyperion!

May she rise...

Like a phoenix

From the ashes of despair...

And soar

Like man's imagination...

To greenland and beyond.

The hyperion.

Now let's get going,

Shall we?

But of course,

Monsieur.

I will show you now

The ingenious arrangements...

I've made

For our departure.

Perhaps you have observed that

I've cut loose the gondola,

And the ship is now

Attached to it

Only by a single cable.

So are the motors

And the tail.

This section, too,

Linked to the ship

Only by a cable.

When I slip these cables,

The gondola, the motors,

And the tail detach

Themselves, and we rise.

Are you sure?

You will see.

Now, gentlemen,

If you will assist me.

The gondola.

The motors and the tail.

When I say "three," you will

Pull with all your force.

Right.

- Permission to proceed,

Monsieur?

Ooh, yes, yes, yes.

Proceed.

Very well.

One.

Two.

Three!

Well, sir anthony?

It worked perfectly.

Once again, captain,

I underestimated you.

Well, I think I'll turn in.

I haven't had a good night's

Sleep since I left england.

Sir anthony?

Hmm?

Take a look.

Campfires.

So they're still

Waiting for us.

It's a pity we'll

Have to disappoint them.

What is it?

You're not

Frightened anymore?

A little.

Oh, no, you mustn't be.

It's all over.

We're safe now.

I know. It is not that.

What, then?

It is the world

Beyond our mountains...

Your world.

My world isn't

Really so different.

It's bigger and

Everything moves faster.

We live by clocks

And machines...

Instead of tides

And seasons.

You'll get used to it...

And be happy,

Because you'll be surrounded

By people you love

And who love you.

I wish my father

Could be with us.

I know.

But his home

Is astragard.

His heart

Will always be here.

Mine is with you.

Ivarsson!

Hm... Hmm?

When does the first ship

Leave greenland

In the spring?

Usually the beginning

Of april.

So with any luck,

We should be

Back in england...

In about six weeks.

I should not

Count on it,

Monsieur.

The wind has changed.

We are drifting

Back to the land.

Hang it all.

Can't something

Be done?

I cannot command

The wind, monsieur.

We're rising.

The updraft. The wind

Against the cliffs.

What happens when

We get to the top?

Everybody, out. Quick!

It's true that

The gods were angry,

But it was the godi

Who did wrong...

By leading

The people to hatred

And to violence.

I'm glad

They recognize that.

The prisoners

May go in peace

On this condition:

That they swear

A sacred oath...

Never to reveal

The existence of this,

The sacred island.

That's fair enough.

Bu... To ensure that

The oath be honored

For all time,

We must demand

One thing.

Well, go on. What is it?

That you leave

A hostage here.

Your son.

I refuse to discuss it

Any further.

How could they

Possibly imagine I would

Leave you behind?

But those are their terms!

I will not permit it.

Father, without a hostage,

None of us will leave here!

Blast it!

Then I'll be the hostage!

I don't think so, sir anthony.

As a matter of fact,

Everything's already

Been arranged.

And very satisfactorily

For everybody, I think.

Are you sure

It's what you want?

Are you really sure

You want to be left behind?

Yes, I'm sure.

This is a chance

No archaeologist

Could turn down.

Not only to study the past,

But to relive it?

I mean, here it all is,

Hidden behind this mist

For a thousand years,

And I haven't even

Scratched the surface.

Besides, who says

I'm being left behind?

We archaeologists

Take a longer view.

Whole civilizations

Have vanished before,

You know.

The day may come

When this might be

Man's last refuge.

Good luck.

Right, then!

Get!

Good-bye,

My friends!