Shipwreck! [The Sea Gypsies] *** (1978, Robert F Logan, Heather Rattray, Mikki Jamison-Olsen, Cjon Damitri Patterson, Shannon Saylor)– Classic Movie Review 13,102

The exciting 1978 family adventure film Shipwreck! [The Sea Gypsies] stars Robert Logan as the head of a group of five shipwrecked on an uninhabited island off Alaska during a round-the-world sailboat trip.

‘It began as a dream… and became an adventure of a lifetime.’

Writer/ director Stewart Raffill’s exciting 1978 children’s adventure film Shipwreck! [The Sea Gypsies] stars Robert F Logan, Heather Rattray, Mikki Jamison-Olsen, Cjon Damitri Patterson, and Shannon Saylor, Mark Litke, and Nancy Loomis.

It is a rousing adventure about a family group of five shipwrecked on an uninhabited island off Alaska during a round-the-world sailboat trip. They have two choices – escape before winter comes or learn how to survive their dangerous environment together. The many troubles they experience include wild animals and other dangers.

Robert Logan stars as Travis Maclaine, who sets off with his two daughters, Courtney (Heather Rattray) and Samantha (Shannon Saylor), and journalist Kelly (Mikki Jamison), on a risky sailboat trip around the world. Along for the trip is aa who has been assigned to cover the voyage. They find a stowaway, Jesse (Cjon Damitri Patterson), aboard.

Raffill directs a sprightly, none too well known cast on colourful locations in this always a lot more than just modestly engaging family adventure with several assets. There is fine photography by Thomas McHugh, beautiful scenery, a good score by Fred Steiner, and a decent script by Stewart Raffill, based on a true story.

The original title was The Sea Gypsies.

The cast are Robert Logan as Travis Maclaine, Mikki Jamison [Mikki Jamison-Olsen] as Kelly Zimmerman, Heather Rattray as Courtney Maclaine, Shannon Saylor as Samantha Maclaine, Cjon Damitri Patterson as Jesse, Mark Litke as TV Reporter, and Nancy Loomis [Nancy Kyes] as Girlfriend.

Robert Francis Logan (May 29, 1941 – May 6, 2024)

Robert Logan as J R Hale in the TV series 77 Sunset Strip (1962).

Robert F Logan starred in Raffill’s films The Adventures of the Wilderness Family (1975), Across the Great Divide (1976) and Shipwreck! (1978), The Further Adventures of the Wilderness Family (1978) and Mountain Family Robinson (1979). He played valet parking attendant J R Hale in the TV series 77 Sunset Strip (1962), taking over from Kookie, played by Edward Byrnes, who was promoted to investigator.

Robert F Logan Jr died of natural causes on May 6, 2024 in Estero, Florida, aged 82.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,102

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