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''The Island at the Top of the World'' is a 1974 adventure movie made by Creator/{{Disney}} based on the 1968 novel ''The Lost Ones'' by Ian Cameron.

Inspired by Creator/JulesVerne-like adventure stories, the movie is about wealthy British industrialist Sir Anthony Ross who in 1907 arranges an expedition to the Arctic in the search of his son with the help of an American archaeologist, an eccentric French inventor and captain of a dirigible and their (forcefully enrolled) Eskimo guide. In the quest they accidentally uncover a LostColony of Vikings totally isolated from society, thus living like they did a thousand years in the past.

The film is infamous in some Disney fandom circles as being the centerpiece and AchillesHeel of one of the most prominent examples of WhatCouldHaveBeen in the Ride/DisneyThemeParks, a steampunk land known as Discovery Bay proposed for Disneyland. Though the film's failure spelled doom for the original project, the Hyperion found its way into Disneyland Paris and occasionally finds itself connected to other attractions through StoryBreadcrumbs hidden here and there.

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!!'''This film provides examples of:'''

* AcePilot: Captain Brieux, who maneuvers his CoolAirship the ''Hyperion'' through some impossibly tight spaces, and keeps aloft during the worst of weather.
* ArrowsOnFire: When Sir Anthony, Ivarrson and Donald escape the VikingFuneral that is supposed to be their execution, The Godi orders flaming arrows shot at their fleeing boat.
+ BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Professor Ivaarson remains in Astragard as a hostage of the Vikings to prevent the other heroes from telling anybody else about the island at the top of the world, but [[IChooseToStay he is content to stay]], has his LoveInterest, [[KnightTemplar the Godi]] (who really, ''really'' wanted him and his friends executed and led the Vikings with an iron fist) is dead, and Sir Anthony was able to save his son.]]
* ConvectionSchmonvection: The heroes flee through a narrow stone passage ahead of a lava flow, with Sir Anthony being only few steps in front of it. They escape by climbing on to a rock ledge a few feet above the lava, where realistically they should all have been killed by the radiant heat.
* CoolAirship: The ''Hyperion''.
* DefeatMeansFriendship: [[spoiler:Once the Vikings realize they can't kill them (and The Godi's death certainly helps) the Vikings agree to let them go peacefully as far as one of them stays behind. ]]
* DetrimentalDetermination: A LighterAndSofter example: Sir Anthony's determination to get to where his son disappeared yesterday leads to him butting heads with everybody else (and other minor perils like Brieux having to do a MidairRepair), it thankfully does not lead to fatal tragedy.
* ElephantGraveyard: Or in this case a whale graveyard.
* EmergencyCargoDump: When the ''Hyperion'' hits a mountain while flying into the storm covering Astragard, Sir Anthony immediately climbs out on to the catwalk and starts jettisoning the extra barrels of fuel in order to lighten the airship.
* GotVolunteered: After Oomiak refuses to guide him to the area where Donald was lost, Sir Anthony tricks Oomiak into coming onboard the ''Hyperion'' by offering him a tour of the CoolAirship. He then takes off while Oomiak is onboard without giving him an opportunity to get off.
* GreenAesop: Prof. Ivarsson volunteers to stay behind saying that if humanity is foolish enough to destroy itself this could be humanity’s last refuge.
* HiddenElfVillage: Astragard, the isolated Viking village.
* HindenburgIncendiaryPrinciple: The ''Hyperion'' is set on fire when a Viking fires a burning arrow at it.
* HornyVikings: Averted, the Norsemen use historically accurate helmets with no horns.
* IChooseToStay: The Vikings will not let the expedition return to their world unless one of them remains behind as a hostage, to prevent them from divulging the existence of Astragard to the outside world. Professor Ivarsson willingly volunteers to stay, as this represents a chance to relive history. Ivarsson also points out that if someday mankind is ever foolish enough to destroy itself, places like Astragard may become humanity's final refuge.
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler: The Godi causes his own death by shooting a [[ArrowOnFire flaming arrow]] into the dirigible causing it to fall covered in flames. Especially ironic as he had been proclaiming the appearance of the airship as a portent of doom.]]
* LeeroyJenkins: Oomiak. After being captured and then getting his hands free, he immediately attacks an entire viking hunting party while armed only with a knife.
* LiteralCliffhanger: While trying to cross the volcano, Sir Anthony slips and slides off the side of the mountain; saving himself by grabbing an improbably located tree branch. However, the scree he dislodges gives away their position to The Godi and his men.
* MeanBoss: Sir Anthony's [[PapaWolf single minded determination to find his son]] causes him to butt heads repeatedly with Captain Brieux and Professor Ivarsson, and kidnap Oomiak.
* MidAirRepair: After the ''Hyperion'' breaks a propeller, Captain Brieux clambers out on to the metal truss holding the engine in order to replace it, as the airship is floating over the open ocean.
* PapaWolf: Sir Anthony's single minded determination to find his son causes him to butt heads repeatedly with Captain Brieux and Professor Ivarsson, and kidnap Oomiak.
* ThePlace
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: The TeamPet is a small Cooker Spaniel.
* SexyScandinavian: Freya, the main LoveInterest of Donald (Sir Anthony’s son).
* SexySoakedShirt: Sir Anthony, Professor Ivarrson and Donald are sentenced to executed by means of a VikingFuneral. As the burning longship drifts out into the harbour, Freya swims out to it, climbs onboard and cuts their bonds, freeing them. She is wearing a brown minidress that, although it does not become see-through, does cling to her SexyScandinavian body.
* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler: Freyja survives to (presumably) live happily ever after with Donald, whereas in the book she tragically dies, sacrificing herself to save Donald and Sir Anthony.]]
* StockFootage: The journey of the ''Hyperion'' into the Arctic is padded out by multiple aerial shots of Arctic wildlife; presumably taken from Creator/WaltDisneyPictures wildlife documentaries.
* TokenMinority: The Eskimo guide Oomiak played by Japanese actor Creator/{{Mako}}.
* TravelMontage: The journey of the CoolAirship ''Hyperion'' into the Arctic is shown by a mix of StockFootage and Captain Brieux ruling lines on the navigation charts to show their progress.
* TwangHello: When Sir Anthony, Ivarrson and Oomiak arrive at the clifftop path leading to the LostColony, a spear thrown by a Viking hunting party buries itself in the earth at their feet.
* VikingFuneral: The Godi orders Sir Anthony, Ivarrson and Donald executed by having them tied to longship that set alight and sent out into the harbour.