This made-for-television comedy film was the second official reunion movie after the cancellation of the original 1964–1967 CBS sitcom Gilligan’s Island.
First broadcast on NBC on 3 May 1979, the film picks up after the castaways are shipwrecked again on the same island following a disastrous reunion cruise (in the 1978 telemovie Rescue from Gilligan’s Island).
The castaways discover a hidden World War II military hangar containing two disabled aircraft which the Professor cobbles together into a single, functional plane (dubbed the Minnow III).
During their flight to Hawaii, they experience engine trouble, and Gilligan accidentally jettisons himself, parachuting back down to the island.
The group turns around to save him, but while an engine collapses on landing, their brief flight is detected on radar by the US Navy, who track the plane and rescue the castaways, map the island, and claim it as American territory.
Multi-millionaire Thurston Howell III decides to buy the island and build a tropical resort hotel.
The second half of the movie jumps forward a year and focuses on the castaways now running the eco-resort – called, fittingly, “The Castaways” – which operates without electricity or motor cars.
The resort-based format of the movie’s second half was designed to test the waters for a proposed (but never made) new weekly series.
Inspired by the massive success of anthology shows like The Love Boat, the planned series would have seen the original characters hosting a revolving door of Hollywood guest stars every week.
As with Rescue from Gilligan’s Island, Tina Louise declined to return and was replaced in the role of Ginger Grant by Judith Baldwin.
Gilligan
Bob Denver Skipper
Alan Hale Jr. Thurston Howell III
Jim Backus Lovey Wentworth Howell
Natalie Schafer Prof. Roy Hinkley Jr.
Russell Johnson Mary Ann Summers Dawn Wells Ginger Grant
Judith Baldwin Henry Elliott
Tom Bosley Myra Elliott
Marcia Wallace Robbie Sloan
Ronnie Scribner Fred Sloan
Peter MacLean Mrs Sloan
Judith Searle Dr Tom Larsen
Rod Browning Laura Larsen
Joan Roberts Naheeti
Mokihana
Director
Earl Bellamy
Video
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During their flight to Hawaii, they experience engine trouble, and Gilligan accidentally jettisons himself, parachuting back down to the island.
Inspired by the massive success of anthology shows like The Love Boat, the planned series would have seen the original characters hosting a revolving door of Hollywood guest stars every week.
