Race For The Yankee Zephyr (1981)

A deer hunter (Donald Pleasence) discovers the wreck of a WWII plane in the New Zealand mountains. He finds some booze and some medals which he pawns. He talks his partner (Ken Wahl) into going back to the wreckage to get more medals. What he doesn't know is that there are gold bars in the plane's wreckage but a gangster (George Peppard) does know and attempts to coerce the hunter into revealing the whereabouts of the plane. One would be tempted to call this action-adventure film a RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK knock off if they hadn't come out in the same year. However, unlike RAIDERS, this film can't overcome its "B" movie roots. The only first class thing about it is the striking wide screen cinematography of Vincent Monton which makes New Zealand look like paradise on Earth. Directed by David Hemmings (yes, the actor), the first 20 minutes are muddled until the race between the bad guys and the good guys to get to the Yankee Zephyr wreckage kicks in and it starts to hold your attention. But it never rises above its routine screenplay and execution. Also known as TREASURE OF THE YANKEE ZEPHYR. With Lesley Ann Warren as the prim but spirited heroine that seems requisite in the genre.