One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Robert Stevenson |
| Produced by | Bill Walsh |
| Written by | Bill Walsh |
| Starring | Peter Ustinov Helen Hayes Clive Revill Derek Nimmo |
| Music by | Ron Goodwin |
| Cinematography | Paul Beeson |
| Editing by | Peter Boita |
| Studio | Walt Disney Productions |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
| Release date(s) | July 9, 1975 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Money made | $5.5 million (North American rentals) |
One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing is a fun British-American comedy film from 1975. It takes place in the early 1920s. The story is all about a missing dinosaur skeleton from the famous Natural History Museum in London!
Walt Disney Productions made this movie. It was released by Buena Vista Distribution Company. The film's title is a funny take on an older movie called One of Our Aircraft Is Missing. Interestingly, Peter Ustinov and Hugh Burden were in both films. The movie is based on a book from 1970. It's called The Great Dinosaur Robbery by David Forrest.
What's the Story?
The movie begins with Lord Edward Southmere. He is a special messenger for the Queen. He is escaping from China. He has a secret microfilm with a mysterious recipe called "Lotus X". A group of Chinese spies are chasing him.
Back in London, Lord Southmere gets away from a driver trying to kidnap him. He runs into the Natural History Museum. The Chinese spies, led by Hnup Wan, follow him inside. Lord Southmere quickly hides the microfilm. He puts it inside the bones of a huge dinosaur skeleton. He is so relieved to see his old nanny, Hettie, at the museum. He asks her to get the microfilm for him. Then, Southmere faints. The Chinese spies capture him. They tell Hettie and Emily, another nanny, that they are taking him to a doctor.
Hettie and Emily know something is wrong. They ask other nannies to help them search for the microfilm. They hide inside the mouth of a blue whale display. They wait until the museum closes. Then, they start looking through the bones of a Brontosaurus skeleton. They don't find anything. Most of the nannies have to go home to their own children. But Hettie, Emily, and their friend Susan stay to keep searching. The spies catch them. They take them to their secret hideout. It's under a Chinese restaurant in Soho.
The nannies are locked in a "dungeon" with Lord Southmere. But these nannies are very clever! They manage to trick the spies and escape.
Meanwhile, the spies decide to steal the entire dinosaur skeleton. This way, they can search it properly. That night, they sneak into the museum. The three nannies follow them on a motorbike with a sidecar. They watch from the shadows. The Chinese spies load the Brontosaurus skeleton onto their steam lorry. The nannies then bravely steal the lorry! The spies chase them through the foggy London streets. They use their charabanc and a fancy Daimler car. But the nannies drive into a railway yard. They get the lorry onto a flat train car. The train carries them away to safety.
The nannies still can't find the microfilm on the skeleton. Back in London, Hettie's two young boys, Lord Castlebury and Truscott, are captured by the spies. They are taken to the museum. The main spy finds the microfilm. It was hidden in the other large dinosaur skeleton, a Diplodocus! The boys are allowed to go home. They tell Hettie what happened.
Hettie realizes Lord Southmere is in danger. She plans a rescue mission. Hettie and her team of nannies storm the Chinese restaurant hideout. They fight the spies to save Lord Southmere. Emily and Susan arrive with the Brontosaurus skeleton and the lorry. This brings the big fight to a crashing end! Everything turns out well. The secret of "Lotus X" is finally revealed. It's just a recipe for Wonton soup! Southmere explains that he tried to tell Hnup Wan he was a businessman. Wan then starts selling the soup recipe. He makes peace with the nannies.
Meet the Cast
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The Original Story
The movie is based on a book called The Great Dinosaur Robbery. This book was written for adults by Robert Forrest Webb and David Eliades. The story in the book took place in New York City. The authors were experienced journalists from the U.K. They did a lot of research in New York. The American Museum of Natural History and the New York Police Department helped them a lot. The authors were a bit sad that the movie was made for a much younger audience. Their book had been very successful in many countries and languages.
