Race for the Yankee Zephyr

Race for the Yankee Zephyr
Theatrical film poster
Directed by	David Hemmings
Produced by	John Barnett Antony I. Ginnane David Hemmings
Written by	Everett De Roche
Starring	Ken Wahl Lesley Ann Warren George Peppard Donald Pleasence
Music by	Brian May
Cinematography	Vincent Monton
Edited by	John Laing
Production company	Hemdale Endeavour Films
Distributed by	Eurodis International
Release date	18 December 1981
Running time	108 min (Australia) 91 min (USA)
Country	New Zealand Australia
Language	English
Budget	$6 million

Race for the Yankee Zephyr (also known as Treasure of the Yankee Zephyr) is a 1981 New Zealand suspense–action–thriller film directed by David Hemmings and starring Ken Wahl, Lesley Ann Warren, George Peppard and Donald Pleasence.

Gibbie Gibson (Donald Pleasence) has discovered a World War II-era plane wreck in the mountains of New Zealand. When his discovery gets around town, Gibson, his daughter Sally (Lesley Ann Warren), and his lodger Barney Whitaker (Ken Wahl) find trouble from a group of treasure hunters led by a Mister Theo Brown (George Peppard), who are intent on finding the cache of money they believe is on the wreck.

Barney Whitaker (Ken Wahl) — A hunter who owns a helicopter and lives in New Zealand with Gibbie Gibson, he is the nemesis of Theo Brown who kidnaps Gibbie and Barney eventually falls in love with Gibbie's daughter Sally Carson.

Sally Carson (Lesley Ann Warren) — A receptionist who lives in New Zealand and is the daughter of Gibbie Carson, she is caught up between the war between Gibbie's lodger Barney Whitaker and his rival Theo Brown, but eventually falls in love with Barney.

Theo Brown (George Peppard) — A gangster who owns a district in New Zealand, he is the arch rival of Barney Whitaker, and he kidnaps Barney's lodge host Gibbie Gibson, bent on finding the wreck.

Gilbert Carson/Gibbie Gibson (Donald Pleasence) — A hunter and the lodge host of Barney Whitaker, he finds the plane wreck in the mountains and is the father of Sally Carson and Gibbie is eventually taken prisoner by Theo and his henchmen.

Baker (Bruno Lawrence) — A New Zealand civilian and a friend of Barney and Gibbie's.

Collector (Grant Tilly) — A New Zealand civilian and the owner of a local pawn shop.