Film Overview"Airport 1975" is a 1974 American air disaster movie and the very first sequel to the successful 1970 film "Airport". The movie, directed by Jack Smight, centers around a mid-air disaster involving a 747 jumbo jet and a small private aircraft. Charlton Heston and Karen Black star in leading functions, and the film features a host of veteran stars in stimulus roles.
Plot SynopsisThe film follows Columbia Airlines' Boeing 747-100 en path from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles. Catastrophe strikes when a business person piloting a little personal airplane suffers a heart attack and crashes into the cockpit of the 747, killing the first officer and rendering the captain unconscious. Flight attendant, Nancy Pryor (Karen Black), is left in control of the plane, with help from air traffic control service on the ground.
Noteworthy Events and CharactersThe guest list for the unfortunate flight is a fascinating ensemble of characters. There's attractive singing superstar Helen Patroni (Linda Harrison), a heart transplant patient (Linda Blair) accompanied by her individual nurse (Helen Reddy), a mother-to-be, and a carping alcoholic. A failing car parts business owner (Sid Caesar) is also on board.
The most notable character is Alan Murdock (Charlton Heston), a skilled pilot and Nancy's secret fan. Upon hearing of the onboard crisis, he immediately springs into action. A daring rescue objective is prompted by Murdock and Columbia's head of operations, Joe Patroni (George Kennedy).
Rescue Scene and ConclusionThe most significant and exhilarating part of the motion picture is a daring mid-air transfer of Murdock onto the 747 to land the plane securely. Being winched onto the aircraft from a helicopter, Murdock effectively boards the plane but initially fails to restore the dropped captain to unlock the control column. Catastrophe seems impending as the 747 heads towards the Wasatch Range mountains. However, Murdock handles to revive the captain just in time, and he safely lands the aircraft at Salt Lake City Airport.
Critical PerceptionUpon release "Airport 1975" was an industrial success, turning into one of the highest-grossing movies of 1974. Nevertheless, critics were divided. Some lauded the movie's special impacts and extreme, action-packed plot. These made the movie a pioneer of the modern-day mid-air disaster genre. Yet, others mentioned on the overuse of star cameos and melodramatic subplots.
Despite the blended evaluations, "Airport 1975" is still considered to be a classic that led the way for lots of disaster movies that followed. Its mix of melodrama, star power, and high-stakes action have actually kept it enduringly popular with fans of the category.
Top Cast
