Airport '77 (1977)

Airport '77 Poster

Flight 23 has crashed in the Bermuda Triangle after a hijacking gone wrong. Now the surviving passengers must brave panic, slow leaks, oxygen depletion, and more while attempting a daring plan, all while 200 feet underwater.

Introduction
"Airport '77" is a 1977 American disaster movie; the third installment in the "Airport" franchise. Directed by Jerry Jameson, the film features an ensemble cast starring Jack Lemmon, James Stewart, Joseph Cotten, Christopher Lee, and Olivia De Havilland. The film intricately merges action, adventure, and suspense components, developing a fascinating story around a plane disaster.

Plot Synopsis
The story focuses on the SS Columbia, an independently owned high-end Boeing 747-100, commandeered by wealthy philanthropist Philip Stevens (James Stewart). He plans to fly the prized art pieces in his collection to his remote museum. While taking his high-profile guests on a detour over the Bermuda Triangle, the airplane gets hijacked by co-pilot Bob Chambers (Robert Foxworth) and his two accomplices.

Thrilling Events
Amid the tense environment, they spray sleeping gas, knocking out everybody on board, including pilot Don Gallagher (Jack Lemmon). However, their escape plan deviates for the worse. The airplane descends too quick and crashes into the ocean, ending up immersed in the Bermuda Triangle. When the travelers awake, they find themselves caught in a stressful, deadly circumstance underwater.

Survival and Rescue Operation
The airplane's cabin stays intact, thus preventing water from going into. Stepping up as the de facto leader, Gallagher designs a strategy to save everyone. Still, the problems keep mounting; the aircraft gradually sinks deeper into the ocean, air supply decreases, and water begins to leak inside. On the other hand, on the surface area, rescue operations begin when radar loses the plane's signal, resulting in an exciting, suspenseful spectacle about whether help will reach in time.

Climax and Resolution
The climax emerges when the airplane's fuselage can't endure external pressure and implodes. However, rescue scuba divers from navy salvage ship USS Cayuga handle to reach them. They produce an effective rescue setup by attaching a cable television to the sunken airplane, bringing an escape pod filled with survivors to the surface repetitively. Despite the loss of some lives during the experience, most of the trapped guests and team endure. The art thieves are subsequently detained, and Gallagher is hailed as a hero.

Conclusion
In conclusion, "Airport '77" is a gripping disaster film packed with suspense and filled with engaging performances, specifically from Jack Lemmon, whose representation of a figured out and resourceful pilot includes depth to the motion picture. The story that masterly weaves together airplane hijack, underwater survival, and rescue efforts makes it an interesting watch. In spite of some unfavorable criticism in its time for being melodramatic, the movie has overtime, been considered among the classics in the disaster film category.

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