IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
True story of a brand-new Canadian airliner running out of fuel in-flight and forced to glide to the nearest airfield.True story of a brand-new Canadian airliner running out of fuel in-flight and forced to glide to the nearest airfield.True story of a brand-new Canadian airliner running out of fuel in-flight and forced to glide to the nearest airfield.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
Philip Maurice Hayes
- Bob Rand
- (as Philip Hayes)
David James Lewis
- Frank Farr
- (as David Lewis)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
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I've read the other reviews posted so far and I pretty much agree. It is what it is -- and as a "based on a true story" plane crash TV-movie it was entertaining, at least as a late, late night cable TV offering.
And I gotta agree with some of the other comments about a few of the shortcomings -- and maybe add a couple more.
Why did the captain run back into the smoking cockpit?!? I think they either needed to have him explain himself -- OR, have someone else say, "Gee, that was dumb."
They could have done away with the little inner dialogues each passenger had in the moments before the plane attempted to land. That was just goofy.
And what was the deal with the kid on the bike on the runway?!? Chaos reigns as cars zoom to get off the runway and then a guy runs alongside the pavement yelling at the kid to get off the runway -- and the kid inexplicably looks at the guy with a weird expression that's a combination of confusion, fright, and "I ate something sour"... And they cut back and forth between the two about four times without ever conveying why the kid wasn't getting off the runway like the guy was adamantly yelling at him to do...
And I gotta agree with some of the other comments about a few of the shortcomings -- and maybe add a couple more.
Why did the captain run back into the smoking cockpit?!? I think they either needed to have him explain himself -- OR, have someone else say, "Gee, that was dumb."
They could have done away with the little inner dialogues each passenger had in the moments before the plane attempted to land. That was just goofy.
And what was the deal with the kid on the bike on the runway?!? Chaos reigns as cars zoom to get off the runway and then a guy runs alongside the pavement yelling at the kid to get off the runway -- and the kid inexplicably looks at the guy with a weird expression that's a combination of confusion, fright, and "I ate something sour"... And they cut back and forth between the two about four times without ever conveying why the kid wasn't getting off the runway like the guy was adamantly yelling at him to do...
I happened along this movie quite by accident. William Devane does an excellent job portraying an airline captain in charge of a doomed flight. The film was exhausting to watch. I felt like I was there in the cockpit helping Mr. Devane myself. I have tried for years to find a copy of this tape. Not until late last year was it available on VHS in the UK. I ordered the tape immediately. When the tape arrived, I was devastated to find out the VHS tapes sold in England and many other European countries are made on a different standard than ours here in the USA. I have the film on VHS in PAL standard but need it in NTSC or SECAM standard, whichever works in the US. I have been unable to get any help on this. I would very much like a copy of this film if anyone has any ideas.
I decided to watch this movie because William Devane was in the cast. I have enjoyed every movie he has been in. I liked the way, as captain, that he kept control, his determination to survive and a sense of humor throughout the ordeal. I laughed when Rick (Winston Rekert) says to him (Captain Bob-William Devane) that they don't want to cause the oxygen masks to pop out because it might panic the passengers. Captain Bob replies, "MIGHT panic?? I'd be surprised if they're not back there knitting their own parachutes right now!"
What an adventure. Based on a true story. If you don't like to fly, though, I wouldn't recommend you watching it! I agree with the reviewer below, you feel like you're part of the action. The acting is all good, especially William Devane as the brave pilot. I also enjoyed Shelley Hack as a stewardess, who has the best line: she snarks to a rude passenger, "Sir, shut your stupid mouth!"
If you ever feel downhearted or depressed, consider watching this uplifting film (no pun intended)! Based upon an actual event, it demonstrates the ability of people to contend against seemingly impossible odds. This movie, originally produced for TV, offers talented performances by William Devane, Scott Hylands, Winston Rekert, Shelly Hack, Mariette Hartley, and many others. It benefits from a superbly crafted script and talented direction and filmography. Unlike many air disaster epics, this movie reports about an event which- amazingly- actually occurred in Canada's airways several decades ago. (Anyone who suffers from a phobia about air travel may find the content difficult to watch.) However, the film does pay tribute to the capabilities of talented pilots and airline attendants. Captain Bob Pearson makes a cameo appearance in this film portraying an airline test simulator examiner. This inspiring film reinforces the importance of studying aviation in comprehensive terms. It offer riveting entertainment value, too. Not for the faint of heart!
Did you know
- TriviaAt the start, when the two pilots exit the simulator, they complain to the simulator examiner about "a dumb set of scenarios" and "an impossible set of conditions, who ever dreamed that up". The examiner responds with "It isn't a dream, it happened". He would know, he is the real life Bob Pearson, the actual captain of the Gimli Glider.
- GoofsWhen the aircraft is shown taking off, it is a 737-200, as the engines are long and thin, whereas a 767 has wider engines
- Quotes
[after the two pilots crash in the simulator]
Simulator pilot: Is this some kind of joke? There's no way to land that aircraft the way you guys got it programmed!
Simulator co-pilot: Dumb scenario if you ask me! Impossible set of conditions! Who ever dreamed that up?
Inspector: It isn't a dream. It happened.
- Crazy creditsBob Pearson, the real pilot of the "Gimli Glider" (the story that inspired this film), features as the Examiner in the simulator footage at the beginning of the film.
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Freefall: Flight 174
- Filming locations
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada(exterior scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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