Lost Flight (TV 1970)

Bridges is the captain of a downed airliner who must help his crew and passengers survive on a deserted jungle island in the midst of a power struggle - an adult version of "Lord of the Flies."

Director:

Leonard Horn

Writer:

Dean Riesner

Stars:

Lloyd Bridges, Anne Francis, Ralph Meeker

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lloyd Bridges	...	Steve Bannerman
Anne Francis	...	Gina Talbott
Ralph Meeker	...	Glenn Walkup
Andrew Prine	...	Jonesy
Bobby Van	...	Eddie Randolph
Linden Chiles	...	Allen Bedecker
Michael Larrain	...	Francis Delaney
Billy Dee Williams	...	Merle Barnaby
Michael-James Wixted	...	Charlie Burnett
Nobu McCarthy	...	Zora Lewin
Jennifer Leak	...	Beejay Caldwell
Kasey Rogers	...	Mrs. Peterson
Connie Kreski	...	Australian's Wife
Paul Comi	...	Joe Turley
Dallas Mitchell	...	Dave Nathan

Storyline

Bridges is the captain of a downed airliner who must help his crew and passengers survive on a deserted jungle island in the midst of a power struggle - an adult version of "Lord of the Flies."

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Plot Keywords:

island | airplane accident | airplane | unsold tv series pilot | tropical island | 

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Taglines:

They survived by chance......They lived by fear

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 August 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Avião dos Condenados

Filming Locations:

Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Received a brief theatrical showing in New York City in 1971 with a G rating.

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Goofs

After Glen Walkup's first encounter with Captain Bannerman in the terminal, there is some footage of the aircraft on the ramp. As a service truck passes, two men preparing a large motion picture camera can be seen on the observation deck.

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Quotes

Glenn Wallup: I don't remember you being elected king of this island.
Steve Bannerman: There's no election necessary, Mr Walkup. As senior officer of that aircraft I'm responsible for the safety and well-being of every person on this island. In plain English - I am in charge here. That's not my idea, that's maritime law. Now maybe you don't like it, maybe I don't - that's the way it's going to have to be. Now is that absolutely clear?

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Connections

Edited into Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac (1984)

User Reviews

What LOST should have been

This was obviously supposed to be a pilot about a pilot.

Okay, let me rephrase that.

It is a story about a plane wreck on an isolated island. This is before the days of cell phones and laptops.

The people have to learn to get along.

That was a lot easier for the greater generations. It probably wouldn't fly today, since "assertiveness training" went over the roof, and no one can cooperate with anyone any more.

So, this could be dated in that respect, sadly. That only means that today's society is "dated", actually. A film like this will return to form when we get a more mature society.

Lloyd Bridges heads a cast that get to play the sort of three dimensional characters that the later decades refused to show.

As the pilot, he takes charges, but there is a power struggle that eventually sees the confrontation come from another confrontation between two of the younger men, one who is clearly in the right, and one who is clearly a thug.

The way it is handled is very adult. There isn't a large amount of action, but it still holds your interest.

This is probably what "Lost" the series should have been, instead of their version of "The Tempest" or "Fantastic Planet", whatever "Lost" based itself on.

In other worlds, if you have a story about a crash on a deserted island, it really comes across better when that's the story, as it is here, instead of looking like you're scrounging around with other writers at a table, trying to outdo each other in a Round Robin story telling festival.

That's why this film works. It's a story about an exciting adventure.