The President's Plane Is Missing (1973)

An incompetent Vice President is in control of the government after the President's plane mysteriously disappears with him on board.

Director:

Daryl Duke

Writers:

Mark Carliner, Ernest Kinoy,

Stars:

Buddy Ebsen, Peter Graves, Arthur Kennedy

Cast

Credited cast:
Buddy Ebsen	...	Vice President Kermit Madigan
Peter Graves	...	Mark Jones
Arthur Kennedy	...	Gunther Damon
Raymond Massey	...	Secretary Of State Freeman Sharkey
Mercedes McCambridge	...	Hester Madigan
Rip Torn	...	George Oldenburg
Louise Sorel	...	Joanna Spencer
James Wainwright	...	Gen. Dunbar
Dabney Coleman	...	Sen. Bert Haines
Joseph Campanella	...	Col. Doug Henderso
Tod Andrews	...	President Jeremy Haines
Richard Eastham	...	Gen. Colton
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Amos	...	Marine corporal
George Barrows	...	Mr. Moyers
Patty Bodeen	...	Girl in desert

Storyline

While on the brink of a military confrontation with China, Air Force One crashes in the desert, killing the President. This brings Vice-President Kermit Madigan to power who, having been left in the dark by the president, must now rely on his predecessor's aides to guide him. But they have markedly different viewpoints and hidden agendas. Will he blunder his way into a nuclear exchange with the Chinese?

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Plot Keywords:

impersonation | airplane accident | u.s. president | airforce one | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

El presidente ha desaparecido

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Circle Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 1971 but delayed for airing by ABC because that was the year of President Richard Nixon's trip to China and they didn't want to show the Chinese as villains.

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Goofs

As the bodies from the crash are being recovered, Mark Jones walks up to General Dunbar and addresses him as Colonel Dunbar.

User Reviews

well-done adaptation of Serling book ...

I saw this on TV back in the 1970s, and again on video in the 1990s. It is a well-done political/mystery movie, a pleasant evening's diversion. The cast and plot are solid. I read Robert J. Serling's novel recently; the movie holds up well against the book.