When I first saw this film, I was about 8 years old and didn't realize how destructive hurricanes can really be. Despite its tendency to be like other disaster epics that came out around the same time, this was a pretty decent film. One thing I do like about it is that a lot of this film takes its plot from several actual hurricanes, especially hurricane Camille. The party vignette reminded a lot of people about what happened during that event when so many people lost their lives while partying during Camille. Also, it is rather sad because this was one of the last pieces of work that Frank Sutton did as he died shortly after this film was completed. At least he had one good dramatic performance after "Gomer Pyle".
11 Reviews
Great Disaster Movie With Cast From Dallas, the Waltons, and Adam 12
voicemaster7121 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
What can I say? I'm a child of the 70's and I love 70's shows and movies. I'm also a huge Dallas fan. I recall 20 years ago (hard to believe it's been that long now) I finished my freshman year of college and I also recall watching the final episode of Dallas back in the spring of 1991. A week later, I was at Blockbuster Video and discovered I could prolong the Dallas feeling one more Friday night and I rented Hurricane when I discovered both Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy were in it. Don't think they knew each other at that time yet, but it is ironic they were both in it.
I can't think of the character names, but I just watched this movie on you tube and would not mind finding it on DVD. Larry Hagman and his wife are out in their boat and get caught in a Hurricane and trapped in the eye of the storm and they're trying to correspond with their teenage son and younger kids. Martin Milner from Adam 12 is in the Air Force and the head of the crew in the plane that flies through these storms. Hagman was already a celebrity at the time from being on I Dream of Jeannie. Patrick Duffy was an unknown newcomer. He looks like he's in college in this movie. He and his bride are trying to leave their place to head further inland, but their neighbor, the late Frank Sutton from Gomer Pyle is throwing a Hurricane party and insists they join them, which they do for a little bit, but finally leave at some point. All I will say is that Sutton will eventually learn the error of his ways.
The man that plays Martin Milner's father is a man who lives alone and has a dog. I recall that he tries to ride out the storm and wait for his son to come home. He's offered a ride twice and turns it down. The scene I remember best with him is when he regrets passing it up when he tries to leave, his pile of crap truck won't start and he tries to go by foot.
If you're a fan of the Waltons, Michael Learned and the late Will Geer, who are relatives on that show, are esteemed colleagues at the Hurricane Center. And being a fan of the Incredible Hulk TV series, I have to point out that the late Jack Colvin, who was intrepid tabloid reporter Jack McGee on that show, is a TV newscaster in this movie.
You actually have 4 story lines going on here. Hagman and his wife caught in the Hurricane's eye, the fateful trips of Milner and his crew to attempt a rescue. Milner's dad and his dog, and Frank Sutton's hurricane party.
I'm probably one of the few, but I really love this movie. 2 thumbs up.
I can't think of the character names, but I just watched this movie on you tube and would not mind finding it on DVD. Larry Hagman and his wife are out in their boat and get caught in a Hurricane and trapped in the eye of the storm and they're trying to correspond with their teenage son and younger kids. Martin Milner from Adam 12 is in the Air Force and the head of the crew in the plane that flies through these storms. Hagman was already a celebrity at the time from being on I Dream of Jeannie. Patrick Duffy was an unknown newcomer. He looks like he's in college in this movie. He and his bride are trying to leave their place to head further inland, but their neighbor, the late Frank Sutton from Gomer Pyle is throwing a Hurricane party and insists they join them, which they do for a little bit, but finally leave at some point. All I will say is that Sutton will eventually learn the error of his ways.
The man that plays Martin Milner's father is a man who lives alone and has a dog. I recall that he tries to ride out the storm and wait for his son to come home. He's offered a ride twice and turns it down. The scene I remember best with him is when he regrets passing it up when he tries to leave, his pile of crap truck won't start and he tries to go by foot.
If you're a fan of the Waltons, Michael Learned and the late Will Geer, who are relatives on that show, are esteemed colleagues at the Hurricane Center. And being a fan of the Incredible Hulk TV series, I have to point out that the late Jack Colvin, who was intrepid tabloid reporter Jack McGee on that show, is a TV newscaster in this movie.
You actually have 4 story lines going on here. Hagman and his wife caught in the Hurricane's eye, the fateful trips of Milner and his crew to attempt a rescue. Milner's dad and his dog, and Frank Sutton's hurricane party.
I'm probably one of the few, but I really love this movie. 2 thumbs up.
Hilda blows hard
wallysally13 September 2002
This movie really isn't as bad as some might suggest! What's not too like about Frank (Sgt. Carter) partying like there's no tomorrow while an ill wind blows thru town? "Pyle....get me a drink of the good bourbon...it's 15 years old!" Or Martin Milner flying a Coast Guard plane into the thick of things, risking his life and his crew for a wayward boat skippered by Larry Hagman? The special effects are minimal, but the actual footage of one of the worst storms in history, is well worth the price of admission.
The Imperfect Storm...
azathothpwiggins12 July 2021
HURRICANE is a made-for-TV disaster movie, made during the sub-genre's heyday, when almost every type of catastrophic event was fair game.
While the big storm barrels toward the unsuspecting, two intrepid meteorologists (Will Geer and Michael Learned) try to predict its path. Much blustery / rainy stock footage is shown.
Alas, as with many such movies, this one is rather drawn out. It's also lacking in the thrills department! In spite of this, as always, it's fun to watch for our favorite once and future stars!
WATCH FOR: Barry Sullivan as a fleeing resident; Martin Milner as a storm-chasing pilot; Larry Hagman and Jessica Walter as a boating couple, caught in the eye of the storm; Frank Sutton as an oblivious party host; and Patrick Duffey as a nervous party guest!
Not a bad way to waste an evening, as long as you don't expect anything overly exciting...
While the big storm barrels toward the unsuspecting, two intrepid meteorologists (Will Geer and Michael Learned) try to predict its path. Much blustery / rainy stock footage is shown.
Alas, as with many such movies, this one is rather drawn out. It's also lacking in the thrills department! In spite of this, as always, it's fun to watch for our favorite once and future stars!
WATCH FOR: Barry Sullivan as a fleeing resident; Martin Milner as a storm-chasing pilot; Larry Hagman and Jessica Walter as a boating couple, caught in the eye of the storm; Frank Sutton as an oblivious party host; and Patrick Duffey as a nervous party guest!
Not a bad way to waste an evening, as long as you don't expect anything overly exciting...
70s disaster film
wrlang15 December 2006
Hurricane is about a large hurricane in the gulf of Mexico and several groups of people that get stuck in it. This movie is all about people and not about hurricanes so don't look for a lot of special effects. There were many TV actors from the 60s and 70s in this film and it was nice to see them in early roles. Some were partial casts from very well known TV shoes like Dallas and The Waltons. I'm not really sure why this film is part of the Classic Disaster Movies DVD because it didn't really say much about the disaster. I didn't view this as a disaster film, much less a classic disaster film. Pretty good technically for the era it was made, but again, it was more about people than disasters.
Blown (And Washed) Away
virek2131 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Not to be confused in any way with the 1939 John Ford big-screen classic of the same name, "Hurricane" is one of many made-for-TV disaster films that were even more prominent on the small screen than they were on the big screen during the 1970s.
Based on William C. Andersen's book "The Hurricane Hunters", and inspired by the massive destruction caused by two different Category 5 hurricanes, Hilda in 1964 and Camille in 1969, the film focuses in on a massive hurricane about to nail the Gulf Coast of the United States, something that wasn't unknown to them in those days but which, in the real world of 2017, was made manifestly different on two occasions with Harvey and Irma. And it isn't just those on the coastline that are in the bulls eye of this monster cyclone, with winds approaching 175 miles per hour swirling around the eye wall, who are being threatened; there is also a Coast Guard aircraft, flown by Martin Milner (of TV's "Route 66" and "Adam-12") to rescue a boat captain (Larry Hagman).
Absent all the CGI technology we've seen on recent big screen spectacles like "2012", "Geostorm", and "The Day After Tomorrow", "Hurricane" must inevitably rely on some fairly vivid film-to-TV footage of Hurricane Camille hitting the Gulf Coast in the late summer of 1969. It's not as effective as it likely would have been had it been made a couple of decades on, but it's good enough. Where the film falters to a fair extent is in having to put its cast through many of the expected disaster film hoops courtesy of Jack Turley's teleplay, including Frank Sutton (of TV's "Gomer Pyle") holding a "hurricane party" at his apartment, which just so happens to be right in the bull's eye of the storm. Such things might have been common in that era, but they'd never pass the laugh test today, either in reality or in the movies.
When the film concentrates on the storm itself, however, that's where it gets its greatest effect, thanks to the typically efficient handling of the proceedings by director Jerry Jameson, a specialist in small-screen disaster (he also did "Terror On The 40th Floor", "A Fire In The Sky". and "Starflight One", among others), though he also did a good job on the big screen with "Airport '77". The cast includes, among others, Patrick Duffy (later to star with Hagman in the legendary TV soap opera "Dallas"), Michael Learned, Will Geer (both from "The Waltons"), Barry Sullivan (whose many fine roles included portraying John Chisum in Sam Peckinpah's 1973 Western classic "Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid"), Jessica Walter ("Play Misty For Me"), and Lonny Chapman.
I'm willing to overlook the problematic things of "Hurricane", which are, after all, part-and-parcel of this genre, and give it a '6'.
Based on William C. Andersen's book "The Hurricane Hunters", and inspired by the massive destruction caused by two different Category 5 hurricanes, Hilda in 1964 and Camille in 1969, the film focuses in on a massive hurricane about to nail the Gulf Coast of the United States, something that wasn't unknown to them in those days but which, in the real world of 2017, was made manifestly different on two occasions with Harvey and Irma. And it isn't just those on the coastline that are in the bulls eye of this monster cyclone, with winds approaching 175 miles per hour swirling around the eye wall, who are being threatened; there is also a Coast Guard aircraft, flown by Martin Milner (of TV's "Route 66" and "Adam-12") to rescue a boat captain (Larry Hagman).
Absent all the CGI technology we've seen on recent big screen spectacles like "2012", "Geostorm", and "The Day After Tomorrow", "Hurricane" must inevitably rely on some fairly vivid film-to-TV footage of Hurricane Camille hitting the Gulf Coast in the late summer of 1969. It's not as effective as it likely would have been had it been made a couple of decades on, but it's good enough. Where the film falters to a fair extent is in having to put its cast through many of the expected disaster film hoops courtesy of Jack Turley's teleplay, including Frank Sutton (of TV's "Gomer Pyle") holding a "hurricane party" at his apartment, which just so happens to be right in the bull's eye of the storm. Such things might have been common in that era, but they'd never pass the laugh test today, either in reality or in the movies.
When the film concentrates on the storm itself, however, that's where it gets its greatest effect, thanks to the typically efficient handling of the proceedings by director Jerry Jameson, a specialist in small-screen disaster (he also did "Terror On The 40th Floor", "A Fire In The Sky". and "Starflight One", among others), though he also did a good job on the big screen with "Airport '77". The cast includes, among others, Patrick Duffy (later to star with Hagman in the legendary TV soap opera "Dallas"), Michael Learned, Will Geer (both from "The Waltons"), Barry Sullivan (whose many fine roles included portraying John Chisum in Sam Peckinpah's 1973 Western classic "Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid"), Jessica Walter ("Play Misty For Me"), and Lonny Chapman.
I'm willing to overlook the problematic things of "Hurricane", which are, after all, part-and-parcel of this genre, and give it a '6'.
Great Movie!!
shepard-119 May 2006
I really enjoyed this movie, being the weather geek that I am!!! The cast in the movie was outstanding, I mean Frank Sutton, Michelle Learned, WILL GEER!!! I guess from my standpoint the actual hurricane footage from Camille was just unreal, giving us a glimpse of what a Category 5 situation would be like with winds of 190 MPH. The first time I actually saw it was when I was a kid on TV (weather geek then too!!). I haven't seen it in a few years and would actually like to know if ANYONE would know how to obtain a copy of it. DVD would be preferred if possible but VHS would be fine too. I know Blockbuster actually had it for rent for awhile. Once again, if anyone loves weather I would highly recommend it if they get a chance to see it!!!
"A hurricane is a natural phenomenon." ... "Is that what they're teaching in college these days?"
moonspinner5515 November 2011
Tacky TV-made disaster flick is loaded with familiar faces as well as laughable stock footage of varying quality (some of which is repeated at least once). A depression in the Southern Gulf of Mexico intensifies into a tropical storm before becoming a full-fledged hurricane with 175 mph winds; the National Guard attempts to evacuate residents of the Central Gulf states while Naval forces and Air Force flyboys work together to patrol the seas. The cajoling dialogue has a little snap, but the characters are mostly stock figures. Frank Sutton, as a drunken psychotic whose apartment lies directly in Hurricane Hilda's path, hardly elicits sympathy, but Will Geer and Michael Learned (reunited from TV's "The Waltons") have a nice rapport as sniping weather experts. Special effects are strictly fifth-rate, but star-watchers might be drawn in by the cast.
TWISTER - only with water
bok6022 May 2005
Warning: Spoilers
To quote a previous comment: "This movie,although about a hurricane, beats "twister". very little foul language, no graphic violence, but still leaves us with plenty of thrills and excitement and gets it's point across that a hurricane is nothing to mess around with." I agree completely -AND it appears to have the same random cow in the road! On the whole, it's really not as bad as might seem from a TV movie, and the inclusion of actual storm footage actually adds to the semi-documentary style.
My only real gripe is with the eye-of-the-storm sequences, in which the very minimal effects are at their weakest and the stock footage used is inconsistent at best.
SPOILER! Additionally, being a fan of the old Adam 12 series, I was saddened at the fate of the heroic Martin Milner. To make matters worse, his demise with that of his crew is not even shown on screen; it's only mentioned in passing later on.
My only real gripe is with the eye-of-the-storm sequences, in which the very minimal effects are at their weakest and the stock footage used is inconsistent at best.
SPOILER! Additionally, being a fan of the old Adam 12 series, I was saddened at the fate of the heroic Martin Milner. To make matters worse, his demise with that of his crew is not even shown on screen; it's only mentioned in passing later on.
Classic Hurricane Hunters!
hannah-1369622 June 2020
I keep hearing 'One Adam 12' & ' No Jeannie no' & ' Move it, move it' 😂 in my mind. Haven't seen these actor's in many many years. My brother use to have to fly in the hurricane/eye (Navy) & they dropped dry ice in the storm... But this is a cool classic.
Awful TV made disaster movie.
Zorin-222 January 1999
I like some of the 70's disaster films so I rented this disaster film to see how it was. I could barely finish the movie. It was so boring that even an all star cast could not save this soggy disaster film. Check out the other popular disaster films such as "Airport" or "The Towering Inferno" instead.
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