Crash (1978) (TV)

Director:

Barry Shear

Writers:

Rob Elder (book) and
Sarah Elder (book) ...

Release Date:

29 October 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

True story recounting the crash of Eastern Airlines flight 401, which crashed in the Everglades while on approach to Miami in December 1972...

Plot Keywords:

Everglades | Airplane Accident | Based On True Story

Cast

William Shatner	...	Carl Tobias
Adrienne Barbeau	...	Veronica Daniels
Brooke Bundy	...	Camille Lawrence
Christopher Connelly	...	Mike Tagliarino
Lorraine Gary	...	Emily Mulwray
Ron Glass	...	Jerry Grant
Sharon Gless	...	Lesley Fuller
Joyce Jameson	...	Sophie Cross
George Maharis	...	Evan Walsh
Ed Nelson	...	Philip Mulwray
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	...	Larry Cross
Artie Shaw	...	Elderly Passenger
Joe Silver	...	Alvin Jessop
Laraine Stephens	...	Ginny Duffy
W.K. Stratton	...	Ray Ordway

Also Known As:

Crash of Flight 401

Runtime:

95 min | USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Company:

Charles Fries Productions

Trivia:

'Bob Crane' - actor from Hogan's Heroes - was originally cast in this movie, but was murdered before filming commenced.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Flight Attendants arrive into New York on another aircraft the plane they disembark from has a pointed red livery - that of another L1011 operator at the time; TWA. Eastern had a two tone blue livery. Also as they are running late to catch 401 most of the Cabin Crew leave the incoming aircraft with the passengers leaving only two Flight Attendants on board - something that would have not been permitted as there would be no Flight Attendants guarding the remaining emergency exits during disembarkation (in case they need to evacuate the passengers)

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Ghost of Flight 401 (1978) (TV)

Very well done

There were two different tv films made in 1978 about the crash of the L-1011 Jet Flight 401 in December 1972 where almost 100 people died. In the Ghost of Flight 401 with Ernest Borgnine, they explored the supernatural aspect of this tragedy where the ghosts of Robert Loft and Don Repo were seen on other planes that had parts taken from the wreckage. John G. Fuller wrote a very interesting book on the subject. It doesn't matter if you believe in ghosts or not, it still made for a wonderful book and a fine movie. Its astounding to me that this terrible tragedy took place because of a three cent light bulb burning out. When Flight 401 was making its final approach to Miami, they started to put the landing gear down, but the light that signalled this wasn't working for some reason. Captain Loft send Flight Engineer Repo and another man into the cargo hold of the plane to examine the landing gear. During this time, he put the plane on automatic pilot while they were dealing with this crisis. It is believed that Loft or the co-pilot Burt Stockstill bumped the automatic pilot and turned it off. The plane began a very steep dive into the swamp that they did not detect until it was too late! Far too late! Crash has a very impressive cast, everyone from Eddie Albert as the pilot to Sharon Gless (before she was on Cagney and Lacey) to Adrienne Barbeau to Lorraine Gary. Its like one of those Airport movies they made where they introduce you to the characters, set the scene and then create the disaster and then you get to see who lives and who dies! Considering the fact that this film was made a quarter century ago when special effects weren't what they are today, the part when they re-enact the crash of the plane is very realistic and very chilling. You feel like you are on the plane experiencing the whole damn thing! William Shatner portrays the crash "detective" who tries to solve the mystery. Shatner was never one of my favorites, he has an overwhelming ego that you can see a mile off! I cannot believe he got so far on so little! However, this film has enough positive points to recommend it.