Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232 (1992) (TV)

Director:

Lamont Johnson

Writer (WGA):

Harve Bennett (written by)

Release Date:

24 February 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

In 1988, Sioux City Iowa organized a revolutionary "Disaster Preparedness Program." On July 19th, 1989, they needed every trick in the book.

Plot:

Authentic drama of United Airlines flight 232 from Denver to Chicago. The DC-10 crashed during an emergency...

Plot Keywords:

Rescue | Airplane Accident | Iowa | Based On True Story | Number In Title

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Charlton Heston	...	Captain Al Haynes
Richard Thomas	...	Gary Brown
James Coburn	...	Jim Hathaway
Leon Russom	...	Bob Hamilton
John M. Jackson	...	Lt. Colonel Dennis Nielsen
Tom O'Brien	...	Chris Porter
Philip Baker Hall	...	Sam Gochenour
Tom Everett	...	Mack Zubinski
Carmen Argenziano	...	First Officer Bill Records
Bruce McGill	...	Flight Engineer Dudley Dvorak
Arthur Rosenberg	...	Dennis Fitch
Bill Geisslinger	...	Chuck Sundberg
Steven M. Porter	...	Gary Anderson
Stephanie Dunnam
Mariangela Pino

Also Known As:

A Thousand Heroes

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Argentina:Atp | Iceland:12 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Nebraska, USA

Company:

Bob Banner Associates

Trivia:

When the airplane is shown crashing, the real crash of the real flight 232 is shown as shot by amateur camera

Goofs:

Continuity: The plane is in real life a United Airlines DC-10, which is accurately shown as the plane is on the ground at Denver Stapleton Airport. However, on take-off (front view), the plane becomes a Pan Am DC-10, and while it is climbing, the American Airlines logotype is clearly visible on the tail.

Quotes:

Gary Brown: Do I understand, a DC-10?
Mack Zubinski: Affirmative.
Gary Brown: What is that, like 200 people?
Mack Zubinski: Rescue One, capacity more like 300 and 80,000 pounds of jet fuel.
Gary Brown: [to a colleague] Okay, we're gonna need lots more foam. And vehicles.
Gary Brown: [to Zubinski] You tell 'em we'll be ready.

Movie Connections:

References "Emergency!" (1972)

This is worth a look!

I viewed this film as "A Thousand Heroes" on HBO and I appreciated having the opportunity to watch it without commercial interruptions.

This film, a true story, details the events leading up to the crash of United flight 232 in Iowa and the incredible survival stories in the aftermath. The Sioux City area emergency services teams drilled for just such an event and their efforts resulted in many lives being saved. These stories of survival are what make this film special and quite moving at times. James Coburn plays the gruff fire chief who at one point just can't believe that the bodies of the victims will have to remain on the tarmac overnight. "Shouldn't somebody say a prayer over them or something?" he asks during an emotional scene. A child survives the crash because he had the presence of mind to jump from plane before it broke up into pieces. An injured passenger is brought into the emergency room as the paramedic says "Take good care of him. We had to leave his wife on the runway."

The sense of duty and compassion displayed by the population of Sioux City and the gratitude of the passengers is very refreshing. The rapport that develops between the pilot (Charlton Heston) and the rookie air traffic controller on duty is very satisfying. Survival and stories of heroism are stressed rather than carnage and special effects. Especially chilling is the fact that news footage of the plane hitting the runway is used during the crash sequence.

"A Thousand Heroes" is quite an enjoyable film that depicts some of the best traits of human nature. It's worth a look!