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IMDbPro

Birds of Prey

  • TV Movie
  • 19731973
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
380
YOUR RATING
Birds of Prey (1973)
ActionCrimeThriller
A former fighter pilot now working as a radio station traffic reporter witnesses a bank robbery. He chases down the bank robbers and a hostage in his helicopter.A former fighter pilot now working as a radio station traffic reporter witnesses a bank robbery. He chases down the bank robbers and a hostage in his helicopter.A former fighter pilot now working as a radio station traffic reporter witnesses a bank robbery. He chases down the bank robbers and a hostage in his helicopter.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
380
YOUR RATING
    • William A. Graham
    • Robert Boris(screenplay)
    • Rupert Hitzig(story)
  • Stars
    • David Janssen
    • Ralph Meeker
    • Elayne Heilveil
    • William A. Graham
    • Robert Boris(screenplay)
    • Rupert Hitzig(story)
  • Stars
    • David Janssen
    • Ralph Meeker
    • Elayne Heilveil
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 28User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

    Birds of Prey (1973)
    Birds of Prey (1973)
    Birds of Prey (1973)
    Birds of Prey (1973)
    David Janssen in Birds of Prey (1973)
    Elayne Heilveil and David Janssen in Birds of Prey (1973)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Janssen
    David Janssen
    • Harry Walker
    Ralph Meeker
    Ralph Meeker
    • Jim McAndrew
    Elayne Heilveil
    Elayne Heilveil
    • Teresa Jane
    Harry Klekas
    • Captain Slater
    Sam Dawson
    • Inspector Sinclair
    Don Wilbanks
    Don Wilbanks
    • Trucker
    James W. Gavin
    • Police Pilot
    Paul Grace
    • Robber #1
    Wayne D. Wilkinson
    • Robber #2
    Larry Peacy
    • Robber #3
    Larry Doll
    • Robber #4
      • William A. Graham
      • Robert Boris(screenplay) (story)
      • Rupert Hitzig(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Hughes 500C that "Walker" flew throughout the film is one of the few turbine-engine helicopters (worldwide) which is flown single-pilot from the left seat. Since people tend to scan visually from left to right... the same way they read a book... it was more effective to have Walker in a left-facing helicopter like the 500C, as opposed to say, a Bell JetRanger, or a Fairchild FH-1100 which are flown from the right seat. Director William A. Graham shot all of the close-ups from the left side of the ship, usually looking slightly upward, with a tight depth-of-field. This threw everything behind Walker's shoulders out of focus. However, this was a dual-control ship! Note particularly the take-off after Walker fueled-up from the tanker truck. If you look closely (despite the fuzzy focus) you can readily see that the right-seat position looks unusually lumpy. That's because the film pilot who was doing the actual flying, was crouched in there, under a black shroud.
    • Goofs
      The Hughes/MD 500 (369) helicopter has a jet turbine engine that uses Jet-A fuel. Filling up with auto gas from the tanker truck would not work well. The engine would be damaged and would not get very far.
    • Quotes

      Jim McAndrew: [after Walker saves him by ramming the robbers' helicopter] Damn it, Walker! Nobody asked you to do that!

    • Connections
      Referenced in Three's Company: Two Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1981)

    User reviews28

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Underrated.
    Elegaic, and subtly played by the star. How often could you say that of a 70's TV movie? (I think) there is a closing line in the movie, "You didn't have to do that." It's about having been brave once, in forgotten circumstances, and then, suddenly, living up to that again in old age. Of course, it's full of technical glitches and cliches, but I like it.
    helpful•10
    1
    • mark_alex_smith
    • Jun 29, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 30, 1973 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Wendover Airport - 345 S. Airport Apron, Wendover, Utah, USA
    • Production company
      • Tomorrow Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 21 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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