Freefall: Flight 174 (1995)

True story of a brand-new Canadian airliner running out of fuel in-flight and forced to glide to the nearest airfield.

Director:

Jorge Montesi

Writers:

William Hoffer (book), Marilyn Hoffer (book)

Stars:

William Devane, Scott Hylands, Shelley Hack

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Devane	...	Capt. Bob Pearson
Scott Hylands	...	Maurice Quintal
Shelley Hack	...	Lynn Brown
Kevin McNulty	...	Larry Roberts
Gwynyth Walsh	...	Pearl Dion
Gloria Carlin	...	Meg
Suzy Joachim	...	Florence Bisaillon
Nicholas Turturro	...	Al Williams
Winston Rekert	...	Rick Dion
Mariette Hartley	...	Beth Pearson
Philip Granger	...	Phil Lyons
Philip Maurice Hayes	...	Bob Rand (as Philip Hayes)
David Lewis	...	Frank Farr
Sheelah Megill	...	Mrs. Hebert
John Novak	...	Len Daniels

Storyline

It's the summer of 1983. Canada World Airways' brand-new Boeing 767 leaves Montreal bound for Edmonton. When the plane reaches its cruise altitude, the impossible happens: the plane runs out of fuel, due to a miscalculation by the ground staff in Montreal. Captain Bob Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal face a potentially deadly disaster in this true story, as the 767, with about 60 souls on board, slowly falls from the sky.

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Plot Keywords:

boeing 767 | disaster | montreal quebec | edmonton alberta | flight attendant | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real names of three key individuals - Bob Pearson, Maurice Quintal, and Rick Dion - and their families were retained for the movie, but the names of other people as well as the airline and the flight number were changed. It was really Air Canada flight 143.

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Goofs

The captain moves the stick forwards, yet the pitch indicator shows that the plane begins climbing.

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Quotes

[after the two pilots crash in the simulator]
Simulator pilot: Is this some kind of joke? There's no way to land that aircraft the way you guys got it programmed!
Simulator co-pilot: Dumb scenario if you ask me! Impossible set of conditions! Who ever dreamed that up?
Inspector: It isn't a dream. It happened.

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Crazy Credits

Bob Pearson, the real pilot of the "Gimli Glider" (the story that inspired this film), features as the Examiner in the simulator footage at the beginning of the film.

User Reviews

Would like to own a copy in VHS to view in the USA

I happened along this movie quite by accident. William Devane does an excellent job portraying an airline captain in charge of a doomed flight. The film was exhausting to watch. I felt like I was there in the cockpit helping Mr. Devane myself. I have tried for years to find a copy of this tape. Not until late last year was it available on VHS in the UK. I ordered the tape immediately. When the tape arrived, I was devastated to find out the VHS tapes sold in England and many other European countries are made on a different standard than ours here in the USA. I have the film on VHS in PAL standard but need it in NTSC or SECAM standard, whichever works in the US. I have been unable to get any help on this. I would very much like a copy of this film if anyone has any ideas.

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Freefall: Flight 174

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hill/Fields Entertainment, Pacific Motion Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1