Airport '77
Inaugural flight with friends and acquaintances of the billionaire owner of a gigantic new plane (a 747) loading precious goods, such as paintings, jewellery and more.
Something goes wrong, however, because some crooks plan to steal the goods on board.
"Airport '77" is one of the sequels in the "Airport" disaster film franchise, which was popular during the 1970s. The movie was released in 1977 and directed by Jerry Jameson. Here's a brief overview:
Plot:
The story of "Airport '77" revolves around a private Boeing 747 packed with VIPs and valuable artwork that is hijacked and eventually crashes in the Bermuda Triangle, submerging underwater. The passengers and crew are trapped inside the sunken plane, and the movie captures their struggle for survival as rescue operations are mounted from the surface.
Cast:
- Jack Lemmon as Captain Don Gallagher
- Lee Grant as Karen Wallace
- Brenda Vaccaro as Eve Clayton
- Joseph Cotten as Nicholas St. Downs III
- Olivia de Havilland as Emily Livingston
- James Stewart as Philip Stevens
- George Kennedy as Joe Patroni (a recurring character in the "Airport" series)
Like other films in the "Airport" series, "Airport '77" was a commercial success but had mixed critical reviews. It is remembered for its suspenseful underwater sequences and notable cast. The disaster film genre, of which "Airport '77" is a part, was particularly popular during the 1970s, with movies focusing on various catastrophic scenarios often featuring ensemble casts.
Following "Airport '77", the franchise continued with "The Concorde... Airport '79", which was the last installment in the series.