Author Bob Davis adapts from his novel for his screenplay, but he tries to put too much in his flat script while concomitantly neglecting to explain several of the plot elements which are presented here but not defined as they are in the book.
Cliff Robertson was a rather stoic actor, but pilots can be pretty stoic sometimes, so this trait is probably a plus for the film. Robertson was also a pilot in real life, but that is an ultimately negligible factor. Diane Baker as the alcoholic pilot's mistress is given nothing to do and Frank Converse (how did this guy ever get an acting career?) is nothing as the panicky co-pilot. Dana Andrews appears in what amounts to be a cameo, Gordon MacRae is a loud-mouthed administrator, and Ed Binns is the captain-turned-secret agent who spies on Robertson.
Not bad, could have been better. Unique subject matter; interesting with the potentiality of being true-to-life, much more than Denzel Washington's addict pilot in 'Flight' (2012).
Cliff Robertson was a rather stoic actor, but pilots can be pretty stoic sometimes, so this trait is probably a plus for the film. Robertson was also a pilot in real life, but that is an ultimately negligible factor. Diane Baker as the alcoholic pilot's mistress is given nothing to do and Frank Converse (how did this guy ever get an acting career?) is nothing as the panicky co-pilot. Dana Andrews appears in what amounts to be a cameo, Gordon MacRae is a loud-mouthed administrator, and Ed Binns is the captain-turned-secret agent who spies on Robertson.
Not bad, could have been better. Unique subject matter; interesting with the potentiality of being true-to-life, much more than Denzel Washington's addict pilot in 'Flight' (2012).