As I mentioned in my review for Creature From the Black Lagoon, I spent many a vacation during my childhood visiting Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee, Florida. At the base of the river that fed out of the Springs, there was a small beach were visitors could swim. About twenty or so feet from the sands of the beach was a huge wooden platform that swimmers could relax on. At first I didn't think anything of this oddly placed construction. However, I later learned that it was used as a platform for a crane which was used to lift and position a massive submerged airplane for a film shoot. That film shoot was for Jerry Jameson's Airport '77. The second sequel in the hugely popular Airport series, Airport '77 was a part of the grand tradition of 70s disaster movies. The film features a fantastic cast including James Stewart as an elderly philanthropist who is transporting a large number of valuable paintings aboard a new luxury Boeing 747-100, Jack Lemmon as the captain of that plane, Christopher Lee as a diver, and Olivia de Havilland as a passenger. A failed hijacking attempt led by the co-pilot leads to the plane crashing into the ocean, trapping the passengers and crew beneath the waves. The film follows the survivors attempts to signal rescuers and escape from a watery grave. It balances intense character drama with the truly fascinating and methodical rescue attempts from the Navy. Apparently, the techniques used by the Navy in the film are authentic and would be used in a similar real life situation. While it may not have the same pizazz as other 70s disaster films like The Poseidon Adventure (1972) or The Towering Inferno (1974), Airport '77 is an ultimately satisfying piece of cinema.
7/10
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