Airport ’77 Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A 747 becomes a submarine after some art heist goes wrong, and Jack Lemmon tries to keep everyone from turning into fish food.

🍿 Airport ’77: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Luxurious Flight Turns Perilous

Millionaire Philip Stevens invites a group of VIPs on a luxurious Boeing 747 flight to Florida to showcase his art collection. Unbeknownst to the passengers, a group of thieves, including co-pilot Chambers, plan to hijack the plane and steal the valuable artwork. Their plan involves using sleeping gas to subdue everyone on board.

Hijacking Gone Wrong

As the sleeping gas takes effect, Chambers takes control of the plane and deviates from the flight path, flying low to avoid radar. However, thick fog obscures their vision, and the plane clips an oil rig, causing severe damage. The 747 crashes into the ocean and sinks in the Bermuda Triangle, trapping the passengers underwater.

Trapped Underwater

With the plane submerged 100 feet below the surface, Captain Don Gallagher and the surviving passengers face a desperate situation. The plane’s structural integrity is compromised, oxygen is dwindling, and water is slowly leaking in. They must find a way to signal for help and escape before it’s too late.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Don Gallagher (Jack Lemmon): The heroic and capable pilot who takes charge to save the passengers after the 747 crashes into the ocean.
• Eve Clayton (Brenda Vaccaro): Captain Gallagher’s girlfriend and Philip Stevens’ assistant, caught between her career aspirations and her love for Gallagher.
• Bob Chambers (Robert Foxworth): The duplicitous co-pilot and ringleader of the hijacking plot that leads to the plane’s underwater crash.
• Philip Stevens (James Stewart): The wealthy philanthropist and art collector whose private 747 is hijacked, placing his guests and priceless art in peril.
• Martin Wallace (Christopher Lee): A courageous and experienced diver among the passengers who volunteers to help Captain Gallagher, sacrificing himself in the process.
• Karen Wallace (Lee Grant): Martin Wallace’s alcoholic wife whose erratic behavior and desperation complicate the survival efforts after the crash.
• Joe Patroni (George Kennedy): The experienced airline executive who assists in the rescue operation to recover the submerged 747 and its passengers.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Karen Wallace: “Excuse me, I don’t mean to intrude, but could you move your ass, dear?” – A sarcastic remark from the shrewish, boozy Karen Wallace, showcasing her abrasive personality.
• Captain Don Gallagher: “We’re on our own!” – Said by Captain Gallagher after the plane crashes, realizing the gravity of their isolated situation and the need for self-reliance.
• Martin Wallace: “Selfishness sent us into our predicament.” – As Martin confronts his wife Karen and explains why he has to help rescue the survivors.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $6,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $30,000,000
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Airport ’77 Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching Airport ’77 as a kid and being completely captivated by the idea of a plane underwater. The movie is filled with stars, including Jack Lemmon, who plays the pilot. It was really interesting to see Christopher Lee being a good guy for a change. The scenes of the plane underwater were actually kind of scary back then.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of disaster movies”
  • “Viewers interested in ensemble casts and classic Hollywood actors”
  • “Those who enjoy suspenseful rescue stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Perilous situations”
  • “Drowning sequences”
  • “Some violence and thematic elements”

Professional Reviews

• ScreenRant: “Airport ’77 is a great example of over-the-top disaster movies of the 70s. A unique plot of a plane crashing into the Bermuda Triangle with high-profile passengers makes it fun to watch. Solid action sequences are a bonus.
• Nerdly: “Despite some of the silly characterizations, Airport ’77 is a surprisingly appealing rescue movie. Good acting by the leads, like Jack Lemmon, keeps you watching until the end. Overall, the movie has a satisfying effect.

Audience Reactions

The all-star cast made the movie very fun to watch and added to the tension.: Viewers enjoyed the suspenseful underwater scenes and the innovative concept for a disaster film.

Overall Consensus: Airport ’77 offers a unique disaster scenario with a recognizable cast, and is praised for its suspense and special effects.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “To prepare for his role, Jack Lemmon attended both diving school and flight training school to understand the controls and procedures.”
• “The film is notable for featuring Christopher Lee in a heroic role, a departure from his usual villainous characters.”
• “Edith Head, a renowned Hollywood costume designer, was credited for the wardrobe in ‘Airport ’77’, contributing to the film’s elegant look.”
• “The incident portrayed in the film is fictional; the rescue capabilities utilized by the Navy are real. This text appeared before the end credits.”
• “The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, Florida, served as the filming location for Philip Stevens’ mansion.”

🖥️ How to Watch Airport ’77?

Airport ’77 is available for purchase or rental on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check local listings for television airings.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Airport ’77, you might like these similar films:

• The Poseidon Adventure (1972): Features a group of people trapped in an overturned ocean liner, similar to the trapped passengers in a submerged plane.
• Skyjacked (1972): This movie also has a hijacker on board an airplane but it doesn’t crash under water.
• Raise the Titanic (1980): Involves a large-scale operation to raise a sunken vessel, echoing the attempt to salvage the 747.
• Airplane! (1980): Parodies the disaster film genre, particularly the ‘Airport’ series, and offers a comedic take on similar tropes.

🛒 Airport ’77 Related Products

• Airport: The Complete Series: Own all four Airport movies in this exciting digital collection. Watch the best disaster-in-the-air movie!
• Boeing 747 Model Airplane: A detailed replica of the Boeing 747. A must-have for any aircraft enthusiast or collector.
• Bermuda Triangle Board Game: Experience the thrill of the Bermuda Triangle. This board game challenges players to navigate the dangerous waters, making it an ideal for family nights.
• Classic Disaster Movies Collection: A digital collection featuring the most memorable disaster movies. Re-watch this vintage film from the 1970s.

🎧 Soundtrack

Airport ’77 features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder” – performed by Tom Sullivan

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

IF YOU GREW UP IN THE 1970s: DISASTER MOVIES!

Remember all those epic disaster movies from the 70s? This video takes you back, and ‘Airport ’77’ definitely gets its moment in the spotlight! It’s cool to see how popular these movies were back then.

Where Are They Now? The Fate of the “Airport” and “Airplane!” Movie Planes

Ever wonder what happened to the planes from the ‘Airport’ movies after filming wrapped? This video tells the story of the actual aircraft used in those films. It’s surprisingly interesting!

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