The Horror at 37,000 Feet
| The Horror at 37,000 Feet | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Genre | Horror |
| Written by |
Ronald Austin James D. Buchanan |
| Directed by | David Lowell Rich |
| Starring |
Chuck Connors William Shatner Buddy Ebsen Roy Thinnes Jane Merrow Russell Johnson Tammy Grimes |
| Music by | Morton Stevens |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Anthony Wilson |
| Cinematography | Earl Rath |
| Editor(s) | Bud S. Isaacs |
| Running time | 73 minutes |
| Production company(s) | CBS |
| Distributor | CBS |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release |
|
The Horror at 37,000 Feet is an American horror television movie made for CBS Television by David Lowell Rich.[1] The film first aired in 1973. In the movie, demonic forces terrorize the passengers on a Boeing 747 en route from London to New York.[2]
William Shatner, who 10 years earlier had starred in the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," plays the lead role. Shatner described his character's demise in the movie as one of his "unique ways" of dying: "I get sucked out of an airplane while carrying a lit torch into the airliner's baggage compartment to try to confront a druid ghost." According to Shatner, many of his fans consider the movie the worst film in which he has ever appeared.[3]
Plot
On a Boeing 747 flight from London to Los Angeles piloted by Captain Ernie Slade (Chuck Connors), a wealthy architect (Roy Thinnes) and his wife (Jane Merrow) have placed a druid sacrificial altar in the baggage hold of the airliner. Aboard for the ill-fated trip is ex-priest Paul Kovalik (William Shatner) and millionaire Glenn Farlee (Buddy Ebsen). Soon after takeoff, crew and passengers alike face the supernatural horror that is unleashed from the baggage compartment – the ghosts of the druids, that are seeking revenge from being uprooted from their ancient home.
Cast
- Chuck Connors as Captain Ernie Slade
- Buddy Ebsen as Glenn Farlee
- William Shatner as Paul Kovalik
- Roy Thinnes as Alan O'Neill
- Jane Merrow as Sheila O'Neill
- Tammy Grimes as Mrs. Pinder
- Lynn Loring as Manya
- Paul Winfield as Dr. Enkalla
- France Nuyen as Annalik
- Will Hutchins as Steve Holcomb
- Darleen Carr as Margot
- Russell Johnson as Jim Hawley
- H.M. Wynant as Frank Driscoll
- Mia Bendixsen as Jodi
Production
The Horror at 37,000 Feet was entirely shot on sound stages at the CBS Studio Center, Studio City, California.[4]
Reception
In a later review, critic Richard Scheib commented: "The Horror at 37,000 Feet is a silly film, although to its credit it and most of the principals do maintain a degree of intent gravity and at least treat the exercise seriously."[5]
References
Notes
- ↑ Roberts 2009, p. 475.
- ↑ Young 2000, p. 285.
- ↑ Shatner and Fisher 2009, pp. 167–168.
- ↑ "Details: 'The Horror at 37,000 Feet'." IMDb. Retrieved: March 26, 2015.
- ↑ Scheib, Richard. "Review: 'The Horror at 37,000 Feet'." Moria. Retrieved: March 26, 2015.
Bibliography
- Roberts, Jerry. Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-81086-138-1.
- Shatner, William and David Fisher. Up Till Now: The Autobiography. New York: MacMillan, 2009. ISBN 978-0-312-56163-5.
- Young, R.G. The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film: Ali Baba to Zombies. Winona, Minnesota: Hal Leonard Corporation, 2000. ISBN 978-1-55783-269-6.