FIRE IN THE SKY

US, 1978, 178 minutes, Colour.
Richard Crenna, Elizabeth Ashley, David Dukes, Joanna Miles, Lloyd Bochner.
Directed by Jerry Jameson.

Fire In The Sky is quite an entertaining telemovie for viewers at home. It is a blend of the disaster trend with soap-opera. The film is quite long, has quite a number of characters, presents a great deal of interaction of character as well as building up towards the disaster of a meteor striking earth. There are also effective special affects especially in the climax. The film might be compared with Ronald Neame's Meteor with Sean Connery and Natalie Wood which was released soon after. The film has a competent cast. Generally the screen-play is predictable, but it is well enough done to provide average entertainment

1. The popularity of the disaster genre in the seventies? The adaptation of the plot to the telemovie audience? Interest in the basic situation, involvement with the characters and their plight, interests in the techniques and special effects? The contribution of the stars? The length of the film ? Comparisons with cinema versions of such disasters - in terms of characterization, suspense, melodrama?

2. The quality of the screenplay in introducing the basic situation, establishing characters? The stereotypes and the background of television soap-operas - or was the film more substantial? How authentic the situations, how realistic the behaviour? insight into human nature faced with disaster?

3. The Phoenix setting and the use of and actual city? The way of life of the city administration, the media, the environment? A western city, the Indians living outside the city? The examination of the meteor threat, scientific background, international emergency, the national guard, the evacuation? the impact of the disaster?

4. Audience interest in meteors and their danger for earth? The possibility of a meteor striking earth? The means used to avert the meteor? The early sequences for the discovery of the meteor, the scientific investigation and background? Jason Voight and his authority? The governor and his predictable pacifying reaction? The advice from his officials? The responsibility of the media - television coverage and its potential for warning people, the role of the news papers? The question of insurance and the financial implication of such a disaster? The role of the police and the National guard? The ability to save peoples' lives, especially by orderly evacuation? Coping with people who did not want to leave? The impact of the crash and its after-effects?

5. The sketch of the officials, the governor and his family , his unwillingness to move, his eventual changing his mind, appearing on television? His aide and his presumption, the crash, disobeying airport orders? The judgment implied on his behaviour?

6. The aliens as central to the film? David and his running of the paper, his intensity, his affair with the reporter, his pragmatic attitudes, idealism, clashes with Sharon and her family, his coping with the situation? Sharon and her wealthy background, keeping the media going, her romantic attachments, affairs, her curiosity about the situation? Ferreting out information, interviewing Voight? Pressure on the governor? her decisions about using television time to warn the people? The clash with the officials? Her being thrown with David again? Their reconciliation, his rescuing her at the end? Their mutual help and possibility of a happy future The soap-opera style of their characters and interaction?

7. The ambitious reporter, her affair with David, her reliability in her work?

8. The frequent emphasis on the role of the media and its responsibility? Television time? The people to be warned and the means of the media? The examples of the scout their being, out of the city, seeing, the meteor, radio contact? The frantic mother and her search?

9. Voight and his authority, manner, his assistant and her loyalty? Imperious style and alienating people? Arguing? The clash with the governor, the point of the governor's children? His going to the aid of the Indians?

10. The sub-plot of the wealthy girl and Tom? The room rodeo background? marriage, her wealth? His grandmother and her approval? The grandmother not wanting to leave the house? Her father and his being painted as the villain, the insurance questions, his wanting to get out of Phoenix with his wife? His pushiness and panic? the couple and the grandmother hiding, and being saved from the collapse of the hotel?

11. The question of averting the meteor? preparations, the technology, the failure?

12. The build-up of suspects, belief that this could happen? Ordinary people and their reaction? Not wanting to leave the city? The crowded freeways? The looters and the National Guard? The running out of time? The suspense with the film, inter-cutting the various characters? The build-up to the climax and its shattering impact?

13. An involving, story, a satisfying disaster film, its basic themes? facing nightmares and coping with them? survival?