THE PILOT
US, 1979, 93 minutes, Colour.
Cliff Robertson, Diane Baker, Dana Andrews, Milo O'Shea, Gordon Macrae.
Directed by Cliff Robertson.
The Pilot is a brief topical melodrama about an ageing pilot with an alcohol problem. It seems more a telemovie than a cinema feature film, although it has fine colour photography by veteran Walter Lassally and a score by veteran John Addison. The film is clearly a project for Cliff Robertson who stars and directs. It has a strong supporting cast and features a guest role by Gordon Macrae. The film has some interesting aerial sequences, focuses very strongly on the pilot himself and his alcoholism and offers some hope for cures. The end tends to be sunset over optimistic. However, there are some in? sights and a worthy cause.
1. An interesting and entertaining topical drama? Contemporary problems? Solutions?
2. The film as the work of Cliff Robertson: his work as director, starring role, prominence? A committed film?
3. The telemovie style: introduction of characters, episodic screenplay, glimpses of the pilot, the reliance on dialogue? The background of American transport, commercial flying? The portrait of relationships, ambitions, middle age? Alcohol problems and therapies?
4. The portrait of Michael Hagan: introduction to him, sympathetic or not, clash with his wife, love for his daughter, dedication to his work, a man of insights and hunches, praise from colleagues? The failure of his marriage and the possibility of a new marriage? Relationships and his ability to discuss problems and ageing with his fiancee? His ability to separate his drinking from the decisions of his work? Yet his need to drink during flights? His devices for covering up? The importance of the sequence at the bar, his friend talking about drinkers, his being sick and threatened by the black man? His skill at his work, the flight through the Grand Canyon? Skill in PR for his company? Yet the cover ups, the air hostess and her log book? His relationship with his daughter and her flying practice? Friendship with his co-pilot but their discussion after the landing at Sacramento, his walking out on him? The motive for the crisis ? the need for alcohol? His discussion with his fiancee and going to seek treatment? The doctor and his eccentricity and plans? The hiding the drink in the toilet? His passing the inspection of the officer? The fire in the engines and his ability to halt the plane? His confession of the truth? His final desperation? Resigning? His memories, crop-duster, hopes? 25 years of alcohol and his ability to cope? Failure? Motives for rehabilitation? The optimistic tone of the ending? The picture of the airways: service, pilot skills. dangers, the public relations theme, supervisors, investigations, hostess and duty?
6. His daughter and her love, the flying sequence, a motive for his rehabilitation? The failure of his marriage? Her ambitions?
7. The girlfriend and their frank talks, middle age, communication, sincerity?
8. The investigator and his covers, techniques? Judgments? The hostess put on the spot ? doing her duty or not?
9. The doctor and his eccentric behaviour, his past problems, the range of therapies, his sympathetic help? The method for curing alcoholism? Themes of alcoholism, problems, motives? Therapies?
10. The value of the hope and optimism in the encouraging ending?
