LOST FLIGHT

US, 1970, 105 minutes, Colour.
Lloyd Bridges, Anne Francis, Ralph Meeker, Bobby Van, Andrew Pryne.
Directed by Leonard Horn.

Lost Flight is an early T.V. movie which had theatrical release in Australia, capitalising on the popularity of Airport at the time. Since the disaster trend escalated during the 70's, the film had prominent television release as well. Compared to the blockbuster disasters, it is a small film, but it raises issues of survival.

1. Was this film anything more than a conventional plane story, a minor Airport?

2. Why is this kind of story always potentially interesting?

3. Was the character of the pilot satisfactorily built up in the prologue - hot-headed yet capable, etc.? Was this too hackneyed?

4. Did you get something of the atmosphere of an international airport in the early part of the film? Was this interesting?

5. Were the passengers a 'typical' group? Why?

6. Comment on the types of personalities amongst the passengers? the businessman who walks over everyone, his secretary, mistress, the technical team with the businessman, the black soldier, the rich spoilt woman, the pop singer, the little boy.

7. Was the pilot justified in taking the risk of going through the storm for a little boy's appendicitis? what value, therefore, did the film give to human life?

8. Were the storm scenes, the preparations for crash-landing, the actual impact with the water and the getting ashore exciting? Why? Could you imagine yourself in a similar situation and how you would feel? How responsible does a pilot feel in this situation? The hostesses? Particular passengers?

9. Did the pilot have the right and authority to organise the people on the island? Did he do it well?

10. How was the accident a great leveller of all the passengers? what values are important in such a situation?

11. Is it inevitable that some will rebel? Why? Why did the businessman rebel? Why was the raft venture useless?

12. What did the assault sequence illustrate as regards disorder, lust, fear, blaming others, lynch law and people's fickle attitudes and hatred?


13. What was necessary for such a group to survive and prosper (especially when they heard the search was abandoned)?

14. Why didn't the film show whether they were rescued or not? Why was this unnecessary?