THE TAKING OF FLIGHT 847, THE ULI DERICKSON STORY

US, 1988, 100 minutes, Colour.
Lindsay Wagner, Eli Danker, Ray Wise.
Directed by Paul Wendkos.

The Taking of Flight 847, The Uli Derickson Story, is an interesting telemovie. On the surface it seems like any other disaster movies so popular in the '70s and '80s. However, it is based on fact - and takes up the reality of the hijacking of a TWA flight.

The background information is given - the Middle East, Beirut, Athens. The Shiite hijackers are presented with all their fanaticism as well as their inadequacies. Rival Muslim groups are also presented as the plane has to fly from Athens to Beirut to Algiers and back again.

The film does not have a star cast. Lindsay Wagner is very effective as Uli Dereckson. It means then that the audience is not distracted by stars performing as passengers, guest passengers, or guest terrorists. The terrorists are quite persuasive.

The film was directed by Paul Wendkos, veteran director of many action films and telemovies.

1.The impact of the film? International flying? The possibility of hijacks? Terrorist groups? Security? The effect on the passengers and crew, the effect on public opinion, the effect on governments?

2.The atmosphere of Ule’s home contrasting with the airport, the plane, the flight in air. The focus on the interior of the plane? The presentation of Algiers and Beirut airports? Stunts and special effects? Musical score?

3.How well did the film establish the background - television presentations of terrorism, clashes in the Middle East, Muslim-Christian? tensions, Muslims and their anti-American stances? The place of terrorists and hijackers in the '80s? The vulnerability of international flights?

4.Lindsay Wagner's portrait of Uli - at home with her husband, her son? Strong? Her charm in her work? With the other hostesses? Security? Being calm, handling the situation, her humanity? Concern for the passengers and handling them? Interaction with the two hijackers, the bonds between them, the hijacker wanting to save her life, asking her to sing? The proposal of marriage? Her being allowed to go - and asking for the release of the women in Algiers? What more could she have done? Keeping passengers alive? Helping the wounded? At home, with her husband, the tribute to her? The film highlighting how an ordinary citizen can be heroic and can save lives and help negotiations?

5.The presentation of the hijackers - getting on board at Athens, their tension, the head not making the plane? The takeover of the plane? The violence, the emotion, the fanaticism? Speaking Arabic and German? Uli having to translate? The effect on the audience of hearing the foreign languages? The brutality towards the crew? The plan to go back to Beirut, their not fearing death? The brutality with the passports, the interrogations, bashing the American military man - and later shooting him and throwing him to the tarmac? Their uncertainties and fears? Pressurising the crew? In Beirut, talking to the tower, in Algiers? The rival group coming in and collaborating with them? The personal side, reaction to people, the hijacker's story and the US New Jersey shelling his home and killing his family? Justice and revenge? Uli arguing with him about violence solving anything? His tiredness, wanting her to sing? Letting her go? The portrait of terrorists - making them more real, their fanaticism, their anger, their humanity?

6.The presentation of the crew, reaction, training, difficulties, fuel, landing in Beirut without the lights? The obeying of hijackers? The physical brutality suffered? The stewardesses and their concern, helping the passengers?

7.The range of the passengers - ordinary, US, the pregnant woman, the mother with her child, the military men? The Jewish names? Uli having to go through the passports, read out the names? Those who suffered brutality? The man who was killed? The woman who was concerned about the mothers?

8.The media and their coverage of the crisis? The airport officials and their reactions? Political implications?

9.A drama about hijacking, about human response, about causes and responsibilities?