Crash (1978)

There were two different tv films made in 1978 about the crash of the L-1011 Jet Flight 401 in December 1972 where almost 100 people died. In the Ghost of Flight 401 with Ernest Borgnine, they explored the supernatural aspect of this tragedy where the ghosts of Robert Loft and Don Repo were seen on other planes that had parts taken from the wreckage. John G. Fuller wrote a very interesting book on the subject. It doesn't matter if you believe in ghosts or not, it still made for a wonderful book and a fine movie. Its astounding to me that this terrible tragedy took place because of a three cent light bulb burning out. When Flight 401 was making its final approach to Miami, they started to put the landing gear down, but the light that signalled this wasn't working for some reason. Captain Loft send Flight Engineer Repo and another man into the cargo hold of the plane to examine the landing gear. During this time, he put the plane on automatic pilot while they were dealing with this crisis. It is believed that Loft or the co-pilot Burt Stockstill bumped the automatic pilot and turned it off. The plane began a very steep dive into the swamp that they did not detect until it was too late! Far too late! Crash has a very impressive cast, everyone from Eddie Albert as the pilot to Sharon Gless (before she was on Cagney and Lacey) to Adrienne Barbeau to Lorraine Gary. Its like one of those Airport movies they made where they introduce you to the characters, set the scene and then create the disaster and then you get to see who lives and who dies! Considering the fact that this film was made a quarter century ago when special effects weren't what they are today, the part when they re-enact the crash of the plane is very realistic and very chilling. You feel like you are on the plane experiencing the whole damn thing! William Shatner portrays the crash "detective" who tries to solve the mystery. Shatner was never one of my favorites, he has an overwhelming ego that you can see a mile off! I cannot believe he got so far on so little! However, this film has enough positive points to recommend it.