AIRPORT '77 is my favourite yet of the series, a real step up from the slightly turgid antics of the first two instalments. This one ups the drama and the suspense considerably and tells a classic disaster story in which the action is always focused on the disaster itself, as it should be. A series of unfortunate events leads to a prototype passenger plane crashing and sinking to the ocean floor, where a bunch of survivors subsequently hold out for hopes of rescue as their air supply gradually runs out and the water gradually finds a way in. As usual, an ensemble cast of performers helps things immeasurably, with Jack Lemmon proving himself in a serious role for once and even Christopher Lee appearing as a good guy for a change. Lee Grant plays her most hissably evil character yet while others such as Joseph Cotten and Darren McGavin really shine too. The film sounds cheesy on paper but is surprisingly taut and realistic on screen, and there are few dodgy effects to spoil things either. Great fun!
Review of Airport '77
