Some more Arthur Hailey, the year of Flight into Danger.
Premise
In the near future, the US president faces a challenge. Russia is threatening war with the US. The President flies over Canada on a peace keeping mission. They come across a Russian plane that is headed towards New York with the aim of blowing it up. The President's plane is the only one that can stop it.
The President orders the plane to set a course for collision with the Russian jet. However the jet receives orders from Moscow to turn around, averting disaster.
Cast
- Bill Yule as Major Hale
- Carl Bleazby as the President
- Keith Lee as Captain Shaw
- Frank Wilson as General Patrick
- Tim Evans as a radio operator
- Mike Dyer as a newcaster
- Jon Ewing
- George Mallaby
Original script
It was written for Canadian TV in 1957 on the show Encounter. A copy of the play is here.
The ABC showed the Canadian broadcast in 1957.
My thoughts on the script. Outlandish premise - talk about high concept - made workable by Hailey's research, all the technical stuff about planes felt real. (He was a pilot.) Characters are cyphers - the president is decent, the pilots brave. It could've done with more complexity like the President's wife on board or a nasty vice president at home. And they are saved by a deux ex machina. But quite exciting - the boldness of its premise works wonders.
Other adaptations
It was filmed for US TV in 1958. The BBC filmed it in 1962.
Production
It was shot in Melbourne. Oscar Whitbread directed. The second Arthur Hailey adaptation after Flight into Danger.
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| SMH 3 April 1967 TV Guide |
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| The Age TV Guide 24 Nov 1966 |
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| The Age 30 Nov 1966 p 16 |
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| Vic TV Times 30 Nov 1996 |
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