Turbulence in First Class... Murder on Flight 502 (1975)

Ah, the 1970s. An era when you could barely move for all-star disaster epics, and even the television networks wanted a piece of the "jumbo jet in peril" pie. Produced by the legendary Aaron Spelling, Murder on Flight 502 is less of a high-altitude thriller and more of a cozy, if slightly blood-stained, whodunit that feels like a dry run for the disaster movie parodies that would follow a few years later.

 

The premise is pure pulp: a 747 departs New York for London, only for a mysterious note to be discovered in the airport lounge warning that a series of murders will occur before the plane touches down at Heathrow. It’s the kind of high-concept hook that Spelling excelled at, even if the budget here clearly didn't extend much further than a few sets of vintage TWA uniforms and a very crowded first-class cabin.

 

The cast is a real "who’s who" of the era’s small-screen royalty:

 

Robert Stack is the ultimate authority figure as Captain Larkin. It’s impossible to watch him here without seeing the blueprint for his role in Airplane!—his delivery is so stiff and serious it almost circles back around to being hilarious. 

 

 

Farrah Fawcett-Majors pops up as a stewardess just before she became a household name. She’s charming enough, though the script gives her a rather peculiar secret that pays off in a late-film twist.

 

Sonny Bono and Danny Bonaduce provide the character "flavor," with Bono in particular proving he was always a more capable actor than people gave him credit for.

 

The film suffers from a bit of "TV movie pacing"—it takes nearly an hour for the actual killing to start—but when it does, the mystery is handled with a certain level of Agatha Christie-style charm. There are red herrings galore, including a "priest" who isn't what he seems and a detective with a very personal vendetta.

 

 

I got you babe... (maybe)

 

Dusty Verdict: It’s a keeper for those who miss the days of the "Movie of the Week." It won't win any awards for suspense, but for a rainy Sunday afternoon, it’s a lovely bit of nostalgic fluff. Watch it for the incredible 70s decor, the glamorous cast, and the joy of seeing Robert Stack treat a smoke bomb like a national emergency.

 

The film is often found on YouTube or budget DVD collections; worth it for the fashion crimes alone!

 

 

 

"Surely you could see this coming?" "Yes and don't call me Shirley..."