Customer Reviews

Murder on Flight 502

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This review is dedicated to Farrah Fawcett.

I will begin by saying that that the media shoud be ASHAMED of itself for virtually ignoring the death of Farrah Fawcett. Farrah Fawcett was a wonderful human being.

That said, this is a great 70s horror. Everything starts peaceful and nice, and even a bit comical as different characters board a flight to England.

Within a few minutes a smoke bomb is uncovered at the airport. (We later see that despite the possible dangerous consequences, the person only meant it as a joke and didn't want anyone to be hurt or too scared for that matter.) However, because of this, an airport security man finds a letter he wasn't suppose to find until the next day. (This letter states that he is plotting to murder more than one person on the plane.) GREAT SUSPENSE!

Robert Stack gets major kudos as the pilot who must keep his cool with the flying of course, and simultaneously figure out what to do. Farrah Fawcett also gets major kudos as the Stewardess who does her normal duties but may know more than she is letting on to.

It's hard to write much without ruining the movie. But we have several suspects. We have a doctor (Ralph Bellamy) who has been threatened by a man on flight. He feels his wife died because Dr. (Ralph Bellamy) couldn't be contacted or found. We have a man who feels the death of his daughter had something to do with Sonny Bonno.

Robert Stack finds himself in a realistic situation. His superiors seem to find out more about certain parties AFTER an incident has taken place, but they can't seem to do it before an incident. This of course frustrates the Robert Stack character, but it offers us (the audience) some comic relief.

Overall, it's a great movie with a nice normal start, meance, suspense, some badly needed comic relief, and a twist ending that I won't give away.

One note worth mentioning is that Robert Stack finds himself in a situation that happens quite often. Often when you uncover a crime, there were other branches involved. But often one has to 'let the branches go' for the sake of dealing with the worst threat. Also to Robert Stack's credit is that his character knows that with his authority comes the responsibility to NOT ABUSE IT or play God with it. His character knows that his authority is for the sake of people's lives and well being.

Overall, it's a great 70s horror movie as well as a nice tribute to the wonderful Farrah Fawcett who lived her life with dignity even when she had cancer.

I have read several plot analysis written by the "pros" and they seem to be all wrong. There is no terrorist on the plane. The story is about a letter that is found in the first class airport lounge after an international flight has taken off. The letter states that there will be murders before the flight lands. The best part is the "WHO IS THE KILLER" set-up. Farrah is in one of her first roles and just as lovely as ever. Adam Brooks talent was not shown enough.

It's amazing to me what some people will say about movies and most of it doesn't make sense. I bought this movie because it had a very beautiful woman who 4 years later land a usage role in a classic TV show. Robert Stack plays the role of Captain Larkin, Hugh O'Brien plays the role of Detective Daniel Myerson, and the beautiful young women was Farrah Fawcett majors who played the role of Karen White. This was your typical airplane movie where it took about 15 minutes or more to set up everybody roles that would occur on the flight 502. After the jumbo jet takes off Captain Larkin gets a radio call from security in New York City. First, a box was found in the first class section that security thought it was a bomb that turned out to be a smoking jack in the box. Next security finds a note in the lounge with an ominous message left by a passenger threatening to kill some of the passengers. At first, it is thought to be a sick joke, but soon a man posing as a priest and a flight attendant are killed. It is up to the captain to find the killer before the body count increases. All and all the weasel gives this movie 8 star. As far as Farrah Fawcett Majors goes, she did a great job at being the flight attendant in charge.

So barks iron-jawed Robert Stack at the end of this draining flight. This movie is almost more than a body can handle. Flight 502 leaves New York for London on a routine flight, routine that is until a letter shows up in the first class lounge. There will be murders on this flight.

But who is the killer? Who will be the victims? And why? Could it be the priest who wears fingernail polish? The Davy Partridge look-alike kid who likes to play with smoke bombs? The has been rock star? The bank robber? The mystery novelist? The doctor? Or could it be the lovely stewardess played by Farrah Fawcett-Majors?

I cannot give the ending away because it will blow your mind. Even Agatha Christie could not com eup with a plot with so many twists and turns. But I'll give you a hint. When the second stewardess spills her suitcase, look at the contents VERY carefully.

it was a good movie to watch with a lot of action and watch it again

This is a good TV movie mystery. Sometimes it's just fun to watch a good mystery. Terrorists? I didn't see any. But I do have to comment on some knocks to this film's cast.
I read in a previous review about Had Beens and Almost Weres? Obviously someone under 25.
Ralph Bellamy and Walter Pidgeon are character actors with many years of expertise and are/were excellent actors, not "Had Beens". The same reviewer's "Almost Were" Fernanado Lamas was a sex symbol star a couple generations ago and is a veteran actor with a great deal of talent. The other Almost was, Polly Bergan, who co-starred in Cape Fear with Gregory Peck, is a veteran actor with many films under her belt and a former cosmetics executive as well. Sonny Bono was pretty good at several things before his untimely death, one of them being mayor of Palm Springs. Danny Bonoduce is just Danny Bonoduce, I'll leave it at that.

So what is the requirement to be a "worthy actor"? Not to do TV movies? Then an awful lot of very skilled actors and former big stars are in trouble.
This film is an enjoyable mystery with a wonderful, talented and experienced cast. No more, no less.

The product arrived in a well packed package. The product was like new condition. Delivered was with in the forecast arrival time.

Okay, you know the drill - there's a killer on board the plane, a controller is sweating over the microphone and scouring the city for a psychologist, the plane teems with the suspicious.
MURDER ON FLIGHT 502 is cheesy fun. It owes its existence to the popularity of real movies like AIRPORT and THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE. Like those predecessors, this made-for-television movie (1975) is chock full of familiar faced guest stars. Small screen stalwarts like Hugh O'Brien and Robert Stack, had-beens like Walter Pidgeon and Ralph Bellamy, almost-weres like Fernando Lamas and Polly Bergen, annoying gadflies like Sonny Bono and Danny Bonaduce. Directed by George McCowan, who went on to direct television's "Fantasy Island," which ought to be all the warning you need.
Don't expect too much and you shouldn't be disappointed. I was either lucky or this movie was very transparent - I figured out who the killer was before the end of the first act. Pleasant in polyester.

Good movie with many popular actors from years ago. I believe Farrah was the youngest. I have to watch it again with no interruptions to give you a good review on this movie.