The High And The Mighty (1954)

An airline flight from Honolulu to San Francisco develops engine problems and as it has passed the point of no return, its crew isn't sure if it can make the west coast or if they have to ditch into the sea. The granddaddy of "disaster" pictures! In 2010 eyes, it may seem stocked with cliches and a regurgitated script but this is only because it has been copied, stolen from and parodied since 1954. This was the original, the blueprint for all the Airport movies and all the other airline in peril films that followed it. In most respects, it's even unfair to call it a disaster film since the film (unlike its cinematic spawn) is more interested in its characters and takes its time introducing us to them and giving them the necessary exposition so we get to know them and care about them rather than the shallow stick figures that usually populate the genre. This is probably due to the fact that it was based on a best selling novel by Ernest K. Gann who adapted his novel for the screen. The expert direction is by William Wellman. John Wayne as the aging co-pilot gives one of the very best performances of his career and Jan Sterling and Claire Trevor received well deserved Oscar nominations for best supporting actress. The large cast includes Robert Stack, Laraine Day, Robert Newton, David Brian, Phil Harris, Sidney Blackmer, Paul Kelly, Karen Sharpe, Doe Avedon, William Campbell, John Smith, John Qualen, Regis Toomey, Wally Brown, Joy Kim, Paul Fix, John Howard, Julie Bishop, Ann Doran and Julie Mitchum. The gorgeous Oscar winning score is a high mark in Dimitri Tiomkin's career.