Crash Landing (1958)

A poverty row version of THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY courtesy of quickie producer Sam Katzman who brought us ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU and TWIST AROUND THE CLOCK. After two propellers fail, an airline flying from Lisbon to New York prepares to make a crash landing into the Atlantic ocean but not before crew and passengers reflect on their lives. The film is full of bad actors spouting off even worse dialogue. Unlike its superior brethren like AIRPORT and HIGH AND THE MIGHTY, we couldn't care less about these nonentities played by uncharismatic actors. As the plane's pilot, Gary Merrill (ALL ABOUT EVE) plays the role so crankily that we're never quite sure if it's the character or Merrill realizes the mediocrity of the project. With Nancy Davis (aka Nancy Reagan) in her final movie role, Irene Hervey and Roger Smith and a bunch of people you never heard of.