Free Fall (1999 film)

Free Fall

Theatrical poster
Directed by Mario Azzopardi
Produced by Gavin Mitchell
Written by Story: Mark Homer
Screenplay:
Jim Wheat
Ken Wheat
Starring Jaclyn Smith
Bruce Boxleitner
Scott Wentworth
Hannes Jaenicke
Hayden Christensen
Music by Ian Christian Nickus
Cinematography Rhett Morita
Edited by Mike Lee
Production
company
Falling Productions Inc
Orly Adelson Productions
Distributed by Fox Family Channel
Release dates
 January 17, 1999
Running time
 89 minutes
Country United States
Canada
Language English

Free Fall is a 1999 American/Canadian made-for-television action / drama film directed by Mario Azzopardi, based on a story by Mark Homer, and screenplay by Ken Wheat and Jim Wheat. The film stars Jaclyn Smith, Bruce Boxleitner, Scott Wentworth, Hannes Jaenicke and Hayden Christensen. The film documents an unusual series of crashes that involves sabotaged airliners.[1][2][N 1]

Plot

After Trans Regional Airlines is hit by a series of mysterious aircraft crashes, National Transportation Safety Board safety expert Renee Brennan (Jaclyn Smith) calls for the grounding of the airline's aircraft, despite opposition from the CEO of the airline, Richard Pierce (Chad Everett). Her plans are thwarted by current boyfriend Mark Ettinger (Bruce Boxleitner), a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who repeatedly countermands her orders. At the latest crash scene, Renee receives a call from a "fan" who appreciates her work and asks if she appreciates his. She then realizes that the crashes are the work of a madman.

After Mark is himself killed in a crash, Renee and FBI agent Scott Wallace (Scott Wentworth) track down the saboteur, Michael Ives (Hannes Jaenicke), a former pilot seeking revenge against the airline. The pair are themselves caught in a trap the killer set for them at 33,000 feet.

Cast
  • Philip Craig as Captain Markham
  • Rod Wilson as Captain Meyers
  • Paul Hubbard as Co-Pilot
  • Anne Ross as Stewardess Janet Reardon
  • Lori Hallier as Stewardess Kelly Mason
  • Kate Trotter as Widow
  • Brett Porter as Hutchings
  • Maria Syrgiannis as Karen Ives
  • Kirk Dunn as Flight Controller Dawson
  • Peter Van Wart as Frank Greene

Production

Although the caption indicates "National Airport Washington, DC", the scene is actually Toronto Pearson’s old Terminal 1.[4]

Free Fall was filmed by Falling Productions Inc on locations in Toronto, Ontario, at Toronto Pearson International Airport’s old Terminal 1 and in Uxbridge, Ontario. The use of stock footage of airliners is evident. The crash scenes including the first crash is edited from Fearless (1993), while scenes from Miracle Landing (1990) are also used. The primary aircraft flown by "Trans Regional Airlines" is an Airbus A320, although the shots of cockpits and interiors are from other aircraft. Other aircraft that are seen include a Learjet 35, Boeing 737 and Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.[4]

The film was distributed by Fox Family Channel and first released in the US on January 17, 1999, with 1999 releases in Italy as Freefall - Panico ad alta quota and in Germany as Angst über den Wolken.[5] The film had its video premiere in Spain in 2000, followed by video releases in France as Crashs en série, Germany as Freefall: Todesflug 1301,[6] Japan, and New Zealand. It had its television premiere in Sweden on February 19, 2007.

Reception

Free Fall was considered a typical "made-for-television" production, and received decidedly mixed reviews. Film reviewer Hal Erickson simply called the film, "Made for cable."[7] Film reviewer Sergio Ortego said Free Fall "deserves no more than 3 out of 10." He further commented: "This film was indeed very poorly made ... a complete flop, with ridiculous special effects, bad acting, terrible one-liner dialogs, and nearly impossible plotlines, or shall I say, plotholes."[4]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ The film was loosely based on Airframe (1996) by Michael Chrichton.[3]

Citations

  1. ↑ Oster et al. 1995, p. 7.
  2. ↑ "Angst über den Wolken" (in German). Prisma (prisma-online.de). Retrieved: July 18, 2010.
  3. ↑ Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher. "A thriller not to carry on your next plane trip". The New York Times, December 5, 1996.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ortega. Sergio. "Free Fall (Movie review)." airodyssey.net, August 6, 2005. Retrieved: September 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Angst über den Wolken" (in German)" Zelluloid (zelluloid.de). Retrieved: July 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Freefall - Todesflug 1301" (in German). New-Video (new-video.de). Retrieved: July 17, 2010.
  7. ↑ Erickson, Hal. "Free Fall". AMG AllMovie Guide. Retrieved: September 28, 2014.

Bibliography

  • Oster, Clinton V., C. Kurt Zorn and John S. Strong. Why Airplanes Crash: Aviation Safety in a Changing World. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-19507-223-5.

External links