This political mystery thriller involves as the title says, the President's plane is lost from radar and the mystery begins. In the same tone and ambiance of Seven Days in May (1964) about a military coup of the American government or Fail Safe (1964) that came out the same year about a B-52 nuclear armed bomber appearing to be going towards Russia, The President's Plane is Missing doesn't quite have the intensity and machinations of those movies, yet its more slow-paced, long on narrative and less on action in some ways reflects a more deliberate and believable storyline that even excels over relatively more recent political thrillers such as Clear and Present Danger (1994). Somewhat dated now this movie still offers a strong dose of theater that upon further consideration is a solid, if not spectacular, solid mystery as a similar vein as Fate is the Hunter (1964) about a mystery involving the crash of a commercial airliner.
6 Reviews
Excellent cast, good filming, unfortunate oversights in plot
electric-la2316 December 2019
The film turns on whether or not the President of the United States is, in fact, dead or simply missing. A number of excellent performances including by Arthur Kennedy and Peter Graves. Some filming was done in DC and shows well - other filming was done in LA and this unfortunately is quite apparent. This is a serious film and merits the attention of a more attentive audience as it involves clues and procedures. That makes it all the more disappointing that the procedure by which the Vice President becomes Acting President afforded by the 25th Amendment is not mentioned. Instead, there is no reference to any Constitutional mechanism and even talk of the Chief Justice being summoned should the the Vice President elect to swear himself in to office (!). This amateurish, inexcusable oversight ruins what is otherwise a solid plot carefully and faithfully executed in the filming and performances. It is particularly hard to accept given that filming occurred in 1970-1971, just 3 years after the 25th Amendment dealing with exactly this topic was ratified. That Amendment itself came into force at the time it did in large part due to the assassination of President Kennedy and the swearing into office at Love Field of President Johnson in 1963 - a historic and tragic event that ought to have been on the minds of the script writers. Because the film asks us to take it very seriously and doesn't, in return, provide a Constitutionally-accurate plot with at least a mention of the then-new 25th Amendment, it does not fully succeed in its aspirations as a thriller. Fortunately, (mostly) good acting helps keep the suspense alive. Other quibbles are the fake, semi-British Hollywood accents affected by Rip Torn (whose performance is otherwise bang-on) and Louise Sorel (who unfortunately plays a damsel in semi-distress with a case of the nerves rather than the competent lone female reporter in a man's world that would have been much more credible for the setting). Mercedes McCambridge is denied a larger role which is unfortunate given the strength of her very limited appearances.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia entry cites a source as listing this film as having been released a 'period piece' ( meaning that it was released 2 years after having been filmed, and thus was dated ) - it is amazing how, in 2019, we would not consider, from a technological point of view, at least, something from 2017 to be so dated as to be considered a period piece, such was the pace of change in fashion, music and automotive styles at the time. Interestingly, the plot does mimic Nixon's subsequent-to-filming trip to China in 1972 in which the U.S. played China and Russia off of each other.
A worthwhile film for anyone interested in the era, whether the politics, the contemporary technology/automotive advancement of the day or just the great cast assembled.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia entry cites a source as listing this film as having been released a 'period piece' ( meaning that it was released 2 years after having been filmed, and thus was dated ) - it is amazing how, in 2019, we would not consider, from a technological point of view, at least, something from 2017 to be so dated as to be considered a period piece, such was the pace of change in fashion, music and automotive styles at the time. Interestingly, the plot does mimic Nixon's subsequent-to-filming trip to China in 1972 in which the U.S. played China and Russia off of each other.
A worthwhile film for anyone interested in the era, whether the politics, the contemporary technology/automotive advancement of the day or just the great cast assembled.
Quite the time capsule
mls418219 March 2023
This was probably a novel and a top tier 1973 TV movie. 50 years later it doesn't hold up. It just doesn't have the punch to keep up any suspense or momentum. The film just drags and drags. It seems longer than 90 minutes.
The film has a top notch catch of movie and TV veterans. There are so many most have little to do.
I think this film tries to be a Seven Days in May or political conspiracy film but it fails on that note. Unfortunately, it also fails on a cheap exploitative suspense level as well.
It is still worth watching just for it being such a time capsule of the early 1970s culture.
The film has a top notch catch of movie and TV veterans. There are so many most have little to do.
I think this film tries to be a Seven Days in May or political conspiracy film but it fails on that note. Unfortunately, it also fails on a cheap exploitative suspense level as well.
It is still worth watching just for it being such a time capsule of the early 1970s culture.
Post-Kennedy era. No Nixon. No Watergate.
mark.waltz10 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
When the president of the United States (Tod Andrews) disappears (and Air Force One crashed), vice president Buddy Ebsen (yep, Jed in politics!) prepares to take over for a possible war declaration from China as the scandal explodes and government is in danger of falling apart. You've got an all star cast of movie and TV legends acting as if there was no Vietnam, no political election break-ins, and lots of what it's in a fun but extremely convoluted story.
Raymond Massey, who once played President Abraham Lincoln, is now a fictional secretary of state, at conflict with Ebsen who has been badgered by wife Mercedes McCambridge to make oval office decisions, while members of the government, secret service and press start their own plotting. There's about two dozen major parts here, and the TV guide of this week should have provided a pullout guide as to who is who.
Major players include Peter Graves, Arthur Kennedy, Louise Sorel and Rip Torn, with a few younger actors unrecognizable until they open their mouths (like Dabney Coleman), and the result is a political soap opera that makes the Watergate scandal seem like a leaky hotel fawcett. In spite of so much going in, it's fun, but certainly no "Manchurian Candidate" or "Seven Days in May". I found the real irony to be what would occur in the real government over the next year because it stirred wheels of history class memories in my brain as to the endless possibilities of what other leaders could have done during this turbulent time, making this a good unintentional comedy.
Raymond Massey, who once played President Abraham Lincoln, is now a fictional secretary of state, at conflict with Ebsen who has been badgered by wife Mercedes McCambridge to make oval office decisions, while members of the government, secret service and press start their own plotting. There's about two dozen major parts here, and the TV guide of this week should have provided a pullout guide as to who is who.
Major players include Peter Graves, Arthur Kennedy, Louise Sorel and Rip Torn, with a few younger actors unrecognizable until they open their mouths (like Dabney Coleman), and the result is a political soap opera that makes the Watergate scandal seem like a leaky hotel fawcett. In spite of so much going in, it's fun, but certainly no "Manchurian Candidate" or "Seven Days in May". I found the real irony to be what would occur in the real government over the next year because it stirred wheels of history class memories in my brain as to the endless possibilities of what other leaders could have done during this turbulent time, making this a good unintentional comedy.
well-done adaptation of Serling book ...
yortsnave10 August 2000
I saw this on TV back in the 1970s, and again on video in the 1990s. It is a well-done political/mystery movie, a pleasant evening's diversion. The cast and plot are solid. I read Robert J. Serling's novel recently; the movie holds up well against the book.
The President appears to be dead....and the timing couldn't be any worse.
planktonrules25 October 2016
This installment of "The ABC Movie of the Week" is based on a novel by Robert J. Serling. When it begins, the President is headed out on Airforce One when the unthinkable happens...the plane disappears and it appears as if it's crashed. The Vice President (Buddy Ebsen) has been told and it's likely he's now the President! The worst part about this is that this Vice President may be called on to deal with a huge Chinese crisis...and it will take a very strong and decisive person to deal with the escalating problem. But, when they are unable to find the President's body in the wreckage, things get really confusing!
As far as the cast goes, this one is a bit more star-studded than usual for a made for a TV movie. Apart from Ebsen, Peter Graves, Arthur Kennedy, Raymond Massey, Mercedes McCambridge and Rip Torn star in this one. Because of this and because it's a really interesting story, this installment of "The ABC Movie of the Week" is a standout...well worth seeing and very well made. And, if you'd like to see it, many of the movies from this series (including this one) are available to watch on YouTube.
As far as the cast goes, this one is a bit more star-studded than usual for a made for a TV movie. Apart from Ebsen, Peter Graves, Arthur Kennedy, Raymond Massey, Mercedes McCambridge and Rip Torn star in this one. Because of this and because it's a really interesting story, this installment of "The ABC Movie of the Week" is a standout...well worth seeing and very well made. And, if you'd like to see it, many of the movies from this series (including this one) are available to watch on YouTube.
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