Family Flight (1972 TV Movie) User Reviews

Needs to be released on DVD

[doppleganger19692 · 8/10 · 9 January 2009]

This was one of the "made for TV" films, of which many were fairly banal, but there were a few gems like "The Night Stalker" (which has been released on DVD along with "Birds of Prey"), and this film which deserves a DVD release.

A somewhat dysfunctional family (dad is a Super Type-A, mom drinks, the son feels alienated) heads south in their family single-engine aircraft for a vacation in Mexico. Enroute, engine problems and weather force a landing in the middle of a desert, forcing them to come together for survival. In working towards repairing the plane and returning to the sky, they work through their problems, but then dad - the only licensed pilot - is seriously injured, and the son - who has some flying time logged - has to save the group. The resolution is most gratifying and a thrill to any pilot (yes, you'll have to see it to find out what happens).

Good performances, and a plot that includes some survival tips, no less, rate this film worthy of release. I assume the rights to this, and many of the other made-for-TV films, are in limbo which may make getting them released tricky, but with proper marketing a "Movie of the Week" box set would probably be successful.

Destination nowhere.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 5 November 2021]

It's ironic that black sheep son Kristoffer Tabori chooses this particular time to drop on his parents Rod Taylor and Dina Merrill as they are planning a trip with family friend Janet Margolin by private plane to the destination where their other son was killed, presumably an accident caused by Tabori. Having skedaddled when that tragedy occurred, Tabori is broke and needs his family's financial support. Mom Dina is very happy to see her son, her alcohol problem having increased when he disappeared, affecting her marriage to Taylor, but daddy Rod isn't as thrilled, and the antagonism between them is quite obvious. But they are soon on their way and Margolin, the girlfriend of the late son, tries to become peacemaker. Issues with the equipment causes the small plane to safely crash in the middle of nowhere, and more tensions in the family erupt, everything from mom's going through withdrawal symptoms to dad's unfolding hatred of his son which causes him to physically attack Tabori over a stupid mistake.

The situations of this intense drama aren't really far-fetched no matter how ridiculous they seem, and Merrill in particular is excellent as she deals with her elements of the story as a loving mother with lots of problems who, pushed to face her mortality in a situation without access to liquor. Taylor isn't a complete brute, holding his anger in for as long as he can, yet pompous to his son in a way that many fathers are when they are disappointed. It's easy to see the motivations of these characters and that makes you root for them to get out of this situation unharmed even though one of the characters does have a very serious life-threatening accident.

It's intriguing to see the upper crust Merrill get down and dirty as she pulls a plant out of the ground by its roots to create a way for the plane to find a path to take off again. It certainly didn't look like any stand-in to me, and it showed how the socialite heir to a billion dollar fortune could get down and dirty with everybody else. Why nobody ever cast her and lookalike Constance Towers as sisters is certainly a mystery to me as I would have remade Dina's segment of "The Letters" with Dina in the Barbara Stanwyck role and Constance in Dina's. Look for Ed Begley Jr. In the beginning as Tabori's friend who drops him off.

Fairly Predictable TV Movie Fare, But Some Nice Bonuses Near End

[chris_patx · 7/10 · 29 July 2019]

This is a typical story with isolated son comes back after tragedy that he blames himself for, can't get along with father, and they all end up on a trip together where disaster strikes, forcing them to work together and put the past behind in order to survive.

The redeeming parts are scenes of Navy F-4 Phantoms launching from the USS Ranger and several scenes of the Phantoms flying and aerial shots of Ranger at sea. Since most are more familiar with F-14s on carriers (Top Gun (1986), The Final Countdown (1980)), seeing the old McDonnell F-4 Phantoms is a treat for aircraft buffs.

Still, if you have a Saturday afternoon and are rained in, it passes the time well enough.

Worthy Rod Taylor movie

[safenoe · 7/10 · 26 March 2022]

I remember watching Family Flight back in the 80s I think, with Rod Taylor playing the lead role as a father attempting to rescue his family after a family flight goes wrong. The part at the end is a bit gruesome but the special effects department did reasonably well for a TV movie.

Super

[dwiggins-81162 · 10/10 · 29 October 2018]

I saw this movie as a young boy. I never forgot it. I won't say it made me become a pilot but it sure was exciting. I can't believe the amount of cooperation from the US Navy. Putting a flight of F-4s in the picture was outstanding. Not to mention, letting a stunt pilot make a couple of passes on the USS Ranger. Great movie!!!!