10 Stars.
Veteran director and actor Robert Douglas did his job here, and with a fairly good size cast in a rather claustrophobic situation. Douglas directed many episodes for the F. B. I., and this one has a similar feel.
Lucky Jeff has the prime assignment of personally escorting an heiress (played by Susan Seaforth Hayes) back to Hollywood where daddy is waiting!
True, Jeff is going to be well paid for this trip --but who else is on the plane with him? Some very interesting characters keep him company, and with a Communist slant. Among them a Latin American general and the plan to hijack the plane, more than likely to Cuba!
The stellar cast is spot on, lead by six foot four Philip Carey as Captain Shore, Joe De Santis as General Guiterrez, also popular tv actors William Schallert (DOBIE GILLIS and PATTY DUKE SHOW), and Stacy Harris from DRAGNET.
Singer and actress Gale Garnett plays Veilia. Best known for her hit song, "We'll Sing in the Sunshine."
There's also a soap opera connection here as Hayes appeared in both DAYS OF OUR LIVES and the YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and Carey co-starred in ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Solid writing on the part of Paul Savage, long associated with GUNSMOKE.
Only one production mistake; when the plane door is open while in flight (toward the end) those by the door would have been sucked right outside, if not half the passengers! Common mistake in many plane stories, but makes for a lively scene.
Still exciting, and with a bumpy ride during a storm.
SEASON 4 EPISODE 35 remastered WB box set.