It is a performances centric movie

hyped garbage

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

If you know the TV industry from the seventies, you will notice that movie is very similar to another one also directed by Bill Graham, a film called BIRDS OF PREY, from 1973, starring David Janssen, as a vet pilot who chased bank robbers also chopper pilots. This is a very same topic, with also exciting helicopter chase sequences; But Robert Boris ALSO wrote the 1973 movie, maybe this explains that...I will prefer of course the DJ movie, from the seventies, far darker and more gloomy than this one, made during the Ronnie Reagan's post Vietnam era, when American values had to be optimistic with Wall Street reign and also the producers one too. But this one remains a very effective, action packed TV feature.

This is a trashy (I mean really embarrassingly bad) made-for-TV movie but if you enjoy "for real" helicopter stunt flying (there's no CGI used here),then you'll like this! I don't think they'd get away with this type of flying nowadays, even in Mexico! Aircraft:- Hughes 500 (Model 369HS) , Aerospatiale Alouette IIs, Aerospatiale Gazelle, Bell Jetranger and two Stearman, one by the legendary Art Scoll.Sadly three people died making this film when the Hughes Model​ 500 (369HS)flown by Hagman's character ​"Sam" ​crashed when the pilot collided with a cable on 17th April 1982. ​One was Glen Miller, ​the​ real owner of Sam's Hughes 500 (who played the truck driver Pocotello Pete), Diane Doherty, and the costumer Frank Novak. HUGHES:369HS REGISTRATION:N4EE THE AIRCRAFT WAS NUMBER TWO IN A TRAIL OF THREE HELICOPTERS FLYING UP THE Colorado RIVER AT MARBLE CANYON TO PAGE, AZ WHEN IT STRUCK AN AERIAL CABLEWAY STRETCHING ACROSS THE RIVER, 22 FT ABOVE THE WATER. WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER THE COLLISION THE HELICOPTER DID A SOMERSALT AND FELL INTO THE WATER. Source: NTSBLarry Kirsch, the fabulous stunt pilot, was killed in 2011 while flying in Hawaii.

I have only seen the movie once - but boy it has always stuck! I am a helicopter pilot firstly and secondly a fixed wing pilot. The flying sequences in this movie, are just absolutely stunning and well executed. I salute the pilots who performed these awesome stunts and flying! If you are an airplane nut or rotorhead, you will enjoy this movie - guaranteed! I have not seen any other movie that equals this in flying action. The only other movie that comes to mind is Blue Max, but that is all about bi-planes in WW1, never the less that movie also had some stunning flying sequences. I wish for the movie to be released on DVD, I bet it makes a comeback!!! I buy one for each of my fly-buddies...

I've seen this movie many many times, since I was a little boy. My dad is a helicopter pilot and he taped this movie on new year's eve, so he could see in the other day. Awesome, because I don't see any DVDs available so far. With it's storyline shifting between the US and Mexico, Sam Hooten (Larry Hagman) pilots a Hughes 500 series helicopter. He an ex-army pilot who now flies on his own. The story is pretty simple: Sam must protect an old girlfriend (Chris Butler, played by Susan Anspach) - who married a rich gangster - from other gangsters, flying her from USA to Mexico City. The great thing about this movie is the helicopter scenes; with amazing maneuvers and a lot of dogfighting. The movie gets to it's climax when Sam and Chris find themselves trapped by the gangsters and call Sam's old army buddies for help. This movie is worth watching because of the helicopters and planes. A real good classic.