The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story

The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story (also known as The Flight[1]) is a 1988 American made-for-television drama film based on the actual hijacking of TWA Flight 847 as seen through the eyes of flight purser Uli Derickson, the chief flight attendant.[2] Derickson herself acted as a consultant for the film. The film was directed by Paul Wendkos and showcases the first 48 hours of the hijacking until Derickson's liberation.[3]

The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story
Original print ad
Also known asThe Flight (home video release, DVD and Blu-Ray reissue)
GenreDrama
Written byNorman Morrill
Directed byPaul Wendkos
StarringLindsay Wagner
Eli Danker
Sandy McPeak
Music byGil Mellé
Demis Roussos
Country of originUnited States
Original languagesEnglish, Arabic, German
Production
Executive producersJim Calio
David Hume Kennerly
ProducerJay Benson
Production locationsWarner Brothers Burbank Studio, California
CinematographyChuck Arnold
EditorJames Galloway
Running time100 minutes
Production companyColumbia TriStar Television
DistributorNBC
Release
Original networkNBC
Picture formatColor
Audio formatMono
Original releaseMay 2, 1988 (1988-05-02)

Synopsis

Passengers gather at Ellinikon International Airport to board TWA 847, which has just arrived from Cairo for its continuing flight to Rome's Fiumicino Airport. After the aircraft leaves Athens, two passengers, "Castro" and Saiid, brandish pistols and hand grenades and take over the plane. After forcing Derickson at gunpoint to the flight deck door, the two hijackers force the pilot to fly to Beirut and Algiers. After discovering that the two hijackers spoke less English but fluent German, Derickson is able to defuse the situation by acting as a translator[4] and singing a folk song.[5] She convinces them to release hostages upon landing in Beirut and Algiers and pleading for the other hijacker to stop harming the passengers. Her efforts are shown to save the lives of all but one hostage, US Navy diver Robert Stethem, whose body was thrown on the tarmac in Beirut.

Cast

Releases

The film was released on television on May 2, 1988. It was later released on home video under an alternate title, "The Flight". The same alternate title was used for DVD and Blu-Ray reissues.

Nominations

In 1988, at the 40th Primetime Emmy Awards, the film received five Emmy nominations: for Outstanding Television Movie;[6] Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special;[7] Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic); Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie; and David Yewdall[8] for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special.[9]

References
  1. López, Daniel (1993). Films by genre: 775 categories, styles, trends, and movements defined, with a filmography for each. McFarland & Co. – via Google Books.
  2. Kamalipour, Yahya R. (1997). The U.S. Media and the Middle East: Image and Perception. Greenwood Publishing Group – via Google Books.
  3. "The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  4. Pearl, Jonathan; Pearl, Judith (1999). The Chosen Image: Television's Portrayal of Jewish Themes and Characters. McFarland – via Google Books.
  5. Cabot, Meg (2008). The Princess Diaries: Give Me Five. Pan Macmillan – via Google Books.
  6. "CBS's 48 Hours Presents 'The Spymasters – CIA in the Crosshairs' Tonight". BroadwayWorld.com.
  7. Roberts, Jerry (5 June 2009). "Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors". Scarecrow Press – via Google Books.
  8. Pedersen, Erik (6 July 2017). "David Yewdall Dies: 'The Fifth Element' & 'The Thing' Sound Editor Was 66".
  9. "Nominees/Winners". Television Academy.
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