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The High and the Mighty

Play trailer Poster for The High and the Mighty Released Jul 3, 1954 2h 27m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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46% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
On a flight from Hawaii to California, the engine dies on the plane Dan is flying. As he prepares for a crash landing, the passengers reassess their lives. The template for disaster movies with an Oscar-winning score and a cast list that reads like a who's who of 50s film.
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The High and the Mighty

Critics Reviews

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Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Seen today, this lavish aviation drama falls squarely between Stagecoach and Airport, a large ensemble drama about a mechanical crisis on a Honolulu-to-San Francisco flight where every passenger has a story... Feb 3, 2024 Full Review André Bazin L'Obs (France) All of this nullifies any possibility of intellectual depth and is in fact only a foolish privileging of character analysis over any other kind. May 26, 2022 Full Review Francois Truffaut Arts (France) It is perhaps inappropriate to come down too hard on this movie, which has, despite everything, the advantage of being rather well acted, and which is definitely well directed. May 6, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A multi-Oscar nominee in its day, underrated today. Rated: 3.5/4 May 30, 2021 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine There is plenty of tension toward the finish of this widely-read tale...but most of the characters are banal "types," what they say is often uncomfortably corny... Jan 29, 2020 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com A forerunner of the disaster movies, this cliche John Wayne blockbuster could be described as Grand Hotel in the Air. Rated: C+ May 3, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mark B It is interesting from a was this the way flying was. Plan was pretty empty, guy pulls out a pistol and another passenger takes it away and holds it for him. Movie suffers greatly from pacing issues it is 45 minutes too long. You kind of wish they would crash just to shorten the movie. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/01/24 Full Review Emily W Decently acted, lots of action and drama. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/03/23 Full Review Don B About an hour into the movie I was kind of hoping the plane would crash so I wouldn't have to watch the rest. A silly overdrawn movie totally unrealistic with lousy music Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/07/23 Full Review Audience Member I absolutely loved this movie. The way you got to know the backgrounds of all the characters on board the plane, their reactions to the imminent crash they were expecting when the engine failed, their relief as they descended from the plane after the pilot made a successful landing. And the little boy who slept through everything! Well acted, great storyline and a film I could watch all over again … and again and again! 10/10 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review steve d Some good idea's but it never comes together. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A film of and about its time. A great cast! Paul Fix is especially good! John Wayne underplays the part of Dan Roman showing what a really good actor he was. This is a story about people more than a disaster flick. It's wonderfully old fashioned. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The High and the Mighty

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The High and the Mighty

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Movie Info

Synopsis On a flight from Hawaii to California, the engine dies on the plane Dan is flying. As he prepares for a crash landing, the passengers reassess their lives. The template for disaster movies with an Oscar-winning score and a cast list that reads like a who's who of 50s film.
Director
William A. Wellman
Producer
Robert Fellows, John Wayne
Screenwriter
Ernest K. Gann
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 3, 1954, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2011
Runtime
2h 27m
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