Horror at 37,000 Feet

Another classic from the Golden Age of Made-For-TV movies! With a cast that includes Chuck Connors, William Shatner, Tammy Grimes, Russell Johnson, Buddy Ebsen, France Nuyen and Paul Winfield, you know your in for something interesting.

Starts out kind of like a Love Boat episode, but without the boat or the love. We meet the various characters as they board, and see the mysterious large container loaded on.

In a mostly empty "extra" flight, the crew and passangers of a London-to-New York jet find that they are sharing the flight with THE OLD ONES. Seems an architect (Thinnes) has brought aboard some relics from an old abbey that include an ancient Druid sacrificial stone.

After take-off, various awful things happen, and the plane is suspended in mid-air, unable to move. The lower deck starts to freeze and jibbering voices are heard.

No, Chuck didn't just find out that the in-flight movie was NATCHO LIBRE...

"...you see Gilligan, The Old Ones were a race of dark gods..."










The panicking passangers are enlightened to the situation by Tammy Grimes (who was against the relics leaving England) and former-priest-who-lost-his-faith William Shatner -- It's the summer solstice, and if they can get through to the next sunrise, they'll be safe from The Old Ones.

Some get together and offer a "sacrifice" --- a doll all made up with some human hair and blood -









That doesn't work out too well...















As things are looking grim, Bill sets out, torch in hand to confront the mysterious forces











Before he can get too far, the sun begins to break over the horizon, but Bill continues on into the hold of the plane, because he "...has to see"












Seeing this as a kid back in the early 70s, I found it to be quite frightening. I still find it is very effective, with some very creepy moments!