One disaster after another happens on this trans-Pacific flight. You have the pilot who loses his nerve! The washed-up co-pilot. The milquetoast flight engineer. The young hot shot second officer. And a cabin full of passengers with every range of problems and personalities there could possibly be. Here you have the Duke in a role he didn't want, and a movie with the title song that became Duke's theme. What else could any John Wayne fan want? It's all here, and then some.
The High and the Mighty was one of the first (and most profitable) entries in the "terror in the sky" genre. Everyone aboard has so much personal baggage, it's amazing the plane can even get off the ground. Still I found these oddball character studies Wonderfully entertaining.
The High and the Mighty is a weird film. I like it . I never can get enough of John Wayne and he is good here. This film has more than enough fine moments generated by a cast of familiar faces to keep me interest.