10/24/1977. Monday, 9 pm. 2 hours.

NBC.

Drama.

Code: NTMB 10/1977

PLOT

A plane containing five beauty contest finalists is hijacked by the International Liberation Army; one contestant is actually a secret agent carrying a vial of lethal bacteria.

CREDITS

Writer: George Lefferts.

Director: Robert Michael Lewis.

CAST

Gary Collins as Paul Fabiani

Chuck Connors as Mike O’Toole

Henry Gibson as Rolly Royce

Karen Lamm as Cindy Lou Barrett

Sheree North as Layla Burden

Victoria Principal as Reba Bar Lev

Phil Silvers as Marv Barker

Stella Stevens as Kate Malloy

Rosanne Katon as April Garland

Jonathan Banks as Buck Tiger, hijacker, convicted murderer. Listed 12th of 24.

BAD GUY

Buck is a hijacker, and a murderer. See COMMENTS.

CHARACTER

Buck is mean, crazy, and weird. He shows no emotion when he shoots the co-pilot. Growls and screams when making threats. Enjoys patting down and watching the women; grabs one by the hair. Responds to Reba’s come-on. Does a little dance step when the contestants start their talent show.

COMMENTS

Jonathan Banks describes Buck as "a crazed, drunken kidnapper" (UP87) and says that from this part people saw he could play crazies and bad guys, which he did for a majority of his roles from this point on. Buck has a lot of the JB villain trademarks, the growling and screaming, the crazy giggle, some mouth hanging open business, the sociopathic emotionless killing, the enjoyment of sexual threats, the invasion of other's personal space. There are a lot of good moments for him in this film, including the smoke scene with Reba, Buck’s reactions to the dummy act and Marx Brothers imitation, and the screaming scene in the cockpit. The film may not be great, but it’s easy to see why people were impressed with JB.

COSTUME

JB’s hair is very full and curly for this role, and he’s wearing a vivid orange coverall and a black baseball cap.

CRITICS

"Melodrama... routine... best left to the easily diverted... their plane is commandeered by weirdos Sheree North, Gregory Sierra, and Jonathan Banks." Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times, 10/24/1977, sec.IV, p.16.

DEATH SCENE

Buck is killed in a plane crash

LINES

"We'll do a real interesting search later - I mean, real interesting."

"I got more than a match, baby."

"Now that is a whole lot better for tap-dancing."

"Well, fly-boy, looks like it's just you and me."

"I almost had my hands on a million bucks back there. Well, at least I got myself a good cigar."

SCREEN TIME

About 11 minutes, throughout entire film.

WORKED WITH

Victoria Principal (DTMD 4/1991)