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'{{Infobox film | name = The Pilot | image = The Pilot 1980 poster.jpg | image_size = 220 | caption = 1980 Theatrical Poster | director = [[Cliff Robertson]] | producer = | writer = [[Robert P. Davis]] | narrator = | starring = [[Cliff Robertson]]<br>[[Diane Baker]] | music = [[John Addison]] | cinematography = [[Walter Lassally]] | editing = | distributor = [[Summit Entertainment|Summit Films]] | released = {{Film date|1980}} | runtime = | country = United States | language = English | budget = }} '''''The Pilot''''' (also known as '''''Danger in the Skies''''') is a 1980 American [[action film|action]]-[[drama (film and television)|drama film]] by director and star [[Cliff Robertson]] and is based on the novel of the same name by [[Robert P. Davis]]. ==Plot summary== Mike Hagan is an airline pilot of nineteen years experience. He started off in the open cockpit as a crop duster. A cool, capable aviator he is being considered by his airline for its pilot of the year award. However, this façade conceals a troubled man with a failing marriage who is an alcoholic. The film opens as he awakens hungover and begins the day with a stiff drink and an argument with his shrewish wife. The only bright spots in his life are his loving relationship with his daughter Cricket and his girlfriend Pat. Hagan's skill at the controls is shown when he guides his plane through turbulence that almost causes another airliner to crash. However, a stewardess and Hagan's co-pilot begin to suspect trouble when they notice him continually going to the lavatory with a cup. Hagan keeps a bottle hidden there and begins to drink while he's flying. In denial, he keeps saying that he has it under control. After a harrowing flight in which Hagan makes an emergency landing almost running out fuel, his co-pilot refuses to fly with him again. Hagan consults a psychiatrist who teaches him how to cut down on his drinking and gives him medication, but Hagan refuses to stop drinking altogether. The film ends as Hagan narrowly averts disaster as the plane's engines catch fire during takeoff. He is acclaimed as a hero, but the investigators find the bottle he carried onboard. He resigns his job with the airline and goes back to cropdusting. However, he finally comes to terms with his addiction and plans a happy future with Pat. His doctor tells him the motto of Alcohlic's Anonymous "take it one day at a time". ==Cast== * [[Cliff Robertson]] as Mike Hagan * [[Diane Baker]] as Pat Simpson * [[Frank Converse]] as Jim Cochran * [[Gordon MacRae]] as Joe Barnes * [[Milo O'Shea]] as Dr. O'Brian * [[Dana Andrews]] as Randolph Evers * [[Edward Binns]] as Larry Zanoff ==See also== * ''[[Flight (2012 film)|Flight]]'' (2012) == External links == * {{IMDb title|id=0079719|title=The Pilot}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Pilot}} [[Category:1980 films]] [[Category:1980s drama films]] [[Category:American drama films]] [[Category:American films]] [[Category:Aviation films]] [[Category:Films based on American novels]] [[Category:Films about alcoholism]] {{1980s-action-film-stub}}'