Movie spotlight
Disaster on the Coastliner
A deranged engineer, bent on revenge for the deaths of his wife and daughter, sets two passenger trains on a collision course, and con-man William Shatner puts his life on the line to ward off the crash.
Insights
Plot Summary
A luxury train, the "Coastliner," carrying a diverse group of passengers, embarks on a scenic journey. However, their trip takes a terrifying turn when a saboteur plants a bomb on board, threatening to derail the train and its occupants. The film follows the efforts of those on board to survive and the authorities trying to prevent the impending catastrophe.
Critical Reception
Disaster on the Coastliner was a made-for-television movie that received a mixed to positive reception, particularly for its suspenseful narrative and ensemble cast. It capitalized on the popular disaster film genre of the era, offering a tense viewing experience for audiences.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its suspenseful plot and engaging disaster scenario.
The performances of the veteran cast, including Lloyd Bridges and Raymond Burr, were often highlighted.
Some critics noted its predictable plot points common to the disaster genre.
Google audience: Audience reception for this made-for-TV movie is not widely documented through Google's user review system, making it difficult to provide a specific summary of what they liked or disliked.
Fun Fact
The film was produced by Universal Television and aired as part of NBC's "Movie of the Week" programming, a common format for high-quality television films during the 1970s.
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