Hijack! is a 1973 American made-for-television action drama thriller film directed by Leonard Horn and starring David Janssen, Keenan Wynn and Lee Purcell.[1]

Hijack
GenreAction
Drama
Thriller
Teleplay byMichael Kelly
James D. Buchanan
Ronald Austin
Story byMichael Kelly
Directed byLeonard Horn
StarringDavid Janssen
Keenan Wynn
Lee Purcell
Music byJack Elliott
Allyn Ferguson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersLeonard Goldberg
Aaron Spelling
Production locationLos Angeles
CinematographyArchie R. Dalzell
EditorLeon Carrere
Running time74 minutes
Production companiesSpelling-Goldberg Productions
20th Century Fox Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 26, 1973 (1973-09-26)

Plot

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Two desperate truck drivers, Jake and Donny, accept an assignment by a man named Kleiner to transport a "super important" cargo for $6,000. The men don't know what's in the cargo, but they find out that another group of men is willing to kill for the haul.[2] Throughout the trip, Jake and Donny are repeatedly attacked by the mercenaries, but the pair always manages to get past them, while also gradually eliminating the crooks one by one. When they finally reach their destination, the enraged Jake breaks the lock on the trailer door and they find out that the trailer is loaded with nothing but burlap sacks filled with sand. Kleiner reveals that the truck had merely been a decoy to cause the mercs to direct their attention to the wrong vehicle; the actual secret cargo had been quietly shipped the night before.

Cast

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  • David Janssen as Jake Wilkenson
  • Keenan Wynn as Donny McDonald
  • Lee Purcell as Eileen Noonan
  • Jeanette Nolan as Mrs. Briscoe
  • William Schallert as Frank Kleiner
  • Tom Tully as Mr. Noonan
  • Ron Feinberg as Bearded Man (as Ronald Feinberg)
  • William Mims Highway Patrol Captain
  • John A. Lee as Man With Glasses
  • Dalls Mitchell as Houston Dispatcher
  • Morris Buchanan as L.A. Dispatcher
  • Jim Burk as First Cowboy
  • Walter Wyatt as Second Cowboy (as Walt Wyatt)
  • James W. Gawin as Helicopter Pilot
  • Robert Golden as Weigh Station Officer

Production

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It was filmed in the Antelope Valley of California.[2]

Reception

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The Los Angeles Times said "if you miss it don't worry about it. You've probably seen it before."[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ ANSSEN AND WYNN IN ADVENTURE MOVIE Los Angeles Times 23 Sep 1973: m3
  2. ^ a b TV Guide, July 6–12, 1974, p A-57
  3. ^ Janssen, Wynn in 'Hijack' Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 26 Sep 1973: e20
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