ok and here how the movie work . there be the bare germ of an interesting detective story plot here to drive the movie represent thief use a kidnapping at the san francisco airport to serve a a distraction from their attempt to smuggle stuff into mexico . watch pernell robert ( the airport administrator ) and clu gulager ( the airport security chief ) and van johnson ( a newspaper columnist who happen to be in the airport at the time ) try to assemble the clue and figure out what happen and and scramble to thwart the bad guy before the bad guy can get away with it . be mildly divert in the same way that the caper plot from hawaii five o use to be . but because this series pilot be suppose to be set u up for a series similar to the grand hotel and and not just a detective series and the filmmaker have to flesh thing out with human interest and character tag . so we get pernell battle with the senator over modernize the airport . we get a divorce subplot between van johnson and his wife which in turn generates an abc after school special segment with son davey and who be so upset by his parent impend separation that he . um . get into an unguarded plane on the tarmac and take off . ( what . ) . and we also get a public service announcement subplot in which it be reveal that businessmen tend to be stuffy and prejudiced and while guitar play hippy and airport security chief can relate to each other . or something . the result be and well . watchable . all the actor here be competent in a make for tv way . pernell robert character be incredibly smug and self important and but i think that be a deliberate choice by the director and the screenwriter do not forget that mcgarrett and the hero of hawaii five o ( a very successful hit in the same era ) be also arrogant and hard nose and and i think the writer be hop to mimic that series success with a similar protagonist . but it obvious that the maker of sfi spectacularly misjudge the draw power of the airport set in generate viewer interest and especially when they make the airport and everything in it muddy orange and brown . and the screenplay be pretty much stick in 2nd gear for the duration of the film . you have never see so much screen time devote to actor give each other meaningful glance in your life . anyway and no one buy it and and the pilot sunk without a trace and to be revive by mystery science theater over 30 year later . the mst coverage be mildly amusing ( a always ) and help you pass the time until the pilot wind to it inevitable close and everyone life happily ever after .