St. Helens (1981): Cast & Plot
St. Helens is a 1981 action thriller directed by Ernest Pintoff, starring Ron O'Neal as Otis Kaylor, David Huffman and Brendan Burns. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- Ernest Pintoff
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Davis-Panzer Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is St. Helens About?
The premise of St. Helens without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The film dramatizes the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, concentrating on the chain of events that built up to the disaster. It opens with the first signs of volcanic activity on March 20, 1980, and follows the escalating unrest and preparations in Washington State, culminating in the cataclysmic eruption on May 18, 1980.
St. Helens Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- natural disaster
- place name in title
- location in title
- disaster film
- based on actual event
- man
- boy
- mother
- son
- 20th century
- 1980s
- united states of america
+38 more Show fewer
- flight
- vietnam veteran
- motor vehicle
- driving
- driving a car
- man driving a car
- car
- u.s. car
- cadillac motor vehicle
- ford
- ford motor vehicle
- ford car
- ford bronco
- ford f 150
- volcano
- blonde
- old man
- catastrophe
- death
- visit
- tragedy
- opening a door
- year 1980
- period in title
- abbreviation in title
- spirit lake
- smoke
- sheriff
- resort
- reporter
- male female relationship
- redneck
- race relations
- pink cadillac
- pilot
- oregon
- newsreel footage
- mount st. helens washington
St. Helens Cast & Characters
Ron O'Neal leads the cast as Otis Kaylor, with David Huffman as David Jackson and Brendan Burns as David Crockett. Directed by Ernest Pintoff; 45 actors are credited in all.
- Director Ernest Pintoff
- Ron O'Neal as Otis Kaylor
-
David Huffman as David Jackson - Brendan Burns as David Crockett
-
Cassie Yates as Linda Steele
Also Starring in St. Helens
· 41 more- Albert Salmi Clyde Whittaker
- Art Carney Harry Truman
- Tim Thomerson Sheriff Wayne Temple
- Bill McKinney Kilpatrick
- Frank Ellis Schmitty
- Nehemiah Persoff Mr. Ellison
- Henry Darrow Lloyd Wagner
- Redmond Gleeson Hendricks
- BJ Davis Bedsoe
- Biff Manard Dr. Romarantin
- Don LaFontaine Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Eddie Braun Stunt Man
- Ray Lykins Stunt Man
- Denny Arnold Curry
- Dennis Murphy Logger #1
- Joseph Benti Newscaster
Show all 45 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Danny Chambers Col. Arnholt
- William Bartman Resnick
- Susan Gelb Photographer
- Julie Phillips Pamela
- Clark Christiansen Reeder
- Sean Abbott Chad
- Corky Courson Bandleader
- Patricia King Patty Jean
- Mary Jane Heelebuyck Cook
- Peter Bellwood English Reporter
- Steve Sheldon Shopkeeper
- Stacie Joyce Ginny
- Murl Lee Morris Radio Operator
- Diana Fiske Cindy
- Carol Bryant Mrs. Ellison
- Clarence Altkin Reporter #1
- John Boylen Reporter #2
- Julie Rice Davis Stunt Girl
- Beau Davis Stunt Baby
- Renee Braswell Girl on the Street
- Wiley Ellis Logger #2
- Randy Nawalaniec Logger #3
- Van Hurst Guardsman
- Thomas Lovingier News Director
- Tony Scalese Man Watching TV
More from Ernest Pintoff
More films directed by Ernest Pintoff: Lunch Wagon, Jaguar Lives!, Blade and Who Killed Mary Whats’ername?.
St. Helens Plot Summary
What happens in St. Helens from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On March 20, 1980, a 5.1-magnitude quake near Mount St. Helens signals the first signs of volcanic unrest there in more than a century. A flock of quail, jolted by the tremor, crashes into the windshield of a logging helicopter, an Aerospatiale Gazelle, piloted by Otis Kaylor, Ron O’Neal. The crash prompts a tense emergency landing, but Kaylor is soon blamed for nearly hitting a group of loggers, setting off a chain of suspicion and scrutiny that threads through the town of Cougar.
Full summary
The whole story of St. Helens, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know St. Helens?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrayed the helicopter pilot Otis Kaylor?
Cars in St. Helens
38 cars on screen, including the 1956 Cadillac Sedan DeVille and the 1980 Ford Bronco.
-
1956 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Main role -
1980 Ford Bronco Main role -
1980 Ford F-150 Main role -
1967 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado Minor role
St. Helens Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “Killer Volcano” and “Uragano di fuoco”.
- Also known as
-
- Killer Volcano
- Uragano di fuoco
- Mount St. Helens - Der Killervulkan
- El volcán asesino
Seen St. Helens?
Movies Like St. Helens
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Magma: Volcanic Disaster, Volcano and Eruption.
St. Helens FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of St. Helens, each answered in a sentence.
How long is St. Helens?
St. Helens runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was St. Helens released?
St. Helens was released on September 1, 1981.
Who directed St. Helens?
St. Helens was directed by Ernest Pintoff.
More films by Ernest Pintoff Who is in the cast of St. Helens?
St. Helens stars Ron O'Neal as Otis Kaylor, David Huffman as David Jackson and Brendan Burns as David Crockett, among 45 credited actors.
Does St. Helens have a post-credit scene?
No. St. Helens has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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