Question: First there's a scene showing the "Golden Argosy" flight crew taking a mini-bus out to the plane (which, I assume, is already at the gate). The next scene shows Vernin Demerest and Gwen Meighen alone on the plane talking about her being pregnant, etc. Later in that same scene we see the rest of the crew getting onto the plane while Demerest and Meighen are all-of-a-sudden pretending there's a problem with a light. My question is this: If they all went out to the plane together on the bus where were the rest of the crew while Demerest and Meighen were talking on the plane? Wouldn't the whole crew have arrived together and got onto the plane together?
Answer: For that matter, why would the crew take a bus to a plane that's already at the gate? Wouldn't they just board via the jetbridge?
Now, yes, they go through security with the passengers. Prior to 2001, crew on my airline often took a private bus from the sign-on building to the aircraft.
Question: Near the end of the film, the plane stuck on the ground is pressurised before it can move out of the way. Why is it pressurised if it's on the ground and not in the air?
Chosen answer: Patroni isn't referring to the cabin pressure, he says to "pressurize the manifold" - part of the engine start procedure of a Boeing 707, which I believe involves a ground crew pumping gas (nitrogen?) from a cart into the intake manifold.
Pressurize - as in the manifold, to turn on bleed air from the APU - on board Auxiliary Power Unit - a small jet engine that provides electrical and pneumatic air to operate aircraft systems including starting engines.
Answer: You are right. I have seen the film 100 times and never questioned that. There is no reason for only some of the crew to be on the plane, but it was needed for the scene to work.