Even in the 70s there were a few flights that overnighted en route. I recall an aunt flying San Francisco to Tokyo on (I think) BOAC and they stopped in Honolulu (planned) and were accommodated by BOAC. Back in the mid 70s I got caught by a Cyclone which hit Hong Kong just before departure and BOAC put me in an hotel for the night.
These days, where the clamour is for the cheapest flight possible, the airlines don't even provide accommodation when there is a long delay (with a vanishingly small list of exceptions).
I'd like to reinforce what l'avaiteur said. With a stop that long it is possible that even though it is all one trip/reservation there may be 2 tickets involved. If that is the case the airlines take absolutely no responsibility of any kind. In particular if your friend fails to show for the 2nd flight the airline will likely impose quite severe penalties up to and including insisting he purchase a new ticket with no refund on the old one (and that is not to suggest that on a through ticket with a missed connection there might not be penalties if the problem is the fault of the passenger).