Jazmin Li
The Airport film series, which consists of four airplane-themed disaster films, is based on the 1968 novel Airport by Arthur Hailey. The films are known for their influence on the disaster genre and their camp value. The first film, Airport (1970), centres on an airport manager's attempts to keep his airport open during a snowstorm while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a plane in flight. The subsequent films in the series are Airport 1975, Airport '77, and The Concorde... Airport '79. While the films feature fictional events and characters, they also incorporate elements of realism, such as the use of real aircraft and attention to the details of airport and airline operations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Drama, Thriller |
| Based on | Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel, "Airport" |
| Plot | Response to a snowstorm, environmental concerns, and an attempt to blow up an airliner |
| Main Character | Airport Manager |
| Cast | Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Maureen Stapleton, Van Heflin, George Kennedy, and more |
| Rating | 6.6/10 on IMDB, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, 42/100 on Metacritic |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Helen Hayes |
| Academy Award Nominations | 10 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design |
| Gross Earnings | $45.3 million in North America, $128 million worldwide |
| Running Time | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Year | 1970 |
| Sequels | Airport 1975, Airport '77, The Concorde... Airport '79 |
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What You'll Learn
The 1970 film 'Airport' is fiction
The 1970 film "Airport" is a work of fiction. It is based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Arthur Hailey and is the first of four films in the "Airport" film series. The plot centres on an airport manager's attempts to keep his airport open during a snowstorm while a suicide bomber plans to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight. The film takes place at the fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago.
"Airport" is known for its attention to detail in depicting the day-to-day operations of an airport and an airline. The story is characterised by intertwining personal narratives and minute-by-minute decisions made by various personnel, including airport and airline staff, operations and maintenance crews, flight crews, and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers. The film also explores themes such as environmental concerns over noise pollution.
The cast of "Airport" includes Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, Helen Hayes, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton, and George Kennedy. While the film was a commercial success and received ten Academy Award nominations, Lancaster famously criticised it as "the worst piece of junk ever made". He only agreed to star in the film in exchange for the studio's agreement to finance several non-commercial films in which he was interested.
"Airport" has had a lasting impact on popular culture, with numerous sequels, parodies, and spoofs being created in its wake. It is credited with influencing the disaster film genre and has become a testament to American culture, for better or worse. The film's success led to three sequels: "Airport 1975", "Airport '77", and "The Concorde... Airport '79".
In conclusion, the 1970 film "Airport" is a fictional story that blends suspense, drama, and personal narratives against the backdrop of an airport crisis. Despite mixed reviews and criticism from its own star, the film and its sequels have left a lasting mark on cinematic history and popular culture.
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The film is based on a 1968 novel of the same name
The 1970 film Airport is based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Arthur Hailey. The film is about an airport manager trying to keep his airport open during a snowstorm, while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight. The plot concerns the response to a paralyzing snowstorm, environmental concerns over noise pollution, and the personal stories of the staff, crew, and passengers as decisions are made minute-by-minute. The film is characterized by intertwining personal stories and attention to the detail of day-to-day airport and airline operations.
The film is known for its suspense, with the tension building steadily once the plane takes off in a snowstorm. The snow effects are very realistic, almost as though the film was shot in a real blizzard. The film's cast includes Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Maureen Stapleton, Van Heflin, and George Kennedy. Lancaster, despite making a great deal of money from the film, was not a fan of the final product, calling it "the worst piece of junk ever made."
The film has been praised for its influence on the disaster genre and its "camp value." It was produced on a $10 million budget and earned over $128 million worldwide, surpassing Spartacus as Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time. The film received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design.
The Airport film series consists of four airplane-themed disaster films: Airport (1970), Airport 1975, Airport '77, and The Concorde... Airport '79. The only actor who appeared in all four films is George Kennedy, who progresses from a chief mechanic to an airline pilot throughout the series.
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The film's success influenced the disaster genre
The 1970 film "Airport" is widely recognised as the first disaster movie, setting the stage for an entire genre of films that has endured for decades. The film's success and influence on the disaster genre are undeniable, despite its star, Burt Lancaster, famously calling it "the biggest piece of junk ever made".
"Airport" established many of the tropes that would become synonymous with the disaster genre. It featured a large, all-star cast, including Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jacqueline Bisset, and George Kennedy. The film also introduced the idea of a busy public location packed with innocent bystanders, a disaster or catastrophe, and a hero who is an everyday person trying to keep things together in the face of overwhelming odds. This formula would be replicated and refined in numerous disaster films to come.
The plot of "Airport" revolves around an airport manager, Mel Bakersfeld (Lancaster), struggling to keep his airport open during a snowstorm while also dealing with personal and professional problems. The film intertwines personal stories and day-to-day airport operations with the looming threat of a bomber on board an airplane, creating a sense of suspense and melodrama. This blend of character-driven drama and large-scale disaster proved to be a successful formula that would be emulated by many subsequent disaster films.
The success of "Airport" spawned three sequels and numerous parodies, including the 1980 comedy "Airplane!", which poked fun at the conventions of the disaster film genre. The influence of "Airport" extended beyond its immediate sequels and parodies, as it inspired a wave of disaster films in the 1970s, such as "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno". The disaster genre continued to evolve and persist well into the 2000s, with films like "Daylight", "Dante's Peak", and "Volcano" showcasing the enduring appeal of stories about everyday heroes facing catastrophic events.
The impact of "Airport" on the disaster genre is undeniable. By combining melodrama with large-scale disasters, the film created a blueprint for a successful and enduring genre that continues to fascinate and thrill audiences. Despite its detractors, "Airport" and its sequels have left an indelible mark on cinematic history, influencing not only the disaster genre but also the broader landscape of popular entertainment.
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The film's star, Burt Lancaster, disliked it
The 1970 film Airport is considered a classic of the disaster movie genre. It was based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Arthur Hailey and starred Burt Lancaster, who played the airport manager, Mel Bakersfeld. Despite the film's success and profitability, Lancaster disliked it, calling it "the worst piece of junk ever made".
Lancaster's distaste for the film was well-known. In a 1971 interview, he reiterated his opinion, stating that Airport was "the biggest piece of junk ever made". He also said that he only agreed to star in the film if the studio would finance several non-commercial films in which he was interested.
Lancaster's performance in Airport was generally considered lacklustre. One review noted that he "doesn't do much with his character". However, Lancaster's co-star, Dean Martin, received similar criticism for his performance as a pilot, with the reviewer noting that he "never gets inside his role".
Despite the negative opinions of Lancaster and some critics, the film was a huge commercial success. It earned over $128 million on a $10 million budget and was the biggest moneymaker for Universal Pictures at the time. The film also received numerous Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design.
In conclusion, while Burt Lancaster may have disliked the film Airport, it nevertheless became a classic of the disaster genre, influencing many subsequent films. The film's success and cultural impact demonstrate that, sometimes, even when a star dislikes a film, it can still resonate with audiences and find commercial success.
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The film's plot: an airport manager handles a snowstorm and a bomb threat
The 1970 film "Airport" is a work of fiction based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name. The plot revolves around an airport manager's efforts to keep the fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago open during a snowstorm while dealing with a suicide bomber's plot to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight. The film, produced on a $10 million budget, was a commercial success, grossing over $128 million and becoming Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time.
In the film, the airport manager, faced with a paralyzing snowstorm, works tirelessly to keep the airport operational. Meanwhile, a bomber, D.O. Guerrero, has boarded an airplane with a bomb, intending to blow it up in flight. The film also explores the personal stories of various characters, intertwining them with the minute-by-minute decisions made by airport staff, operations crews, flight crews, and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers.
As the plane takes off in the snowstorm, the suspense builds steadily. The snow effects are notable for their realism, giving the impression that the film was shot during a real blizzard. The cast's performance adds to the tension, with actors like Maureen Stapleton, who portrays the worried wife of the bomber (Van Heflin), delivering touching performances. However, some critics noted that Dean Martin, who played a pilot, failed to fully embody his role, appearing too casual even during critical moments.
While the film received mixed reviews, with some criticizing its predictability and clichéd dialogue, it spawned numerous sequels and parodies, becoming a well-established part of the airline disaster film genre. The success of "Airport" and its subsequent parodies, such as "Airplane!" (1980), attest to its impact on popular culture, despite Burt Lancaster, who headlined the movie, calling it "a piece of junk."
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Frequently asked questions
The 1970 film Airport was a work of fiction. It was based on the 1968 novel Airport by Arthur Hailey.
The film Airport was not based on real events. However, it did feature realistic snow effects, and the plot concerned the response to a paralyzing snowstorm, which could be based on real events.
The characters in the film Airport do not appear to be based on specific real people.
The film Airport takes place at a fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago. However, the film does feature significant attention to detail regarding day-to-day airport and airline operations.
