Owais Crawford
The Airport film series, comprising Airport (1970), Airport '75 (1974), Airport '77 (1977), and Airport '79 - The Concorde (1979), is a classic example of the 1970s 'disaster movie' genre. The first film, Airport, was a monster hit, grossing $128 million on a $10 million budget, and its success spawned three sequels. The films centre on the trials and tribulations of air travel, including inclement weather, mechanical failures, and personal dramas, all while showcasing the dreams of flying first-class and the fears of dying in a horrible plane crash.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1970 |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Thriller |
| Plot | An airport manager tries to keep his airport open during a snowstorm while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a plane in flight |
| Cast | Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, Helen Hayes, George Kennedy, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton, Barry Nelson, Lloyd Nolan, Dana Wynter, Barbara Hale, and more |
| Budget | $10 million |
| Earnings | Over $128 million |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Helen Hayes) |
| Rating | 6.6/10 |
| Runtime | 2 hours 17 minutes |
| Sequels | Airport '75 (1974), Airport '77 (1977), Airport '79 - The Concorde (1979) |
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What You'll Learn
- The first Airport film kick-started the 1970s disaster movie craze
- The film's all-star cast included Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, and Helen Hayes
- The plot centres on a series of mishaps at a busy airport, including a bomber on board
- The film's commercial success made it Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time
- The movie has been praised for its influence on the disaster genre and its camp value
The first Airport film kick-started the 1970s disaster movie craze
The 1970 film "Airport" is the first of four films in the "Airport" series, which consists of airplane-themed disaster films. The first film in the series kick-started the 1970s disaster movie craze, bringing together many of the elements that made the genre so popular, including all-star casts, tense set pieces, great special effects, and lots of drama. The film is about an airport manager, Mel Bakersfeld, trying to keep his airport open during a snowstorm, while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a plane in flight. The film stars Burt Lancaster, who plays the role of the airport manager, along with Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, and George Kennedy, among others.
The "Airport" films dealt with the contemporary fears of dying in new and horrible ways, while also glamorizing the dream of flying first-class, surrounded by movie stars. The films also marked the advent of a new genre, the "Disaster Film," as well as the "Ark movie," which Roger Ebert defines as "a mixed bag of characters trapped in a colorful mode of transportation." The first "Airport" film in particular had a significant impact on the disaster genre and is praised for its "camp value."
The "Airport" series suffered from sequel fatigue and was eventually buried by the parody "Airplane!", which was released in 1980. However, the "Airport" films remain a snapshot of the 1970s, a showcase for fading stars, and a sampling of the 1970s disaster movie boom. Despite being criticized for its slow suspense build-up and dated appearance by today's standards, the first "Airport" film was a commercial success, surpassing "Spartacus" as Universal Pictures' biggest money-maker. The film received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Helen Hayes, who played an elderly stowaway.
The three sequels in the "Airport" series are "Airport 1975," "Airport '77," and "The Concorde: Airport '79." The only actor to appear in all four films is George Kennedy, who plays the character Joe Patroni, who progresses from a chief mechanic to an airline pilot throughout the series.
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The film's all-star cast included Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, and Helen Hayes
The first four films in the Airport film series, released in the 1970s, boasted an all-star cast, including Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, and Helen Hayes. The first film in the series, "Airport" (1970), was a huge commercial success, surpassing Spartacus as Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time. It grossed over $128 million on a $10 million budget and earned Lancaster a significant profit, as his contract gave him a 10% profit share once the movie crossed the $50 million mark. Despite the film's success, Lancaster was famously dismissive of it, calling it "the worst piece of junk ever made" and saying that it was a joke that it had received any award nominations.
The all-star cast of "Airport" also included Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton, Barry Nelson, Lloyd Nolan, Dana Wynter, and Barbara Hale. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design, and won one for Best Supporting Actress for Helen Hayes' portrayal of an elderly stowaway. The film's supporting cast, in particular, received praise for their performances.
Dean Martin co-starred with Lancaster in "Airport." However, his performance received mixed reviews, with some critics noting that he never fully embodied the role of a pilot. Despite this, the film was a financial success, and Martin's presence, along with Lancaster's, contributed to the allure of the production.
Helen Hayes, a legendary actress with a distinguished career, was another prominent member of the all-star cast. Her portrayal of an elderly stowaway in "Airport" earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Hayes' performance added depth and versatility to the ensemble, showcasing her range and talent.
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The plot centres on a series of mishaps at a busy airport, including a bomber on board
The 1970 film "Airport" is the first of four films in the Airport film series. The plot centres on a series of mishaps at a busy airport, including a bomber on board. The film is about an airport manager, Mel Bakersfeld, trying to keep his airport open during a snowstorm while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight. The film also deals with various personal problems of the people involved, including Bakersfeld's wife, who drives through the snowstorm that has blocked every road to inform him that she wants a divorce.
The film takes place at the fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago and features an all-star cast, including Burt Lancaster as Mel Bakersfeld, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, and Van Heflin as the bomber. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $128 million worldwide and surpassing Spartacus as Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time. It received ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Helen Hayes' role as an elderly stowaway.
Despite its financial success, the film's star, Burt Lancaster, was not a fan of the movie, calling it "the worst piece of junk ever made" and saying that he only agreed to do it in return for the studio agreeing to finance several non-commercial films he was interested in. The film has been criticised for its slow suspense build-up and the performances of some of the male leads, including Lancaster and Martin. However, it has been praised for its influence on the disaster film genre and its special effects, which were considered realistic for the time.
The Airport film series consists of four airplane-themed disaster films: "Airport" (1970), "Airport 1975", "Airport '77", and "The Concorde: Airport '79". The series has been described as a snapshot of the 1970s and a showcase for fading stars, with each film featuring a collection of rich and beautiful characters dealing with various human contingencies. The first film in the series has been particularly praised for its strong storyline and fun performances.
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The film's commercial success made it Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time
The first film in the Airport film series, "Airport" (1970), was a commercial success, surpassing Spartacus as Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time. The film was produced on a $10 million budget and earned over $128 million worldwide. It was also the start of the 1970s disaster movie craze, bringing together many of the elements that made the genre so popular, including all-star casts, tense set pieces, great special effects, and lots of drama. The movie starred Burt Lancaster, who, despite calling the film "the worst piece of junk ever made", made a great deal of money from it. His contract gave him a 10% profit participation once the movie hit $50 million; it grossed $45.3 million in North America alone.
The film's success can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, it featured a star-studded cast, including Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, and many others. Secondly, it had a suspenseful and dramatic plot that built slowly and steadily, keeping viewers engaged. The film centred on the heroic efforts of airport manager Mel Bakersfeld (Lancaster) to keep the airport open during a snowstorm while dealing with various personal problems, including his wife's threat of divorce. Additionally, the film featured realistic special effects, such as snow effects that made it seem like the film was shot in a real blizzard.
Another factor contributing to the film's success was its innovative use of cinematography. The film dealt with multiple human stories and dilemmas, so a new technique was developed to display them simultaneously by splitting the screen into various smaller parts. This allowed viewers to follow the different storylines more easily. The film also had a strong marketing campaign, with trailers and posters that emphasised the glamour and drama of air travel, portraying it as a way of life surrounded by rich and beautiful people.
The success of the first "Airport" film led to three sequels: "Airport 1975", "Airport '77", and "The Concorde: Airport '79". While the sequels were not as financially successful as the original, they continued the tradition of all-star casts and tense, dramatic plots. The first three films in the series were known for George Kennedy's recurring role as Joe Patroni, who progressed from a chief mechanic to a vice president of operations to a consultant. The fourth film, "The Concorde", deviated from the survivalist charm of the previous films, focusing more on airplane action and an arms-dealing plot. Despite some criticism, the "Airport" film series left a lasting impact on the disaster film genre and remains a memorable snapshot of the 1970s.
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The movie has been praised for its influence on the disaster genre and its camp value
The original 1970 film "Airport" has been praised for its influence on the disaster genre and its camp value. The movie, which centres on the heroic efforts of airport personnel to keep the airport functioning during a snowstorm, surpassed "Spartacus" as Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time. It was also the first of four films in the "Airport" film series, which included "Airport 1975", "Airport '77", and "The Concorde... Airport '79". Together, the four films grossed $387.5 million worldwide.
The "Airport" films are considered to have kickstarted the 1970s disaster movie craze, bringing together many of the elements that made the genre so popular, including all-star casts, tense set pieces, great special effects, and lots of drama. The first "Airport" film, in particular, is known for its suspenseful buildup and realistic snow effects. It also featured a split-screen cinematographic technique that allowed multiple storylines to be displayed simultaneously.
Despite the success of the "Airport" films, they have also been criticised for their over-the-top and questionable science. For example, the star of "Airport", Burt Lancaster, called the film "the worst piece of junk ever made" and said he only agreed to do it in return for the studio agreeing to finance several non-commercial films in which he was interested. Lancaster's performance, along with that of Dean Martin, has also been criticised as inadequate and failing to convey the necessary emotions.
Nevertheless, the "Airport" films have had a lasting impact on popular culture, with spoofs and parodies such as "Airplane!" (marketed as a spoof of the "Airport" series) and references in other media. They also marked the advent of a new genre, the "Ark movie", which Roger Ebert's Little Movie Glossary defines as "a mixed bag of characters trapped in a colourful mode of transportation".
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Frequently asked questions
The Airport film series is about an airport manager trying to keep his airport open during a snowstorm, while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a plane in flight.
The 4 films in the Airport film series are Airport (1970), Airport 1975 (1974), Airport '77 (1977), and Airport '79 - The Concorde (1979).
The Airport film series is based on the 1968 novel Airport by Arthur Hailey.
The Airport film series deals with the fears of dying in new and horrible ways, while glamorizing the dreams of flying first-class, surrounded by movie stars.
The only actor who appeared in all 4 films is George Kennedy, in his recurring role of Joe Patroni, who progresses from a chief mechanic to an airline pilot.
