Where Airport 1970 Was Filmed: Location Unveiled

The 1970 film Airport, starring Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin, was filmed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in Minnesota, USA, and at Universal Studios in California, USA. The film is about an airport manager trying to keep his fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago open during a snowstorm, while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a plane in flight.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport was used for field and terminal scenes

The 1970 film Airport features a fictional Lincoln International Airport, modelled on Chicago's O'Hare Airport. However, the film was not shot at O'Hare Airport. Instead, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport was used for field and terminal scenes. The airport was chosen due to the abundance of snowfall during the winter months, which was essential to the film's plot, which centres around a snowstorm.

The film's producers initially had to supplement the airport's snowfall with bleached sawdust to create the desired effect, but eventually, a snowstorm hit the Twin Cities area during production. The film also used a leased Boeing 707 for exterior shots.

The airport scenes were also supplemented by interior shots filmed at Universal Studios. The sets were later used extensively in other Universal films and television series, such as The Andromeda Strain and Ironside.

The film Airport is based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel and was written and directed by George Seaton. It stars Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin and features a plot 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 film was a commercial success and earned ten Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture.

Universal Studios was used for interior shots

The 1970 film Airport was a commercial success, becoming Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time. 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. It takes place at the fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago.

While the film takes place at a fictional airport, it was actually filmed at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in Minnesota, USA. The airport was chosen due to the abundance of snowfall during the winter months, which was necessary for the film's snowy setting. The field and terminal scenes were filmed entirely at this location.

However, it is important to note that not all scenes could be filmed on location. For interior shots, the production turned to Universal Studios. Specifically, they utilised Stage 28 at 100 Universal City Plaza in Universal City, California. This allowed them to create the necessary indoor sets and capture the remaining footage for the film.

The use of soundstages at Universal Studios was essential for the production of Airport. By having control over the indoor environment, the filmmakers could create the specific settings and atmospheres required for the various interior scenes in the film. This included sets that replicated airport terminals, aircraft interiors, and any other indoor locations featured in the movie.

Universal Studios' soundstages provided the flexibility and customisation needed to construct intricate and detailed sets. These sets could then be lit and filmed according to the director's vision, ensuring consistency and quality throughout the interior shots. The controlled environment also allowed for easier sound recording, as it minimised background noise and allowed for better dialogue and effects capture.

A Boeing 707 was leased from Flying Tiger Airlines for exterior shots

The 1970 film Airport, an American air disaster–drama film, was based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name. The film was written and directed by George Seaton and starred Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin. The plot revolves around 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 is set at the fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago.

A Boeing 707 was leased from Flying Tiger Line Airlines for exterior shots. This was the only 707 used in the film and was a model 707-349C (registration N324F). The aircraft featured an El Al cheatline over its bare metal finish, along with the fictional Trans Global Airlines (TGA) titles and tail. Unfortunately, this same aircraft later crashed on March 21, 1989, during its approach to São Paulo while in service as cargo flight Transbrasil Flight 801, resulting in the deaths of all three crew members and 22 people on the ground.

The Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, was the first scheduled cargo airline in the United States. It played a significant role in the construction of the Distant Early Warning Line, transporting equipment to remote locations in northern Canada and Alaska. The airline was started by Robert William Prescott and was initially headquartered at Los Angeles International Airport. Over time, it expanded its operations, providing cargo and personnel transportation services during the Cold War era.

The filming locations for Airport included Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, and Stage 28 at Universal Studios in California, USA. The production dates for these locations were from January 31, 1969, to June 1969.

The film is based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel

The 1970 film Airport was based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name. The novel is a thriller set in an airport during a blizzard and explores the drama of airport operations and the personal lives of those who work there and use the airport. The novel follows the story of Mel Bakersfeld, the general manager of Lincoln International Airport, and his struggles to keep the airport open during a massive snowstorm. It also delves into the lives of other characters, such as Tanya Livingston, Mel's love interest, and Joe Patroni, the head of maintenance operations.

Hailey's novel is known for its detailed portrayal of airport operations and the day-to-day lives of those in the airline industry. It is considered a disaster novel, intertwining multiple storylines and building suspense as the characters deal with an emergency situation. The novel received some criticism for its writing style, but it was a commercial success, spending 30 weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list and becoming the biggest-selling novel of 1968.

The film adaptation of Airport stayed mostly true to the novel's plot. It was written and directed by George Seaton and starred Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, and George Kennedy. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $128 million 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.

The film's setting is a fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago, with filming taking place at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and Universal Studios. The story revolves around an airport manager's efforts to keep the airport open during a snowstorm while dealing with personal problems and a suicide bomber plotting to blow up an airliner. The film is characterized by intertwining personal stories and minute-by-minute decisions made by various airport personnel, capturing the suspense and drama of the novel.

The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture

The 1970 film Airport was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It was adapted from Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name and is the first of four films in the Airport film series. The film was directed by George Seaton and starred Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, and George Kennedy. With a budget of $10 million, it became a commercial success, grossing over $128 million and surpassing Spartacus as Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time.

The plot of Airport revolves around an airport manager's attempts to keep the fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago open during a snowstorm, while a suicide bomber plans to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight. The film is characterised by intertwining personal stories of passengers, crew members, and airport personnel.

Despite its commercial success, Airport received mixed reviews. While some praised the film's strong production values and excellent cast, others found it glossy and hollow. Lancaster himself called it "the worst piece of junk ever made." However, the film's success led to several sequels and established the 1970s disaster film genre.

The film's nominations and wins at the 43rd Academy Awards in 1971 are listed below:

• Best Picture
• Best Supporting Actress (won by Helen Hayes)
• Best Cinematography (Ernest Laszlo)
• Best Costume Design (Edith Head)
• Best Music, Original Song ("Airport Love Theme" by Alfred Newman)
• Best Music, Scoring of a Feature Film, Adaptation or Treatment (Alfred Newman)
• Best Film Editing (Stuart Gilmore and John W. Holmes)
• Best Sound (Ronald Pierce and David H. Moriarty)

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