Jazmin Li
Airport is a 1970 drama film starring Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin. The film is based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name and is considered to have originated the 1970s disaster film genre. The plot revolves around a bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and the personal problems of the characters involved. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $100 million and receiving ten Academy Award nominations. However, it received mixed reviews from critics, with some considering it a trashy flick.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1970 |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Thriller, Disaster |
| Rating | 6.6/10 |
| Director | George Seaton |
| Writers | George Seaton |
| Based on | Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name |
| Stars | Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, Jacqueline Bisset, Van Heflin |
| Production company | Universal Pictures |
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What You'll Learn
The 1970 film was based on a novel
The 1970 film Airport is based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Arthur Hailey. The film is about an airport manager, Mel Bakersfeld, trying to keep Lincoln International Airport open during a snowstorm while a suicide bomber, D.O. Guerrero, plots to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight. The fictional airport is based on Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
The film was directed and written by George Seaton and starred Burt Lancaster, who played the role of Mel Bakersfeld, and Dean Martin, who played Captain Vernon Demerest. Despite Lancaster calling the film "the worst piece of junk ever made", Airport was a huge commercial success and was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It also won Helen Hayes an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as an elderly stowaway.
The film is characterised by intertwining personal stories and minute-by-minute decisions made by airport and airline staff, operations and maintenance crews, and flight attendants. It also touches on the day-to-day operations of an airport and airline, including the response to a paralysing snowstorm and environmental concerns over noise pollution.
The novel was adapted into a screenplay by Seaton, who updated the story to the jet age. The film's plot focuses on several characters over a seven-hour period during the worst Midwestern blizzard in thirty years. While the novel and film share a similar premise, the book provides more depth to the story, as is often the case with novel-to-screen adaptations.
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The movie's star, Burt Lancaster, hated it
The film Airport was released in 1970. It is an American air disaster–drama film written and directed by George Seaton and starring Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin. The film is based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name and is the first of four films in the Airport film series.
Despite the film's commercial success and ten Academy Award nominations, the movie's star, Burt Lancaster, hated it. In 1971, he called it "the biggest piece of junk ever made". Lancaster's opinion of the film was so low that he only agreed to star in it if the studio financed several non-commercial films in which he was interested.
In addition to Lancaster's disdain, the film received mixed reviews from critics. The New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael characterised it as "bland entertainment of the old school", while Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it "a silly sequel with a 747". Roger Ebert gave the film two out of four stars, faulting its predictable plot and characters that "talk in regulation B-movie clichés".
Despite the negative reviews, Airport grossed $45.3 million in North America alone and was one of the most profitable films of Lancaster's career. The film also surpassed Spartacus as Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker.
One reason Lancaster may have disliked the film is that it was not as in-depth as the book it was based on. Additionally, some viewers have criticised the film for lacking special effects and for having contrived situations. However, Lancaster's performance in the film has been praised, with one reviewer noting that he "acted very well".
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It was a commercial success
The film Airport, released in 1970, was a commercial success. It was based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Arthur Hailey. The film grossed $45.3 million in North America alone and became Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time, surpassing Spartacus. The movie's star, Burt Lancaster, had a contract that gave him a 10% profit participation once the movie hit $50 million.
Despite the film's financial success, it received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised its strong production values and excellent cast, others, like The New Yorker's Pauline Kael, scornfully dismissed it as "bland entertainment of the old school". Lancaster himself was also not a fan of the film, calling it "the biggest piece of junk ever made". However, despite the negative reviews, Airport became a franchise, with three sequels released in subsequent years: Airport 1975 (1974), Airport '77 (1977), and The Concorde: Airport '79 (1979).
The success of Airport can be attributed to its ability to entertain audiences of its time. As an action-packed disaster film with a star-studded cast, it had all the ingredients to capture the public's imagination. The plot revolves around 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 film also explores various personal problems of the characters involved.
Airport's influence extended beyond just its box office success. It is credited with influencing the disaster genre and its "camp value". The film's success helped establish the disaster film as a unique and profitable genre in the early 1970s. It also inspired a successful parody film, Airplane! (1980), which blended elements of the airline disaster film genre with comedy.
In conclusion, Airport's commercial success is undeniable, and it continues to be remembered as a classic of its time, despite its mixed critical reception.
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It won an Academy Award
The 1970 film Airport earned a total of ten Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture. The film's star, Burt Lancaster, famously said that the film was "the biggest piece of junk ever made". However, despite Lancaster's comments, the film was a huge commercial success, grossing $45.3 million in North America alone and surpassing Spartacus as Universal Pictures' biggest moneymaker at the time.
The film's ten Oscar nominations were the most for any blatantly commercial film since Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, in 1952. The movie also won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for Maureen Stapleton, who played Mrs. Guerrero, a woman dealing with the horrifying knowledge of her husband's insane plan.
Composer Alfred Newman received his 45th Academy Award nomination for his work on the film, the most received by a composer at that time. Newman was unable to conduct the recording sessions for his music due to failing health. The job was handled by Stanley Wilson, although Newman did conduct the music heard in the film. Newman won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition for "Airport Love Theme", and he was posthumously nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score.
Although Airport did not win an Academy Award, it inspired a franchise and three sequels: Airport 1975 (1974), Airport '77 (1977), and The Concorde: Airport '79 (1979).
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It's an ensemble disaster movie
The 1970 film Airport is an ensemble disaster movie. The film is about an airport manager, Mel Bakersfeld, trying to keep the fictional Lincoln International Airport open during a snowstorm while a suicide bomber plots to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight. The film is based on the novel Airport by Arthur Hailey and is a contemporary update of Grand Hotel (1932) for the jet age.
Airport is characterized by intertwining personal stories and minute-by-minute decisions by the airport and airline staff, operations, and maintenance crews. The plot concerns the response to a paralyzing snowstorm, environmental concerns over noise pollution, and an attempt to blow up an airliner. The film features a stellar cast, including Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, and Jacqueline Bisset. Despite being one of the most profitable films of Lancaster's career, he called it "a piece of junk."
Another example of an ensemble disaster movie is "It's a Disaster" (2012/2013). The film follows a group of friends at a dinner party who find out that a dirty bomb has been set off downtown, and they will die if they go outside. The film has a comedic tone, with indirect humor and quiet flashes of character. It features a well-cast ensemble, including David Cross, Julia Stiles, and America Ferrera.
Other notable disaster movies include Twister, Armageddon, Titanic, and The Day After Tomorrow. These films often feature large ensembles and focus on the human dimension of peril.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie Airport was released in 1970.
The film Airport was directed and written by George Seaton.
The film Airport was based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Arthur Hailey.
The film Airport starred Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin.
Yes, the film Airport had three sequels: Airport 1975 (1974), Airport '77 (1977), and The Concorde: Airport '79 (1979).
