Potboiler novelist Arthur Hailey (he also wrote `Hotel') set the true precedent for Disaster Movies of the 1970s. The plot involves a busy International airport, a Rome-bound 707, and a mad-bomber.
The movie clocks in at about 216 mins. but (personally) plays more like 90 (Director/Screenwriter Seaton did the best he could, and is hereby commended). The script includes dialogue and action that agreeably vacillates between gripping suspense/melodrama and unintentional comedy.
Unfortunately, some of its production values make it rather slow playing when you compare this to recent, and more action packed thrillers modern audiences have grown accustomed to.
Producer Jenning's Lang hit a jackpot. The financial success of the 707 Boeing original spawned a fleet of three 747 sequels, at least two parodies (Airplane!) and countless imitations (`Turbulence' and others).
Collectively, the `Airport' fleet share common interests in various aspects of individual production: Soap-operatics (marital discord and Capt./Flight Attendant romance being the most common of these), at least one hysterical passenger (here he gets 'slapped' at least twice), one cleric passenger (nun and priest in this one), comedian/Vaudeville passengers (Dean Martin plays the straight-man Captain, but he is also known for his sense of humor, having played opposite Jerry Lewis in previous films), an onboard explosion (or crash) and, for the most part, a suspenseful landing sequence.
George Kennedy (as Petroni) appears in all four films; he Captains the plane in '79. Comedians in successive flights include Martha Raye, Sid Caesar, Jerry Stiller, Charo and J.J. Walker.
Overall, Airport' would make a better stage play. Aside from the depressurization sequence, the acting here is more akin to the type of melodramatics better suited for the stage, rather than for the big-screen (thespian veterans Stapleton and Hayes were supporting actress' nominated, Hayes brought home the Oscar).
The story features some interesting exchanges between actors. One entertaining and funny scene involves actors Bissett and Hayes in their white gloves off' interplay (`Never mind what he said! What abour your ticket?').
First Sequel: Contrary to popular belief, `Airport 1975' was released in 1974, the same year as Universal's `Earthquake' (airport scenes of which were drastically cut, including the tremor's destruction of LAX' futuristic Theme Restaurant).
Alfred Newman's music is a little too corny for my palette
bongos and tambourines just don't cut it for me, but his suspenseful landing sequence' musical build-up, interweaving elements heard during the film's opening theme,' does the job admirably. (Two years later, John Williams took the helm and made better use of his own talent, composing 20th Century Fox' `The Poseidon Adventure' and Universal Studios' `Earthquake.').
On a 1-10 scale, I gave "Airport" a 9. Modern runways have come a long way since 1970... and honey-roasted almond packets have replaced stale nuts served in styrofoam cups.
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