"Side-by-side" comparison: Zero Hour! (1957) Vs Airplane! (1980)

[@steveward6099]

This is what so many modern Spoofs have missed. What made Airplane so funny was how straight it was played. The dialogue and acting just needed little subtle stings here and there to make it hysterical. Epic Movie and it's ilk just make 20 pop culture references a minute and don't even focus on the genre or plot they are spoofing.

[@deafmusician2]

Nowadays they would think it's a "Soul Plane" spoof.. 🙄

[@fatbikerchick6717]

I only saw Epic Movie all the way through because I'd bought the huge popcorn and didn't want to go and eat it in the lobby. Biggest mistake I ever made. Not the popcorn. That was great.

[@J.R.in_WV]

So, Stevie…..You ever hang around a gymnasium?

[@jymbo1969]

Superhero Movie was good. They played it straight.

[@joedunman1269]

The only good spoof movie in the "Epic" era was Not Another Teen Movie, which plays it deadpan pretty well.

[@fractode]

Well done!!! Looks like I picked the wrong day to give up KZbin...

[@ccmyart]

Hah, a good one.

[@shenjingbing6021]

Best comment. lol

[@HoldenNY22]

That Comment really made laugh which I really needed.

[@92jwiener]

Looks like I picked the wrong day to stop replying to comments.

[@alasdairwatson712]

Surely you’re joking? I’m not joking and stop calling me Shirley.

[@sdsdfdu4437]

There was a choice. Steak, fish. Yes I remember now, I had lasagna

[@justgonnastay]

Nowadays your choice is pretzels or . . . nothing.

[@starcrafter13terran]

@@justgonnastay Stop taking delta...

[@bmxfreakxyo]

My favorite movie quote of all time

[@andrewbuhman1066]

@@justgonnastay Fly Korean Air.

[@AndrewTJ31]

I love that in Zero Hour he says that he had meat.

[@joefunsmith]

The bit about the co-pilot in Zero Hour being played by a well-known athlete from the era makes the dialog between "Roger" and the kid so much funnier. The decision to have him actually be Kareem using a psedonym in the movie is brilliant.

[@Jay.McCarty]

And semi-plausible. I mean; sometimes you just gotta get away. 😏

[@jamesmcinnis208]

"actually"

[@GregJamesMusic]

The funniest part is how "Roger Murdock" keeps denying he's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar until Joey accidentally insults Kareem's playing. "The hell I don't!"

[@kcjazzcat7822]

Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.

[@speechmeister]

you can add bill lambeer to that list

[@snakeguy76]

The genius of 'Airplane' was getting serious actors (Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Leslie Neilsen, Robert Stack) playing the comedy straight. They could have easily gotten comedic actors, but it was even funnier with this cast.

[@canadude6401]

yes, the deadpan humor is the key from serious actors.

[@canadude6401]

snakeguy76 Leslie Neilson was a serious actor in the 60's and 70's. This movie propelled him into parodies.

[@rebeccasabet2802]

He was the capain of the Poseidon.

[@spiff2268]

Cana Dude Yeah, the only thing close to comedy that I remember Leslie Neilson doing before Airplane was an appearance on an early episode of MASH.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

That is why when I heard of a Naked Gun remake and wanted a comedic actor to play it I thought they were making a mistake. You need a very serious older bloke to pull it off.

[@barnabydodd8956]

I almost spit my drink out when Leslie Nielsen says "that's right" with the stethoscope in his ears.

[@JoelEmberson]

absolute legend

[@karlsmith2570]

Barnaby Dodd that's what you call, " Making it blatantly obvious that he is a doctor"

[@Ashes2Ashes_Blush2Blush]

Lmaooo

[@dumphoneuser800]

Say no more

[@dannigro8794]

Barnaby Dodd That was simply the beginning of his long comedy career. The exact point at which his career took a turn.

[@unevenspleener]

That was great! Am I the only person on earth who had to wait 39 years to learn the origin of the Airplane spoof?

[@eknaap8800]

No. I was surprised too...

[@DondeArandas]

I had to wait, also. Lol

[@snowinblood5243]

No.

[@chivalryalive]

unevenspleener -- Wow! Yeah... I know what you mean. I waited 40 years! :-O

[@dilligaf1009]

Nope

[@richmcgee434]

My fondest memory of Airplane will always be the first time I saw it in the theater. My mother (who apparently didn't understand movie ratings) took my ten year old sister and I to go see it opening night. When the film got to the scene at 9:40 (which continues with the wife getting out of bed and waking up the horse she was sleeping with) the whole theater went dead silent for a couple of seconds as people processed the joke, and god bless here, sis piped up at the top of her lungs with "They're horsing around!" Whole theater was laughing so hard we missed about a minute of dialog, and mom slapped her hand over both our mouths to muzzle us. She still bitches about how embarrassed she was to this day.

[@katazack]

That's hilarious! 🙂

[@vjcodec]

Amazing!!

[@ricogomez4020]

I thought you were going to mention the scene where the stewardess is blowing the inflatable auto pilot.

[@TPaine1776]

Or the topless girl running across the screen.@@ricogomez4020

[@allenhoughton246]

I was 10 years old too. Our ride home was just as funny talking about the movie we just saw, with my dad and 3 brothers. My mom wasn't so impressed. great memories. this is a great clip comparison.

[@davemitchell116]

There is no human alive who, after seeing Airplane! several times can watch Zero Hour! with a straight face. Can't be done.

[@sce2aux464]

This is true.

[@ghenulo]

I watched "Flug in Gefahr" a couple weeks ago and got amused at times when it wasn't supposed to be funny. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHK5h5edZ7SAaZY

[@jayrussell1825]

@Dave Mitchell I'll bet Senator Reid could do it

[@CraftySouthpaw]

So true! Even when he says, "Sluggish, like a wet sponge" makes me laugh.

[@kenmayes1932]

Can't watch Airport 1975 with a straight face either. As soon as the nun starts singing to the sick girl....I lose it.

[@feronanthus9756]

Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit quoting Airplane

[@sher8185]

Feronanthus, I quote this movie all the time. So many great classic lines!!

[@Bigger-Than-Jesus]

cigarette?

[@robgronotte1]

Yes, it is.

[@georgiasmith64]

Shirley, you can't be serious

[@thehunterator520]

@@georgiasmith64 I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.

[@tanello2]

"what is it ?" "its a remake, but thats not important right now "

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

Surely, you can't be serious?

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

It's not the same. It's a totally different movie...all together.

[@rocistone6570]

It is a pronoun, and that's more important just now.

[@johnr8095]

@@PhantomFilmAustralia it's a totally different movie.

[@ricarleite]

@@PhantomFilmAustralia it's a totally different movie.

[@AvStevieStevenJamesDrums]

My dad took me to see Airplane in the theater, and I’ve never heard that many theater goers laughing so hard. What a great memory.

[@drpoundsign]

Those SIGNS... Aisle 1-15: "no smoking" Aisle 16-30: "no f****g" Some Moral Majority types complained about the PG rating.

[@BadWebDiver]

Mark of a great comedy film...

[@RonLucock]

Likewise, in Australia!

[@AxelQC]

Amazing how easy it is to turn a sappy melodrama into an unforgettable farce.

[@tedhenkle]

The website TV Tropes calls it the “Weird Al Effect,” where the parody becomes better known than the original source material.

[@aresef]

A line here, a line there and drama turns into comedy.

[@ImpendingJoker]

@@tedhenkle But this was before Weird Al got popular.

[@AndreOutlaw]

@whraglynx I'm going to guess he just needs 2500 to buy a script...

[@Duomaxwell02M]

@@tedhenkle Only proves that Wierd Al Yankovic is a talent unlike any other. Truly a master of lyrics and presentation

[@christopherstone9046]

One thing I've loved about Airplane is that it's a jet, yet you hear props. The movie is a masterpiece. And... This video was masterful editing.

[@jimBobuu]

I didn't notice that until about 5 years ago. Every one of the 396 times I've seen the movie I find something new! Just now, watching this video I finally noticed that one of the reporters is holding a chicken leg!

[@jarosawklimentowski5091]

@@jimBobuu I think it's an icecream.

[@andydporter5136]

@@jimBobuu I only just saw that too !

[@alanr4447a]

The whole airplane was just a bunch of props.

[@hugostiglitz6914]

@@alanr4447a 😂😂.

[@CaptainPackrat]

I just about died laughing the first time I saw Zero Hour when the guy said "The fog is getting thicker" because I knew the next line from Airplane was "and Leon is getting larger!"

[@jswaggart01]

I had to stop watching when the pilot in the control tower says "I picked the wrong day to quit smoking" in Zero Hour, I effing lost it!!

[@RegJR1]

🤣🤣🤣

[@cityhawk]

@@jswaggart01 Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing glue.

[@joe6096]

And Leon’s getting LAAA-A-A-A-ARRRGER!!

[@danyv1826]

Just that one line? I laughed basically for the entire movie because I knew what was the Airplane! counterpart line!

[@Tahkaullus01]

I knew Airplane was based on Zero Hour but this is the first time I've seen them side by side... it's an entirely different kind of experience seeing them like this altogether.

[@samuelstensgaard4828]

IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF EXPERIENCE SEEING THEM LIKE THIS

[@rachelghoul1835]

It's an entirely different kind of experience.

[@vgsly]

It's an entirely different kind of experience

[@jwiking62]

It's an entirely different kind of experience.

[@theclearsounds3911]

It's an entirely different kind of experience

[@voxorox]

Tedious? That made my day. Especially when the two movies started talking to each other.

[@nonplayercharacter6478]

Me too. That was amazing, not at all difficult to watch; but I bet it was tedious as hell to edit. ;)

[@dantheguitarist5823]

Tedious as in... Ted-ious? 😉

[@GeorgePenton-np9rh]

@@dantheguitarist5823 Don't call me Ted-ious.

[@VortechBand]

​@@dantheguitarist5823 I just wanted to say good luck and we're all counting on you

[@julieporter7805]

I love that bit especially when the different pilots talked on the phone to the other flight attendants.

[@cooperhilinsky6361]

As someone who’s seen Airplane at LEAST 150 times, I’m totally shocked I never knew this about it. What a treat! Thank you so much!

[@karlsmith2570]

You're not the only one who was shocked to find out that Airplane was heavily modeled on Zero Hour

[@felixcat9318]

150 times, surely you can't be serious!

[@bcm137]

I am serious. And don't call me Shirley

[@rafaelnegron7007]

You and I both. Airplane is in my top 5 and I didn't know that.

[@ChatGPT1111]

Only 150! Ha, Amateur!!!

[@kato64]

“Flying is just like riding a bicycle. Except it’s a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes.” I still think ‘Airplane!’ is perhaps the funniest movie ever made.

[@NickHunter]

You're not wrong

[@Helo_rides_for_commies]

"Yes , birds too." I always imagine his wife on the other end asking him that. It kills me every time.

[@raypurchase801]

Surely you don't believe that. (Wait for it...)

[@NickHunter]

@@raypurchase801 I do believe it. And don't call me Shirley

[@dx1450]

@@Helo_rides_for_commies A second later in the scene, Lloyd Bridges is on the phone saying "I know he is, but what other chance have we got?" As if he was talking to the first guy.

[@castelodeossos3947]

'I haven't felt this awful since we saw that Ronald Reagan film.' Completely forgotten how funny that film was. Nothing like it today. Good work juxtaposing the relevant scenes.

[@tokyworld]

OP, this must be one of the most tedious video in the history of KZbin... But some of us here, particularly me, would want to buy you a drink and shake your hand.

[@davehallett3128]

Nice

[@davehallett3128]

@aDBo'Ch 1 nicer even spelled properly. Unusual for youtube. Especially homophones. Looks like i picked the right week to stop bitching about other people s spelling

[@justincronkright5025]

I'm the drunks at '8:02 & 8:03'... and so would want to buy you a shake and drink your hand!

[@kashgarinn]

wow.. I never did get that joke.. fascinating

[@itwontcomeout5678]

I have a drinking problem. (Throws water on groin)

[@robertgeist3266]

The Hirsch - Kareem connection was brilliant casting.

[@darthstarkiller1912]

What's crazier is that they both played on Wisconsin teams in their early careers. Crazylegs with the Badgers, Kareem with the Bucks.

[@MattMcIrvin]

That, I didn't expect--that the Kareem bits were actually riffing on something in Zero Hour!

[@roguishpaladin]

@@MattMcIrvin It seems like someone saw Zero Hour, MSTed it, and then insert their commentary into the script for a remake. It's a strange production strategy - but hey, it paid off.

[@alyzu4755]

I especially love when they drag KAJ out and he's got his Lakers uniform on under his suit. 😂😂😂🤣

[@PCLoadLetter]

@@alyzu4755 What's even funnier is that under his lakers shorts you can clearly see his jockstrap.

[@aliservan7188]

Every once in a blue moom KZbin recommends something truly brilliant, like this. It wasnot tedious, not in the least. I applaud you!

[@stuboy13]

ali Servan blue mooM. Also, i concur

[@miltondiaz7580]

Every once in a blue moon, KZbin recommend something truly brilliant, like this. It wasn’t tedious; not in the least. I applied to you! Yes... My comment was inspired by the video.

[@Singer64]

I’d say more than once in a while. Just in the last couple of yrs KZbin recommended clips I never in million yrs would have found on my own. And most of it ( in my case ) hilarious.

[@apurugganan]

@tim conway Get ahold of yourself *slap!* *slap!*

[@apurugganan]

@tim conway I was going for my best Nielsen impression but LOL no (good nick tho)

[@johnledingham852]

The splicing of the two films made the end product absolutely hilarious, and extremely entertaining. I chuckled and chortled, and LOL!

[@swifty1969]

I had no idea! Tedious....are you kidding? Loved every second. Even the slapping scene was included.

[@Sarahjanam]

I am watching it for a second time.

[@MrAudienceMember2662015]

I’ll never be able to watch Airplane again unless it has the bits from Zero Hour included.

[@ZReviews]

When Leslie Nelson goes in for that second slap ... That is when I lose it.. Bravo on this video.

[@Hare_deLune]

Zeos! I knew you were a man of taste.

[@totallyfrozen]

I died! 🤣 He gave her one to go! BWAA haa haa!!

[@alancarnell2747]

He clearly wasn't done

[@vcv6560]

Its so wrong I can't help myself from laughing out loud!

[@Carl-LaFong1618]

She was clearly asking for it.

[@sheilamarucut9164]

Watching this is so unnerving, but also comfortable. Kinda like when you know the Weird Al version of a song better than the original.

[@Hiraghm]

I heard/saw both "White and Nerdy" and "Amish Paradise" before I even knew the songs they parodied existed...

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

Just the other day a Song was playing on the Radio, and after I bit I realized it was one of the Original Songs that Weird Al had Parodied. There are still many of the Originals I have never Heard. I finally heard Green Day's 'Basket Case', and I recalled some of the Lyric in a Weird Al Song, I can't remember which one though

[@mickf3787]

my favorite was the "Ebay" parody of "I Want It That Way"

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

@@mickf3787 That was a Very Good Parody.

[@jonmohney6975]

Don McLean heard weird al's the saga begins (parody of American Pie) so many times from his kids playing it, he sometimes gets confused when he sings.

[@tanansadudi3803]

9:51 is absolutely priceless! It makes this Airplane! scene even funnier when you know how surprisingly similar the new scene was to the original version.

[@thomgizziz]

You mean two movies that take place mostly on a plane is going to have a lot of similar terminology and situations? Next time im on a flight im going to lose my mind at anybody that uses airplane terminology and if they get air sick, by god, they aren't getting any Dramamine. You all aren't that bright.

[@michael101st]

That second slap is hysterical 🤣😂🤣😂

[@Cheepchipsable]

Just seems like they used the original as a template and tacked on modern references as the script developed. No doubt it was much closer to the Zero Hour! when first written, but evolved to include other references. I liked the plane view of the tarmac when landing in Zero Hour! better - just looked like a guy on a motorbike swerving all over the runway.

[@walkie1985]

@@thomgizziz sit down fella you’re making a fool of yourself

[@irabourstein]

@@thomgizziz You aren't that nice.

[@jmwild1]

It took years for me to notice that the sounds of the jet were those of a turboprop, and now I notice it's the exact same turboprop sound effect from Zero Hour. :)

[@pennagain6207]

Wow! That comment should be at the top. that and the one about the ice cream cone . . .

[@BrightBlueJim]

Not a turboprop, a radial engine.

[@BradenENelson]

"I said it might get tedious" No way, you had my attention all the way through. VERY well done. :D

[@TheGookie]

+Braden E Nelson Thanks. It's definitely easier than watching Zero Hour in it's entirety...

[@chrisbarnes4221]

Yeah not tedious at all. And when you have the characters from the two different films interacting it gets pretty funny actually. Good job.

[@georgeapplegate3535]

That's brilliant. I was at a screening in Los Angeles many years ago where the Zucker brothers talked about how they had based the film on Zero Hour, and showed the little boy in the cockpit clip to show how "uncreative" they were. I had no idea just how much the movie was copied from Zero Hour. Thanks for doing this.

[@ligaderobots]

So disappointed they did not say "don't call me Shirley" in the original movie.

[@roncriswell2685]

New Wave Studios It was on Time Warner Classics not to long ago😁

[@manonymous4737]

“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley”. I mean it’s so old now, been seen so many times, but the first time i heard that, it was the funniest joke i had ever heard. This film made me cry with laughter, and still does. And getting Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen! Lloyd Bridges! Robert Stack! These guys were legends! It wouldn’t have been half the film it was without them. This films greatness was no accident, it was a brilliantly crafted work of absolute genius.

[@sbyrstall]

What made it best was it required serious, drama actors to make it work.

[@sketchur]

@@sbyrstall And then, there was Johnny. LOL

[@Hiraghm]

Leslie Neilsen, the iron-jawed, steely-eyed captain of "Forbidden Planet" and Peter Graves, the iron-jawed, steely-eyed Mr Phelps of "Mission: Impossible" both being brilliant comedians in "Airplane!"

[@stulumbus]

I read an article a year or so ago where the Zucker Brothers talked about how Airplane came together and they said that Lloyd Bridges and, believe it or not, Robert Stack, both “got” the idea that they were spoofing their images and they bought into it totally. Peter Graves, on the other hand, wasn’t too sure what he was doing, particularly with regard to the homoerotic elements of his dialogue with the young boy, but he finally got into the spirit of the thing and it brought him a new generation of fans. Leslie Neilsen was a complete goofball, according to the Zuckers; he didn’t need an ounce of coaching to act pompous and foolish. He alone among the ‘serious’ actors in the cast was a total natural at appearing stupid with a straight face.

[@thomasrinschler6783]

@@stulumbus That's just who Neilson was, apparently. He probably leapt at the chance to comedy after all those years in serious roles, and he built a very successful second career doing so!

[@iwantthe80sback59]

I have never heard of Zero Hour, I always thought Airplane was based on the 1970’s Airport movies. You put a ton of work into this!!! This is great, Thanks so much.

[@feurigerStern]

Zero Hour is supposed to be serious, but I can't help laughing because the lines become funny after seeing Airplane.

[@pennagain6207]

If you're old enough to have seen Zero Hour when it first came out, you would remember sitting in the balcony with your best friend trying to smother our laughter. Melodrama is always funny.

[@KutWrite]

It was serious... but don't call me 'Shirley.'"

[@HardRockMaster7577]

The first time I happened to watch Zero Hour, I couldn't stop laughing, as I referenced the Airplane parody. I really think Paramount & WB should get together and allow these films to be released as a double feature DVD.

[@davehallett3128]

Good good. So you grasp the point of this video. Good. Just like gerald ford

[@davehallett3128]

@@HardRockMaster7577 great idea. Hurry before someone steals your idea

[@MrJohnthefarmer]

Never saw "Zero Hour" before. I have seen and loved "Airplane" many times. Watching this side by side comparison is like having a joke explained that you didn't get and it makes "Airplane" that much more funny. Thanks!

[@LatitudeSky]

Saw Airplane! when it was first released and watched it many times since then. But it took me until this year, 40 years later, to get the joke about Ted Stryker's drinking problem. I mean I SAW him always trying to drink with his forehead. But I just didn't get that was the joke. That's his drinking problem. And 40 years later I'm laughing like it was new. What a great movie.

[@paulverdoia308]

Never heard about zero hour always loved airplane this was sick ! Great video!

[@ronaldsteele6151]

@@paulverdoia308 I've seen "Zero Hour" and trust me, it's very hard to watch with a straight face after seeing "Airplane". "Zero Hour" however is a good movie despite it's low budget.

[@dk6173]

You like movies about Gladiators?

[@Cheepchipsable]

Made no difference to me. It has enough in common with generic airplane disaster movies that they are all pretty much transferable. I'm willing to bet that if someone cared to analyse they would find extremely similar melodramatic moments and jargon between the pilots etc, in most of these types of films I don't think the fact they used Zero Hour! as a template is relevant, (it is to them of course since they bought the rights...)

[@mylittlepitbull3143]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his Lakers shorts with his jockstrap and his knee pads it was hilarious.

[@davekent4829]

AND DON'T CALL ME SHIRLEY!!

[@respectfullydisagree711]

I'm sorry, son, but you must have him confused with someone else. His name is Roger Murdock. He’s the co-pilot. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.

[@jovetj]

You cannot even blink watching that movie. You will miss something!

[@PlayaP69]

It was hot! 🔥

[@tubeyhamster]

And his sport glasses :)

[@godfreecharlie]

Damn, this was nearly as good as the entire movie. Running the scenes together was a great idea. Thanks for the work! One of the best actors for parody type movies Nielson would've been great in the earlier film.

[@dazgreen63]

It’s amazing how they often say exactly the same dialogue, but the spin or emphasis they put on certain words can change the meaning to something totally different from the original. Excellent, thanks for the heads up, like most people I had no idea.

[@Fuzcapp]

And that one line added to make the joke (like the woman sniffing the coke or Lloyd Bridges sniffing glue etc)

[@UnclePengy]

It changed the meaning to something completely different, altogether.

[@Kooozer]

It changed the meaning to something completely different

[@jasondashney]

Since they bought the rights, they should release both movies in a mini box set. Why did they keep this as an inside joke?

[@bigskyvideo]

As a video editor and rabid Airplane! fan, I have to say that this is brilliantly done. I don't envy the time it took to cut this, but THANK YOU for doing it!

[@jeffreysnow2640]

Just an amazing job !!!

[@bobbyobrien81]

I totally agree its a lot of work people don't realize unless they have done it. The trick is making it seem so seamless. Wonderfully done!

[@iareawriter]

Seconded :)

[@floresarts]

Yes! It was edited brilliantly! Fun interspersing of the films! Quite the opposite of tedious. I had a great time. I could have watched more! 😂

[@jedijones]

That was the best $2,500 anyone ever invested.

[@MrJeffcoley1]

Don't the producers of "The Terminator" wish they had bought the rights to that old Outer Limits episode. Probably could have got it for $50.

[@ronpetersen2317]

They are probably kicking themselves for selling it now. They could have gotten a crapload of lawsuit money.

[@Onkarr]

a good return on investment! this movie has been responsible for laughter all over the world

[@jedijones]

@@MrJeffcoley1 Mike Myers based his original script for Wayne's World 2 on an old British film. The studio found out soon before shooting was to begin, threatened to destroy his career and forced him to hastily write a new script. I don't know why they didn't just try and buy the rights to the old movie.

[@Punisher6791]

40 years later and still one of the funniest films ever made!

[@Mrbimmer11]

IT WAS THE 80 TODAY TO MANY PEOPLE WOULD GET OFENDED IF THEY MADE THE MOVIE TODAY

[@crockodile85ATX]

Now 44 years. I saw it during Thanksgiving 1980. Laughed so hard but it wasn’t till these past 5 or so years that i realized I didn’t get a lot of the cultural references as I grew up mostly overseas.

[@Countrygirltori24]

Zero Hour was on TCM the other day, and about 10 minutes in I kept thinking, this is a lot like Airplane! even the dialogue is very similar. When the stewardess asked if they wanted fish or meat I went straight to google because there HAD to be a connection.

[@isbestlizard]

Yes, I remember. I had lasagne.

[@Mark-xx3gh]

I had first heard about Zero Hour on TCM. I caught part of Ben Mankiewicz introduction where he had mentioned the connection to Airplane, and he mentioned to “be prepared to hear things you’ll find familiar”, but I didn’t realize it was taken so much from the original. I had switched to something else, then came back mid film to find the pilot was also named Stryker, and was surprised that so much had been taken from the original film. I bought Zero hour on DVD.

[@SBluesBrotherhood]

I did the same! I sat there the whole time thinking "This is like the UN-funny parody of AIRPLANE!". I didn't realize that there were SO many line-for-line connections!!! My favorite is still the "Jaws" reference at the beginning with the tail fin of the plane sliding through the clouds and also the "propeller" sounds coming from a JET aircraft! I have seen AIRPLANE! at least 30 times and still want to see it another 30 times!

[@dx1450]

I knew that "Airplane!" was a parody of "Zero Hour!" but I've never even seen clips of that movie until I saw this video. I'd love to see the whole thing but I'd probably keep making "Airplane!" jokes the whole time.

[@mikejohnson3338]

The creators of Airplane! talk about Zero Hour being the inspiration for their new film: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioHaf4l9ZpmCf68

[@matrixphijr]

Wow, this is amazing. Honestly, this makes Airplane about a hundred times funnier now that I understand the connection. I can just see all the creators of Airplane sitting in the same room watching Zero Hour going, "Oh my God, wouldn't it be so funny if...?"

[@epicon6]

This solved why Airplane had such an old timey feel!

[@ki5aok]

That and the jet plane made propeller sounds.

[@fosmith61]

@@ki5aok The drone of the prop engines is one of my favorite elements in Airplane...

[@apurugganan]

@@fosmith61 Agreed, as if someone left the window open during the flight LOL

[@Xegethra]

Well, by now it is an old timey film!

[@Danimal77]

Airplane is 41 years old! It's pretty old time as it is.

[@mads_in_zero]

6:51 - Fun fact, the sheer absurdity of this specific line, delivered deadpan by both the original actor and Nielson, is the _entire_ reason this movie was made, and the reason it's all played so straight.

[@craiga2002]

Neilson said to his agent, "Take any reasonable offer. I'll pay THEM to be in this movie!"

[@SuperCosty2010]

To both of you - he is NielsEn, the surname is danish

[@jimsmith9853]

I still love Ted Strikers "Drinking problem ".

[@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures]

Top ten movie gag for me.

[@auronoxe]

Unfortunately this joke does not work at all in the German translation. Because „drinking problem“ in German just means „you have problems when drinking something“... and not „problem with too much alcohol“. So no double meaning, and no pun.

[@michaelholland8693]

@@auronoxe Translating jokes between German and English is hard. "Der ver zwei peanuts, valking down der Straße, und von vas assaulted...peanut. Ohohohoho!"

[@pronkb000]

@@michaelholland8693 This might be the real reason why joke warfare was banned by the Geneva Convention.

[@andreilikayutub3496]

@@auronoxe good thing the movie is in English so you don’t have this problem!

[@grasslandgraphics]

This actually makes a lot of sense now, how they were able to come up with gag after gag

[@YouKevo]

All this time I never knew Airplane! was a parody of Zero Hour. I knew it was a parody of disaster movies but not that particular one. Well done.

[@benabaxter]

It was more of a parody of Airport, which was written by the same guy as who wrote Zero Hour. The film version of Airport (plus a sequel!) came out within the '70s and started the disaster movie craze of the period. So Airplane! was a lot closer to home than Zero Hour. It's just that Zero Hour was cheaply available.

[@TheJTMcDaniel]

The novel is "Runway Zero-Eight." Hailey collaborated with John Castle on it.

[@KenVic02]

Lining up the dialogue word for word between the two movies is a heck of an editing job. Well done. It doesn't make Airplane any less funny whatsoever even knowing the backstory.

[@rhuttrho88]

It makes it that much better DEWEY!😁

[@handmadehearts]

Now I see *Airplane* saved a bundle of 💰 on screenwriting.

[@randallulrich]

"Surely you can't be serious." "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley."

[@tjdarkrage6693]

Ah Leslie Nielsen, he will be forever missed.

[@free-energy-systems]

Shirley, you jesting. :D

[@ApemanMonkey]

Seeing Leslie Nielsen with the stethoscope made me want to watch this movie again immediately.

[@curtismackjr.6108]

ApemanMonkey so much subliminal shit going on in this movie!

[@hyperpowerfulform5132]

It's such a dumb joke, but that's what makes it so funny.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

I orginaly though he was listening to music!

[@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9]

I think the stethoscope on his neck was the obvious and part of the joke when he was asked if he’s a doctor.

[@chrisplatz7594]

@@the9-2-5outlawdoestech9 But also because it looks like the earphones passengers wear to listen to music.

[@epicon6]

Leslie Nielsen will always be the greatest comedy actor in this type of films

[@catliftresearch]

And don't call me Shirley!

[@inkmeal]

This and of Course Frank Drebin. "Like a midget at a urinal, I was going to have to stay on my toes."

[@chrisperez2369]

@@epicon6 really tom? spot on Derek!

[@EnterNameHere22]

@@epicon6 it's a joke from airplane. "Surely you cant be serious?" "I am serious, and dont call me shirley" literally the most quoted joke from the movie

[@epicon6]

Jesse Woops. My bad. And i have just seen it twice in the last 4 months and i missed it.

[@EndlessNameless5]

Great video! One thing that really stood for me was that a lot of the "serious" roles were cast for much older looking actors in Airplane!, which make the lines sound even more serious, and funnier. On the other hand, Ted Stryker is younger, which is also funnier, because he has traumas related to all history of aviation!

[@dredaylarue]

and whats funny too is all those older actors that they used they had always played serious roles none of them had ever did comedy.

[@wintersbattleofbands1144]

I think it's just that actors and people generally looked older back then. The haircuts, the rampant smoking that aged people prematurely... I look at old films assuming an actor is in their 40s only to find out they were 26 or 28 when they made it.

[@PlaywithJunk]

I didn't know about that 1957 movie.... very well made comparison. Amazing, thank you!

[@euripidiesupman9755]

same here!

[@tommynyc662]

Holy Crap...I've seen Airplane so many times and just noticed the ice cream cone with the mics at 10:25 ahahahaha

[@haribalzonya25]

Tommy NYC Same here. Never caught that. Lol

[@ultimateman55]

Same! Only saw it on this video.

[@KennyG881]

Dude, you just blew my mind.

[@ronpetersen2317]

Same. That is the brilliance of the classic spoof movies. A lot of the jokes are in layers you don't always catch at first.

[@Ninjalectual]

I always thought it was drug paraphernalia. Oops

[@jasontv9849]

The most amazing thing about all movies made in the 50s is no matter what disaster people have gone through, their hair, especially the women (and the makeup) remains perfect.

[@ronswansonsdog2833]

Actually they still do in most movies & TV. I especially laugh when they depict women waking up in bed in the morning with perfect makeup - lip gloss and all.

[@2wheelsr2wheels39]

@@ronswansonsdog2833 Ahh... in a perfect world.

[@billshiff2060]

Actually they often had strategically placed "bruises" and "scuffs" by a make up artist with professionally "messed up" hair.

[@Cheepchipsable]

@@ronswansonsdog2833 Mainly in US TV.

[@Cheepchipsable]

With that landing they should have been splayed all over the walls.😵‍💫

[@ericMT]

This is incredible. Airplane! is one of the true comedy classics and it still holds up today.

[@lascaris23]

Well done, this just made Airplane more funny than it already was.

[@fredneecher1746]

"Ready for clearance, Clarence." "Roger, Roger." It's a fact - Airplane is the funniest film ever made.

[@WorstChicken]

Blazing Saddles would like to have a word with you. haha

[@davidnofsinger3427]

"What's our Vector, Victor?"

[@karlsmith2570]

"What's your vector, Victor?"

[@DiscoScottie]

@Jamie Pritchard - they're both on the Mount Rushmore of Comedy.

[@craigkdillon]

@@WorstChicken Sorry, it's Cocoanuts (Marx Bros)

[@goingtothewhisky]

Somehow this makes the movie 1000x more hilarious

[@whatsgoingon407]

Captain Howdy Dltto!! Never heard of it before -brilliant intermixing

[@davidmann281]

I agree with you Captain Howdy. The whole time I'm watching this video I'm thinking,"This just makes it even funnier. Who can I send this to?" Also, 12 dislikes? They must be brain dead.

[@WriterJCYoung]

Someone needs to turn a complete Zero Hour / Airplane edit into the next Rocky Horror Show

[@HoldenNY22]

Very Interesting Video. I never knew or heard of the this Zero Hour Movie. I'm not sure it makes it funnier, but it defintely make defintely more Interestingly. The ACtress didn't give a Blowjob the Authomatic Pilot in ""Zero Hour" did she?

[@mattslupek7988]

I just want to tell whoever made this video good luck. We're all counting on you.

[@hashtag_thisguy]

"A hospital....? What is it.?" "its a big building with patients." Classic

[@starcrafter13terran]

Best line was airplane 2. "I have a question." "What is it?" "An interrogative statement used to test knowledge, but that's not important right now..." *eye roll*

[@yooneeque1]

"But that's not important right now."

[@stevezpj]

@@starcrafter13terran Airplane 2 is vastly underrated - that scene where you think the person is on a viewscreen and you realise it's just a door gets me every time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXiQYYljbZp7lZI

[@Hiraghm]

First time I saw it, I thought he said "It's a big building with patience".

[@RobertGuidry-f3f]

Its a big white building with patients, but thats not important right now.

[@kiwimanetta]

whoever disliked it probably had fish. great job mate

[@jedijones]

4 people had the fish...

[@dfulwilder]

...now 11. People STILL keep eating the fish!

[@IsiahTomas]

dfulwilder Fish, huh? I had the lasagna.

[@JohnSmith-kz8yo]

Or they saw a Ronald Reagan film.

[@rodeocyclone]

Fabio Manetta Yes, I had the lasagna.

[@hengineer]

Legend has it Leslie Nielson is still popping in saying "I just want to say good luck, we're all counting on you"

[@adamwarlock1]

Apparently Bill Murray actually does that, which is even more absurd. (But that's Bill Murray!)

[@ClintScottFischer]

LMAO!!

[@virtualends1]

He doesn't unless he is gost. He die 10 years ago.

[@awanordin]

@@virtualends1 thanks Debbie Downer

[@CosmicCleric]

@@virtualends1 The thing is, he may still be doing that, and we wouldn't know.

[@bdflatlander]

Wow, that was very well done and very educational! I saw ‘Airplane’ in 1980 and today is the first time that I learned that it was an almost scene-for-scene remake and spoof of ‘Zero Hour’! ‘Airplane’ was one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen!

[@PsychadelicoDuck]

Not tedious at all. Switching back and forth gets the point across beautifully without being redundant.

[@KnickKnack07]

A side by side would have been better. Just switch the audio from one to the other.

[@eleSDSU]

@@KnickKnack07 Also valid, that wouldn't require people to know the movie line by line even though this style is better than side by side.

[@KnickKnack07]

But side by side allows us to see at all times how the staging was also the same

[@eleSDSU]

@@KnickKnack07 Yes, but if you know the other movie, like shot by shot (maybe I have seen it too many times?) this way is better.

[@robertsimoneau5232]

Boy you can say that again!

[@whouster]

Brilliantly put together, and the mini-interlude with John Cleese was a touch of class!

[@blobydude420productions4]

A remake, What is it? Its a film from an older time refilmed to newer times, but thats not important right now

[@stuartmcconnachie]

National educational television N E T Surely not... this is a totally different kind of movie all togehter....

[@Mak10z]

This is how to do a remake right. This, and John Carpenter's The Thing

[@lisawillis8227]

Stuart McConnachie and don’t call me Shirley

[@dylanmcconnell409]

@@stuartmcconnachie It's a totally different kind of movie all together...

[@radbaron]

@@stuartmcconnachie this is a totally different kind of movie all togehter ... and don't call me Shirley

[@FishFeelPain]

love this--can't imagine how much time it took to put together. Truly appreciated

[@duaplex1]

Well, we had a choice of steak or fish. Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna.

[@renewings]

What did he have?

[@lt209]

No I don't think I'll ever be over Macho Grande.

[@TheAngelOfDeath01]

Meanwhile, "... and Leon is getting llllaaarrrrgggeeeeerrr!"

[@eyehatefarcebook11]

Levi Anderson One order of Nachos Bel Grande please.

[@ThreadBomb]

I ate some of the lint in my pocket.

[@lowbudgetstudios]

Zero Hour came on AMC one night and they had mentioned it was the movie Airplane was ripped from. My Dad and I sat there and laughed our asses off!! While watching you could just shout out the punchline or giggle and laugh at the similarities of the dramatics. My dad passed a year ago. And that will remain a memorable movie night till the day im gone. Thanks for the comparison video. I’ve told so many friends how similar they are. And this proves it without having to find Zero Hour to watch. However. If you want a good laugh. Watch it with a group of friends who are more familiar with Airplane than you are.

[@daledickerson8835]

When "Zero Hour" was on and I watched it, I couldn't help but laugh through the whole movie thinking of the spoofs in "Airplane."

[@kisbie]

One of my fave bits of Airplane trivia is the original script contained spoof adverts, as though the viewer had caught a broadcast on late-night TV, which is where ZAZ first saw Zero Hour. (They also wanted to make it in black-and-white to complete the effect, but the studio wanted it more contemporary.)

[@marctravismba]

That explains why all the references to "the war" looked like WWII, even though the timeline in the Airplane movie didn't fit. I always wondered "what war?" It clearly wasn't Vietnam and they were too young for Korea or WWII.

[@jamesparson]

It was in the war over Macho Grande.

[@epstone]

Thats what i also thought

[@MajesticSkywhale]

All the footage of pre-wright-bros planes slays me

[@axeavier]

the emu war

[@ratbazturd1843]

Macho Grande was one of the little-known battles (obviously the Air Force was able to cover it up) in the war that was ignited by the Bowling Green Massacre.

[@fredlaughlin6343]

I caught Zero Hour a few years ago and figured this out. Thought i was the only one. Great video!!!

[@ti12870]

After 40 years, I learned that “Airplane” was a spoof from a 1957 film “Zero Hour!” Now the love story and war scenes make better sense. They did not correspond to 1980 standards of reflections from the past. That always bugged me.

[@rickc303]

I'm "only" 33 and this is a favorite movie, and those two aspects never made sense to me even as a kid watching this and bugged me until seeing Zero Hour! Amazing! Airplane!

[@moonakieater2308]

I'm 47 and when I first watched it, I thought the war stuff was part of the joke. Because he's not old enough to be a WWII pilot. It wasn't till the internet came out I found it was from Zero Hour😂

[@melvinlee9263]

Another joke I didn't realize until decades later is the plane has a jet engine, but the sound effect is that of a propeller plane.

[@rickc303]

@@melvinlee9263 and whether piston or turbine powerplant, neither have a gear shifter on the throttle quadrant to shift into reverse 🤣

[@ThomasKnip]

That always bugged me, too. It seemed like some memory of the Korean war, which is much more fitting in a 1957 movie. But then, we got fighting girls scouts in a bar in Drambouie in Airplane!. ^^

[@inkmeal]

Watching this makes me appreciate the pure genius of the comedy of Airplane! I may have seen that movie 100 times and even clips like these still make me laugh so hard I cry. Shirley... I CAN be serious.

[@rmhartman]

I knew Zero Hour became Airplane! ... but I did not know that the writer of Zero Hour went on to write Airport. That links them all together nicely.

[@Hiraghm]

I know. now I want to watch "Airport"

[@blofeld39]

And the original teleplay was Canadian, and starred James Doohan from "Star Trek"!

[@willmfrank]

@@blofeld39 I always wanted Scotty to tell Kirk, "I may bend your precious starship..."

[@TonusFabri2024]

@@blofeld39 I even saw the original when it was first broadcast!

[@michaelway7936]

R.I.P to Stephen Stucker who played Johnny, who blended in with the nuttiness perfectly

[@efrainsantiago5225]

I did research on that guy I wanted to find out more about him. He lived a short life and I think Hollywood was too much for him.

[@gregorycerven3484]

​@@efrainsantiago5225He's in Trading Places with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. He's the guy who signs off loading the gorilla on the train before it leaves near the end of the movie.

[@AnnLippert-y4w]

I'm listening to the audiobook Surely You Can't be Serious, about the making of the film. Stephen Stucker was a friend of the writers. He was in their improv/ theater group Kentucky Fried Theater on Pico in LA. He was added to the script because he was so funny.

[@fryncyaryorvjink2140]

We should give other 50s movies the Airplane treatment

[@dustinmichel7608]

Their is several that would be amazing.

[@itsacorporatething]

Maybe it would be more appropriate to parody 90s movies.

[@xx_chill_xx6715]

Mystery science theatre 3000

[@planetofthegapes]

@@dustinmichel7608 what are your recommendations?

[@Steve20127]

@@dustinmichel7608 . "THERE ARE" several......etc etc.

[@lorriesmith5086]

No matter how many times you see Airplane, you will catch something new! Like a Monty Python movie.

[@Danimal77]

Same with "Top Secret!" (1984).

[@roomwithapointofview]

" _Shanna, they bought their tickets_ , _they knew what they were getting into_ . *_I say_* , *_let 'em crash_* ." *Jack Kirkpatrick*

[@guillaumechevalier3368]

Why, John! You old stick-in-the-mud! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3_Oo32Ni8eXic0

[@boataxe4605]

That was a rip on the ‘Point counterpoint’ bit that 60 minutes used to do.

[@shinyagumon7015]

I love how the plot is basically 100% the same, you'd think that the weird plot point of the entire flight crew getting sick from eating fish is something the writers of Airplane came up with as a joke on contrived disaster plots, but no it was played completely straight on Zero Hour. Also the gag about the co-pilot being played by a Basketball player is the best kind of reference humour, it's funny because of the absurdity alone but gets better if you know the background of it. Way better than most modern pop culture humour just being "Hey look it's something you know, isn't that funny to see something you know from a different movie?". It has layers

[@MegaRayland]

Spot on. The “Disaster Movie” types of later years missed the mark because they are just a string of “look at this thing/reference you know!” moments with a paper thin plot as an excuse to move between those moments. In contrast you take the humor out of Airplane! and you still have a decent drama movie. That’s why it feels cohesive and even funnier as a result. Abhrams, Proft, and the Zucker bros did this in almost all their movies (Naked Gun, Hot Shots), with the exception of Top Secret! which they admitted was missing that underlying story binding everything together (even though the humor is hilarious and very creative). On a side note the badly named “Superhero Movie” actually does this as well (Pat Proft was behind that movie), being essentially Spiderman 1, and again a movie that if you remove the comedy from it ends being a competent action/superhero movie.

[@spacemanspud7073]

I remember I saw an expert in a video that actually commended airplane (and by extension Zero Hour) as being one of the most realistic depiction of a contagious sickness in a film. Like the slow build of cases and it not hitting every person in the same way I think was the reasoning. I dunno if I agree if it's the most contrived thing I've seen - It's a real protocol and a law in some countries that pilots can't eat the same meal to prevent both of them getting ill.

[@shimma25]

I always knew Airplane was inspired by a '50s disaster movie but had no idea it was this closely based on it. Absolutely brilliant to see this side-by-side though, and I'll never not laugh at the line - "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley".

[@bbartky]

Same here. I knew it followed the basic details of “Zero Hour” but I never realized it followed it so closely.

[@dadmoo12]

Every once in a while you find a dusky jewel amongst the noise and interference on KZbin. I loved this video.

[@mrchopsticks3]

I have seen Airplane no less than 20 times and I STILL laugh hysterically every time I see it.

[@Anamnesia]

Surely you must be joking...

[@mrchopsticks3]

***** I'm not joking, and don't call me Shirley.

[@Scripture-Man]

I just want to tell you both good luck, we're all counting on you.

[@whyalwaysme2522]

+Clutch Cargo 😂😂👌🏿

[@xaenon]

It was a brilliant movie, the start of the whole 'spoof movie' genre, and a jump start of Leslie Nielsen's second career as a comic actor. I've seen the movie quite a few times myself, and I swear, I still spot something new every time I see it.

[@jasonp.1195]

Airplane vs Zero Hour, wow! I'd always known Airplane was inspired by earlier films, but I had no idea the film was so close to a straight shot for shot remake. Thankyou for this video.

[@christophersherrell4592]

"They could be miles off course!" "That's impossible their on instruments"... -cuts to a scene of them playing swing jazz. HAHAHAHA

[@olliversdad8447]

I have seen both movies. Airplane is my all time favorite movie. That’s why I became an airline pilot. But I absolutely love the side by side. Awesome. Shirley you can’t be serious. I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley.

[@janetkaygallagher1555]

Surely you can't be serious. I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.

[@pajaco6502]

I love Airplane, never even knew Zero Hour existed. The cuts between them were great. Awesome video :)

[@franl155]

I'd heard that it was "based on", but not that it was a virtual remake, with jokes

[@illinoisan]

I saw Zero Hour! on TCM and realized very quickly what I was seeing as the original Airplane! and was howling with laughter throughout. Every scene brought forth the memories of Airplane! and seemed even funnier.

[@madquest8]

This is amazing! Makes you wonder how many other serious films could be "Airplaned" into a riotous comedy version! LOL 10/10

[@nowthatsjustducky]

Might be time to start digging around on Gutenberg or the Internet Archive and see what can be done...

[@JohnnyC01]

Well they made Hot Shots

[@madquest8]

@@JohnnyC01 What was that a shot for shot remake of?

[@randydod]

@@madquest8 Hot Shots was a spoof of Top Gun. Hot Shots Part Deux was a spoof of Rambo 1-3.

[@MichaelSheehy75]

A lot of the 70's disaster movies might be good candidates. How about "The Poseidon Adventure"...which had Leslie Nielsen?

[@gokaury]

They need to put this on every future copy of the Airplane Blu-Ray/DVD from here on out. Fantastic work.

[@LoreleiMission]

This editing project was a LABOR OF LOVE! Thank you

[@pjd4268]

With due respect to Rick's post above it's not the "same" movie. But I am astonished and my brain melted to see that a tragedy, (granted manufactured drama) can deftly be turned almost DIRECTLY into comedy is ..genius! Floored I am. IT's stupendous. If this is possible then Alien could be converted to a G Disney movie???? Astounded.

[@pjd4268]

..This only makes airplane 10x better still!

[@pennagain6207]

@@pjd4268 It's a parody of a melodrama. And what makes you think Zero Hour was a tragedy??

[@atticusharper]

This was fantastic. Thanks for putting it together and sharing it with all of us!

[@ozgurkaratas6450]

Like many others I've seen the Airplane many times but didn't know this and loved this excellent video. I enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you for this awesome work.

[@karlsmith2570]

OZGUR KARATAS agreed, now I need to find a copy of the movie "Zero Hour"

[@ddd228]

ROGER,OVER! HUH?

[@emitindustries8304]

An excellent video. A lot of hard work went into this, and it shows. Made me appreciate "Airplane" even more.

[@BritanniaPacific]

The way it’s edited, makes it look like the movies are interacting with each other

[@jach8047]

I'm so glad to have found this amazing piece of comedy movie history..thank you so much!!

[@beowulfthedane]

Should throw a Rocky horror style viewing party of Zero Hour with the audience supplying the Airplane dialogue MST 3000 style

[@chrise.321]

That would be AWESOME!! Or even seeing Airplane! at the theater now.

[@johnnyhotcakes5217]

Yes that would be awesome

[@johnnyhotcakes5217]

Yes that would be awesome

[@evenbet9603]

Brilliant.

[@jasonflay8818]

I'd be down

[@stuckinnebraska]

Many years ago, one of the movie channels ran these movies back-to-back. Airplane! ran first. The Zero Hour. I laughed all through Zero Hour.

[@nonyabusiness999]

Didnt realise this was a parody of another film which makes the jokes so much better because they were added to actual dialogue from the original film....absolute genius

[@eponymous_graphics]

Superb editing that supports a well defined thesis ! Well done. The last clip with the funky 70s exploitation music was spot on. Someone on staff knows what their doing. Thanks for sharing.