The Airport Series: A Retrospective 1970-79

[@roberthansen9694]

I was on the set (representing the Navy but in mufti) for the last day's filming of Airport 77. I remember giving coffee creamer to Jack Lemon and chatting with Olivia D'Havilland while she did crossword puzzles between takes. I was able to pose for a picture with Jimmy Stewart. My favorite line in (not part of the movie) was when Joseph Cotten told Olivia "you look like shit my dear." They had to keep throwing buckets of water on her so she would look like she had just been rescued (she dried out between takes). Brenda Vacarro had a new camera and was taking my picture for practice. To this day she's probably wondering who the hell I was. I bought a souvenir chambray shirt with "AIRPORT 77" across the back. Almost 50 years later, I still have it. I know I'm in the scene where the helicopter zooms out while flying over the ship. I saw all those Airport/Airplane movies and particularly enjoyed "Airplane." I may be one of the few people who understood the jokes.

[@cinemaforce1]

OMG what an amazing story! Thanks for sharing this memory. Hold on to that shirt as long as you can. Thank you so much for this commentary I really appreciate this. Amazing!

[@gaildavis9825]

Cool dude!

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Thanks for sharing. Lucky you, Brenda Vacarro was the coolest grown-up girl next door the rest of us never got to meet. 🙂

[@roberthansen9694]

One other person i talked with (while BV was taking my picture) was Kathleen Quinlan. She was wearing a loose fitting blouse -- unbuttoned and flirting with the sailors during the boat ride back to San Diego. I said I didn't recognize her and asked her what movies she'd been in. She went on to tell me about being featured in "The Waltons" television series. I politely nodded. Of course the Waltons was a program I had never watched (before or since). She went on to sit on the bow and let the wind and sea blow over her. The following year she won the "Golden Globe" and was nominated for an academy award. She must be in her late 60's or early 70's now. I only remember her and Brenda being on the same boat as me.

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

@@roberthansen9694 One lucky sailor.

[@erichuxel5408]

Miss Helen Hays won an Oscar for her performance in Airport!! NEVER FORGET THAT!!!

[@suebob16]

Some people felt that Helen Hayes won the Oscar to honor her career, but she was the comedy relief of the original Airport and was a delight to watch. I feel her win enabled her to continue her acting career with a whole new generation of fans.

[@ricklosangeles5043]

For those wanting to know about the aircraft used in this series of movies: Aircraft used in Airport ’70 ground shots was originally delivered to Flying Tiger Line in 1966 as N324F. After a series of owners, it was last flown by Trans Brazil and crashed short of the runway at Sao Paulo Brazil in 1989 Aircraft used Airport ’75 was originally delivered to American Airlines in 1971 as N9675. It was last flown by UPS as N675UP and was scrapped at Roswell in 2011. Aircraft used Airport ’77 was originally delivered to American Airlines in 1970 as N9667. After several operators over the years, it was scrapped in 1987 at Greenwood-Lefore Mississippi Aircraft used in Airport ’79 The Concorde was the seventh Concorde and was originally delivered to Air France 1976 as F-BTSC. Unfortunately, this was the aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff from Paris in 2000 resulting in the deaths of 109 passengers and crew and 4 on the ground. This accident and the events after 9/11 spelled the end of Concorde.

[@cinemaforce1]

Wow thanks for all that info!

[@larrybremer4930]

It is a massive statistical blip. Nearly all commercial airliners survive until they are either museum pieces or mothballed and later scrapped. That half of them were lost in accidents is unreal. A couple of others to mention are T.C.'s Hughes 500 helicopter N58243 from the original Magnum P.I. series, and the Bell 222 serial number 47085 that portrayed Airwolf was lost while being used as an air ambulance. I guess you should not buy an aircraft that was used in a movie or TV production, they seem to have very bad luck.

[@johnmc3862]

Nerdgasm!

[@SDKoka]

I am delighted to see that this is the first reply in the list! American Airlines had, like all the other majors, rushed to order the 747, because "everybody's doing it!". Unfortunately for AA, they found the capacity FAR too much for demand, and simply parked these aircraft. Hollywood came a-knockin', and with a little paint to "hide" (wink, wink!) AA's distinct livery, some of the best ground-to-air AND air-to-air photography was established. Best part of all: unlike most TV movies that used stock footage relentlessly and carelessly, there were NO substitutions in these planes! You were not going to see a 747 when they were boarding, followed by a DC-10 taking off, a 707 en-route, and 727 landing. Nope, one plane, all the way!!

[@adammcdonald798]

Wow. I knew about the first three, but I never knew the Concorde that crashed was the one from the film.

[@silviob1972]

Everybody gets to go skiing instead of eating each other.....LMAO !!!!! I'm in tears

[@cinemaforce1]

It's a better option. Until you get hungry at least.

[@jaycee330]

Well, depends on how many prostitutes are there at the ski lodge.

[@nutandboltguy3720]

To show how old I am, I saw all 4 of these at the movie theater. We were bored teenagers and would see anything.

[@nutandboltguy3720]

Now that I think about it, I think Airport was on tv by the time I was interested in them.

[@cinemaforce1]

Wow you might be in a special club!

[@montanacrone8984]

Me, too! I miss going to the movies.

[@bullwinklejmoos]

I saw them in the theatres too when they came out. Boy am I old 😅

[@patrickcampion7966]

I'm not entirely sure why this popped up in my KZbin feed, but I'm glad it did. As someone born in the late 60's, and a child in the 70's, I had a real fascination with all of the the star-studded cast disaster movies of the era, experienced mostly as later TV presentations. These Airport movies were absolutely among my favorites (though the various Irwin Allan flicks gave them stiff competition), particularly Airport and 75. Around 20 or so years ago, I saw a bargain bin DVD box set called 'Airport Terminal Pack' that contained all 4 films. In some uncontrolled burst of childhood nostalgia, I snatched it up for 10 bucks or so mark-down price. I think I watched the first two right away, but couldn't bring myself to sit through the cheese of the last two. Taking up shelf space to this day. This was a fantastic, and funny, retrospective. Well done!

[@cinemaforce1]

Thank you so much!

[@ftolead]

Oh man I lost it at "Everybody gets to go skiing, instead of eating each other" Too funny!

[@cinemaforce1]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@VolkswagenNut1969]

I saw Airport ‘77 in the theater at 8 years old. As a kid, the cinematography of the plane underwater on that big screen was actually pretty wild and frightening. Although time (and the movie Airplane!) has changed perspective of these campy disaster films, I still remember that first tense viewing of ‘77 fondly. 😉

[@NormanLor]

IN THE LAST YEAR I MUST HAVE WATCHED "AIRPORT" 50 TIMES AND LOVE IT!!

[@cinemaforce1]

Its so good

[@cameraman655]

While there are some nods to ‘Airport’ (all 4), ‘Airplane’ is a parody of the movie, ‘Zero Hour’ (1957). Interestingly enough one of the screenplay writers was Arthur Hailey, the author of….’Airport’. Watch Zero Hour back-to-back with Airplane, you will be in stitches...😂

[@cinemaforce1]

Indeed.

[@Fixxer315]

The mad bomber plot of Airport would be recylced into the main arc of Airplane II. While the sequel isn't as good as the original, with a lot of recycled jokes, it has its moments, most notably the inclusion of William Shatner in the final third of the film.

[@joefaller4525]

I did that and was amazed at the almost word for word dialogue in some cases. IN fact, the Airplane producers bought the rights to Zero Hour so they could do that as much as they wanted.

[@tishirwin737]

Watched all the Airport movies. Loved them!

[@cinemaforce1]

Awesome! They are fun

[@jaydeecee]

Me too. I think.

[@jimw966]

I have a DVD 4 pack collection of these and 77 is my favorite just because of the underwater stuff with the Navy. Great stuff 😃

[@cinemaforce1]

Thanks so much!

[@walterrudich2175]

I just discovered a minor error: why did the plane sink when it obviously was watertight?

[@robynheavner4689]

I have the first original Airport on dvd! The Best!

[@solipha1]

The Universal Studios tour in LA used to have an attraction about special effects and editing in the movies. They had an airplane set and pulled members of the audience to sit in the seats while they filmed them acting out directions (scream, look scared, etc.). Then they spliced it into footage from Airport '77. Super cheesy but fun for a ten-year old.

[@cinemaforce1]

WE gotta bring that back!

[@suebob16]

@@solipha1 I just commented here on my experience seeing that show at Universal when I was young. Glad to see someone else remembers it too!

[@thesteveruss]

I just love the look of 70s movies. The Light, camera etc ...

[@natebeach]

Airport '77 is my No.1 favorite!!! 😎

[@alisdairmckenzie]

Love '77

[@ChrisFisher-hz5cy]

In the mid 90's, TNT aired '75, '77 and '79 one Saturday night. I taped it. They showed the STRETCHED OUT version of '77. It ran 3.5 to 4 hours with commercials!

[@cinemaforce1]

Yeah I do wish I could have seen that one,

[@GB_GeorgeF]

​@@cinemaforce1 at least it's not the TV version of Das Boot, that's like 6 hours long.

[@ke6nber]

I remember watching '75 & '77 with a favorite uncle on TV in L.A. in the early 80s. A few years later I saw the Original Airport, and loved it. At some point later, that same uncle and I watched '79- Concorde...and we laughed the whole time. Good video. Well done. Thanks.

[@robertbenson9797]

The scenario of the bomber in the original “Airport” was based on an actual event in 1962. Everything in the movie was spot on to the real events, except for one thing. The real bomber was Thomas Doty. He had bought a life insurance policy for $150,000. He also had purchased another policy at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. He also had purchased six sticks of dynamite, which he took to the rear bathroom in his briefcase. There, about halfway through the flight to Kansas City, he ignited the dynamite. Unlike in the movie, when the dynamite exploded, it blew the entire tail off the Boeing 707. Being at approximately 30,000 feet when the explosion occurred, the plane depressurized very quickly. The flight crew, followed all their emergency procedures but with the loss of the tail, the plane was doomed. The tail and the engines came down in Iowa but the fuselage came down in Missouri, near Unionville. One passenger actually survived the crash but later died at the hospital. Because Missouri had more favorable laws pertaining to recovery of money from an accident, Missouri Attorney General, Thomas Eagleton, made sure the bodies were brought to a morgue set-up in Unionville. The bomber’s wife did not collect any insurance money since it was ruled a suicide. There is a memorial in Unionville in honor of the crash. Continental Flight 11.

[@Fixxer315]

As a bookwork during my 1980's high school days, I enjoyed reading the book upon which the original Airport movie was based. It really did a great job of showing life behind the scenes at a typical airport in the early 70's, even getting into a lot of minutia. It's fascinating to see how much had changed in the decade or so between the publication of the book and when I read them--and even more fascinating to see many of the changes since. But Arthur Haley did an excellent job of doing the research for his novels. Whether it was the Hotel industry (Hotel), the banking industry (The Moneychangers), power companies (Overload) or pharmaceutical companies (Strong Medicine), he did an excellent job of portraying these sectors, with main characters that were usually well thought out. I strongly recommend anybody interested in these topics check those books out.

[@kennixox262]

In the first Airport movie. What happened is that a plane landed and was taxiing and turned too short due to lack of visibility on the snow covered taxiway and the nose gear because stuck in the soft soil. . It was Kennedy's character that was responsible to get the stuck aircraft off the taxiway since it was blocking part of the main runway. He did not land the plane but did eventually taxi it once they got the wheel free.

[@cinemaforce1]

Patroni rocks!

[@simonsmatthew]

The love theme music from Airport (1970) was a hit (in those days instrumental/orchestral music could be) and is the most well-known. But the music from 1975 was my favourite, by the legendary John Cavacas, who by the way as written some popular textbooks for students on orchestration. Despite the questionable quality of the movies, the scores were of the highest standard. Although there are some great film composers today, there are few that have the command of harmony and counterpoint to write this sort of music. This gives the movies a timeless and classy feel,

[@cinemaforce1]

Very much agreed. It would be nice to have those remastered.

[@jeffg7]

Airport has never had an archival soundtrack release. At the time it was common to record album versions of cues that were never meant to play to picture. The studio masters may well have been lost. The 30 minute or so soundtrack album may be the best we'll ever get from the last Alfred Newman score.

[@DelaniaAndTheDogs]

“Ponch” eats the fish… I’m dying. 🤣🤣🤣

[@marcotravaglini5747]

You forgot to mention "Aiplane !" with Leslie Nielsen, the best movie of the serie!

[@andysorensen1737]

He is serious. And stop calling him Shirley.

[@H-u-m-a-n_11_06]

“Gloria Swanson playing Gloria Swanson as Gloria Swanson.” Very versatile actress I’m sort of convinced Sunset Boulevard was just Billy Wilder following her with a camera recording her being crazy.

[@cinemaforce1]

She would have def been a candidate for reality show star

[@longfade]

She’s totally insufferable.

[@DigbyOdel-et3xx]

Karen Black's eyes are mesmerizing.🥰

[@cinemaforce1]

Not bad!

[@tdecker2937]

Her eyes look crossed, they are odd!

[@kimberleyoliver8335]

The Airport series is on my list of shows to watch. I’m glad you know it inspired “Airplane” and “Airplane 2”

[@andyhamilton8940]

“‘A hospitital, what is it? It’s a larger building with sick people in it, but that’s not important right now!”

[@3ppcli]

I was 8 when my parents took the family to the Drive-in to see Airport. Such great memories.

[@Delatta1961]

Drive-in movies were awesome

[@cinemaforce1]

Amazing!

[@Bill-kh9cc]

AIRPORT 75: The lady next to Gloria Swanson is Heston's Planet of the Apes co-star Linda Harrison (Nova)

[@filmgirlLisa]

Just want you to know that I actually marathoned this series (seeing them for the first time) because of this post (and the fact that Airplane! is one of my favorite movies). Now I'm coming back after I finished, and I have to say 2 and 3 are definitely my favs, with 2 being slightly on top. Some notable favorite moments: --Pilot Patroni flying a concord upside down, Top Gun style, to evade some missiles and firing a starter pistol outside the window to hit it all while passenger Jimmy Walker tries to hold onto and play his saxaphone (Concord) --A reporter giving commentary into a recorder on the Concord while everyone else is trying to find air in their oxygen masks (Concord) --Dean Martin deciding to stick by his side piece on the way to the hospital after a traumatic flight while walking past his sweet and doting wife (who was very worried about him) and he not even stopping to say Hi to her (Airport) --"Dracula" Cristopher Lee giving up his life for no reason at all since he offered to scuba dive but didn't even make it out of the plane alive (77) --Honestly, Ponce's one liners and shameless come ons were next level! (75) --And seeing a story about some guy named Alain Delon's tragic death and not having heard of him until I realized that I was currently watching him a movie (79) AMAZING!

[@garynajera7484]

I was able to find all the airport movies on a dvd set always did love these movies

[@grriceman782]

Owner of the 4 feature DVD “Airport Terminal Pack” here! This is a brilliant review of the collection and wonderfully narrated. Thank you

[@cinemaforce1]

Thanks so much!

[@kevinmatsumoto8581]

Yes. The extended version of Airport 77 began with the thieves stealing sleeping gas, Jack Lemon flying a simulator, and Brenda Vaccaro in training. There was more screen time with George Kennedy and a scene with his son Joseph, now a teenager. It was also revealed that the Steven’s 747 was Columbia’s 747 which Joe Patroni’s company had rebuilt. I recorded it on VHS when TNT aired the extended version in the 90’s and I’m kicking myself for not saving the tapes. I cannot find the extended versions anywhere.

[@suebob16]

If I recall, the deleted scenes in Airport 77 were flashbacks of a number of passengers on the plane to give them some context in the movie. I personally didn't think they were necessary. Now what was fun at the time was that me and my family went to Universal Studios that year and got to see a live presentation of some of the effects and editing for the film. Audience members volunteered to recreate small moments that were inserted into scenes from the movie for the whole audience to see. My favorite was seeing a man and woman as Lemmon and Vacarro recreate the final escape as they tried to climb up some stairs to the cockpit as water was rushing at them from underneath.

[@cinemaforce1]

That Is Awesome!

[@muzluv33]

Liked the first two movies the best. Loved the scene in Airport 1970 when the priest slaps the hysterical passenger across from him in the face after doing the Sign of the Cross and done so nonchalantly. And yes Helen Hayes was the comic relief in that movie and did it brilliantly - her Oscar was well deserved. Movies such as these would not be half as effective without the star power that existed back then. Yes, those were the days, my friend, those were the days.

[@donovan1971]

My Man! This was a fun watch. The under water film scared the hell out of me when I was 8 yrs old. Thanks for making this video. I really enjoyed it. 🤘

[@cinemaforce1]

thank you for watching!

[@bronxbearbud272]

I wonder how many flight attendants smile when Jacqueline Bisset slaps Helen Hayes in the face...

[@cinemaforce1]

lol

[@Springbok295]

Patroni loved the Boeing 707 and 747. If Patroni could see a Boeing MAX he likely remark, "What a piece of junk!"

[@cinemaforce1]

We need a Patroni only reboot series of films.

[@AdrianInflorida]

"The best thing about the 707 is that it can do everything but read"

[@cinemaforce1]

for now

[@Bullman422]

I loved the first Airport but Airport 75 is still my all time favorite

[@stephendacey8761]

I agree. Sitting at the movies as a child watching the plane fly over the snow capped mountains in amazing color was pretty cool for 1975.That plane got me to consider being a pilot. Unfortunately, to be a pilot you need good math skills which I don't.

[@jfmezei]

I am old enough to remember that whenever my mother flew overseas and we would accompany her to airport, after check-in, there was always the stop at the insurance kiosks to get flight insurance in case plane wen down. That was about the same time as the first Airport movie. Just about every passenger did buy insurance for those flights. And the first Airport movie with its bomb on it probably boosted insurance sakes. (also remember that highjackings were more common back then).

[@cinemaforce1]

I can imagine how complicated that must be

[@Clipper707]

Honorable mentions to 2 great 70s TV movies: SST:Death Flight with a very stellar cast and Captain Mike Brady, and The Horror at 37,000 feet with a few famous names as well. While some of the Airport movies were better than the others, they all had Joe Patroni and not only was Joe trying to save the plane, he did his best to save the movie as well. I forgot Ponch was in 75. Great video! Thanks!

[@cinemaforce1]

i love the name Death Flight. Why was Bronson not in that?

[@mego73]

I have the TV version of Airport 77. It has an entire prologue of the thieves getting their plot into motion at the airport and flashback scenes for most of the characters.

[@cinemaforce1]

yeah ive seen a little of that

[@kellycunningham9920]

I grew up on these movies! Nothing like them! Loved the recap and the humorous commentary. Thanks for the retrospective!

[@cinemaforce1]

Thank you so much !

[@whenthepicturesgotbigger]

I also made an Airport retrospective about two months ago on my own channel! We ended up touching on similar themes but had different takeaways! Great vid!

[@cinemaforce1]

I'll check it out!

[@jeromelombardo6053]

Airport 77 was just a fun movie.

[@Marquettes2010]

As a kid I thought "Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land" or "Starflight One" with Lee Majors was one of these as well.

[@cinemaforce1]

I need to see that one but I don't think it is

[@DouglasVishalBrook]

Karen Black and her character were an inspiration for female empowerment when she had to bravely step up and try to go way out of her comfort zone for the good of others when she flies the plane on her own in Airport '75. It was unrealistic but made such a big impression on me as a kid. Also the fact that so many of the flying shots in '75 were real planes flying made it feel extra unsettling.

[@cinemaforce1]

very cool

[@thegood9]

I saw A:77 on tv over those nights. I don't recall what was in it to expand it. But, I too would like to see the telecast again.

[@ScrapNfight]

I love AIRPORT. I like all the Airport movies except the Concorde.

[@cinemaforce1]

its a hard one to like

[@AC-ss2sv]

I am a big fan of this whole franchise and I’m sure I’m one of the few but I absolutely love Airport 79! I once left a post it note behind on a plane reading “Don Misconscrew Me… XO, Charo” on the off chance someone would get the ref. This was a great retrospective and I enjoyed the comedy ‘75 on my iPad to watch again right now! Thanks for all the work you put into this!

[@cinemaforce1]

Thank you very much!

[@JohnSipe-jt7bm]

Full Circle: in 1960 Efrem Zimbalist Jr flew a Navy jet into an airliner piloted by Dana Andrews(The Crowded Sky). In 1975, Dana Andrews flew small plane into 747 piloted by Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (Airport ‘75). 6:38

[@suebob16]

@@JohnSipe-jt7bm Wow, I wonder if the two actors recall this. I hope they had a chance to talk to each other while filming Airport 75.

[@saldun2603]

So friggn funny love this you like Gladiator Movies too? Hilarious fun keep it up!

[@cinemaforce1]

Yes! Thank you!

[@jeffreyclinard2002]

My favorite was the original, as I liked the original book. Of course, much of it focused on the actual operation of an airport, with the airport manager (Burt Lancaster's character) dealing with issues small (the shoeshine concessionaire lodged a complaint against a rental car agency that installed an automated one as a promotion. He told the rental car guy he can't do that any more than the shoeshine guy can start renting cars) to large (notably the aircraft which was blocking the main runaway). Meanwhile, his brother was an air traffic controller contemplating suicide (he quits instead), while his brother-in-law is the pilot of the aircraft with the bomber. Everybody remembers the last plot, but most of the book was about the operation of the airport itself, hence the title. The adaptation for the screen cut out the ATC, and streamlined much of the airport operations. They were good choices, and left the parts of airport operations needed for the plot (the customs officer who noticed the bomber, the stowaway, and the flight insurance girl, though in the book she had received a boob job that made Dolly Parton look like Twiggy). For the rest of the series they ran with the airplane in trouble disaster formula. I vividly remember Mad Magazine's version of the Concorde (from Robert Wagner's "There are no such documents. BTW, he didn't happen to give you the no such documents?" to the TV broadcast of how the Concorde could fly at supersonic speeds, followed by the news story of the new anti-aircraft missile which could bring down aircraft flying at supersonic speed).

[@RabidEwok1284]

I saw the Expanded Airport 1977 as a young girl when it aired on TV in 1978. 11 years old . The extra scenes included multiple backgound stories for many of the characters. Amomg them: Eddie, the Bartender/Steward is about to become a Dad. Karen Wallace is even more of a Shrew to Martin and attempts to have something of a Love Triangle with Frank Powers. The Blind Pianist, who is played by a popular singer of the time, Tom Sullivan, (he is in fact Blind) has cute scenes with his girl, Julie. There are extra scenes related to the Hijackers prepping, the Flight and Cabin Crews prepping and training, the Navy prepping and training. More dialogue throughout for the main and supporting characters. On IMDB, under the Airport 1977 page,under Alternate Versions is an extensive list of what was added for TV.

[@RabidEwok1284]

Tom Sullivan, who played the Piano Player, had an Biography Movie made of his life. 1982's If You Could See What I Hear. He is played by Marc Singer. The film covers Tom Sullivan's College, Grad School, and very early Perfoming Career

[@cinemaforce1]

Loved that movie as a kid

[@muzluv33]

This may not be well known, but the scale model of the plane used in Airport 1970 was used in a scene from the Emergency! episode "The Girl on the Balance Beam" from season 5. The paramedics are rescuing a girl (not the one on the balance beam) stuck in midair in a malfunctioning tether while doing a stunt in a film studio. You can clearly see the plane with the TGA logo in that scene dangling from the ceiling.

[@shanecasebeer1364]

This series also (probably) inspired a Far Side cartoon set in a chaotic cockpit with the caption: amidst all the chaos, Fifi seized the controls and saved the day. Fifi was, of course, a poodle.

[@cinemaforce1]

I need to check that out

[@B1970TBronze]

This was quite a different take on the Airport series and hilarious! Nice

[@cinemaforce1]

Thank you!

[@jamesfaber6959]

Don't forget the wonderful Barbara Hale played Dean Martin's wife. Barbara was famous for her roll in the long running CBS series Perry Mason as Della Street.

[@cinemaforce1]

That cast was stacked

[@K4rt80y]

The instruction book said that's impossible. Well, there's one nice thing about about the 707...it can do everything but read.

[@cinemaforce1]

exactly

[@mikeneff6122]

this commentary is PERFECTION! Thank you :)

[@cinemaforce1]

Wow, thank you!

[@jfmezei]

Historical background on buying insurance at airports: there was the Warsaw Convention but more and more countries pulled out of it because it was inadequate. (including the USA). With airlines not held liable, people had to buy separate insurance for life and baggage. Eventually, the Montréal convention was signed much later, but suspect that by early 1980s, airlines in western world were made liable for loss of life/luggage so buying insurance at airport was no longer necessarty and those kioks all disappeared.

[@cinemaforce1]

Seems like a very complicated idea for sure

[@anthonyd6370]

airport was the first and best

[@jfmezei]

When I took first scuba diving lessons, part of the training involved lifting objects from sea floor, and made me realize that the raising of the 747 in Airport 77 was much more realistic that I had thought when I had seen it back then. However, not sure how much of plane would be able to go above sea level since the ballons would stop lifting when they reached sea level. Also as soon as a portion of aircraft rises above sea level, it ceases to be bouyant and its weight then pushes down on rest of aircraft, so you would need more balloons at bottom of aircraft to lift it enough out of water so that they can open a door. (and in reality, they would likely just get cockpit above water and have people exit from the ceiling hatch in cockpit). An aircraft sinking 10m (~30 US feet) would likely take on water to fill half its volume until pressure equalized to 2 ATM. (2 * 147psi) since that is ambiant at that depth. But as aircraft would start to rise with ballons, that air would expand again and occupy greater volume of aircraft and add it its bouyancy. (So the cargo deck would more than likely be totally flooded). And once pressure equalized, opening of the cargo door would not be as violent as depicted in movie). Water would pass though engines to enter ventilation system and fill cabin till pressure equalized.

[@richardnogan4579]

Love to see this on youtube. I saw this when it first came out in Radio City Music Hall, I was just a lad. Excellent flick.

[@cinemaforce1]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnwatson3948]

I worked on a movie in late 1979 with the DP and camera crew that had shot Airport 79 and the other two sequels - said they were expecting to do a planned fourth sequel called “Airport 1985” (or similar) set on the Space Shuttle.

[@cinemaforce1]

That was Airplane II. lol

[@johnwatson3948]

Yes exactly! - could speculate that the planned Airport 85 inspired Airplane II though the Shuttle is an obvious idea. The low gross of Airport 79 probably sealed the fate of the series, not to mention the Space Shuttle already being a large part of Moonraker that year.

[@TheJimMix]

Will Ferrell??? Tom Sullivan would love that.

[@scottlarson1548]

When I saw Airport '79 in the theater I knew opening a cockpit window in a supersonic airplane made no sense. I was nine years old.

[@cinemaforce1]

right?

[@atrocchia]

I love Airport '77.

[@dualactionsurgilator]

Also for those wanting to know the original Airport was MSP in Minneapolis/St. Paul renamed Chicago Lincoln.

[@NormanLor]

I LOVED THE BOOK AND BY SOME MIRACLE I HAD A FIRST EDITION OF IT. TOO BAD I LOST IT.

[@MagSeven7]

I never saw the Concorde entry but it looks like I didn't miss anything. So cartoonish! I loved the original and the sequel. I admit, I had a hard time with the intact plane under water and Jack Lemmon as a badass hero! He'll always be the original Felix Unger from the Odd Couple! I seem to notice that theme noted in this video of the old guys with the young women.....Interesting.

[@cinemaforce1]

yeah might have been a studio decision or moreover a star decision?

[@cheripetty1805]

Hilarious commentary!

[@cinemaforce1]

Thank you!

[@placeyplacey]

My mother had a thing for Dana Andrews and we were all marched off to see the film but little did she know he died in the first 10 minutes…

[@suebob16]

@@placeyplacey Yes it was a shame his role was so short. You may want to check out the 1957 movie Zero Hour that stars Dana Andrews. Zero Hour was the film that was the basis for the 1980 comedy Airplane. Dana Andrews was the original Ted Striker.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

Love, the 1st., and 2nd. Features. Hey, you forgot to mention 'Helen Reddy', as the singing nun, in 'Airport 75'!!! So, my ratings are; 1st., 4★. 2nd., 3★. 3rd., 2★. 4th., 💣. Rating's go by, critic's scale (the REAL, scale) out of '4★', being the best.

[@hendrsb33]

I've only ever seen the first two Airport movies but after seeing Joe Patroni shooting a flare gun out an OPEN COCKPIT WINDOW to detonate a missile, I'm glad I missed the Concorde movie.

[@cinemaforce1]

Good ole Joe , he needed his own spinoff series where he switches professions each week. Patroni : The Series

[@tiadaid]

Airport '79 was so bad, the only noteworthy thing about the movie is the fact that the Concorde used in the picture was the one that crashed infamously in Paris, killing all onboard and the Concorde itself.

[@nrkgalt]

The old nun in Airport 1975 makes some disparaging comments about Gloria Swanson. Maybe the nun knew about the affair with Joseph Kennedy.

[@cinemaforce1]

haha

[@frankdenardo8684]

Gloria Swanson made a cameo appearance in the film. She sounds like one of those people you meet in bars and restaurants. They want to chew the fat with someone, being they don't like staying in a hotel room watching those nauseating reruns of Family Affair.

[@theprinceofsnj]

Funny I can think of three movies that predate the airport films. No Highway In The Sky with Jimmy Stewart. The High And The Mighty with John Wayne. And Fate Is The Hunter with Glenn Ford. And the car used to jump start the space shuttle in Airplane 2 was a 1959 Edsel Ranger.

[@cinemaforce1]

Ive only seen the Wayne one you mentioned

[@harri211]

If you treat Concorde as a comedy, it's actually funnily entertaining.

[@petermcgill1315]

Petroni, one of the great characters.

[@cinemaforce1]

he should of had his own spin off show

[@petermcgill1315]

@@cinemaforce1 maybe. Sometimes really well drawn characters don’t transfer. I remember Robert Loggia’s secret service character was brilliant in (iicr) Favourite Son, Mancuso but the follow up series was disappointing.

[@DigbyOdel-et3xx]

I enjoyed all the Airports... The first is best, with 75 and 77 next best. The poorest is the last with the Concorde but its still fun enough to watch.

[@cinemaforce1]

That seems to be my take too

[@QCCatPlanes]

6:49 Helen Reddy as the guitar playing nun

[@websoldier4576]

For my first international flight in 1884, my mother bought insurance on me from the Mutual of Omaha desk, at LAX.

[@andyhamilton8940]

Love the Fletch reference!” Mooooonn Riverrr!”

[@cinemaforce1]

Fletch is legend.

[@tejayschwartz7681]

Airplane is more of spoof on a film called "Zero Hour" ... In fact most of the movie is word for word the same ..

[@cinemaforce1]

A lot of the gags were taken from the Airport films as well.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Hate to burst your balloon, but the piano player in Airport 77 is Tom Sullivan NOT Will Ferrell.

[@johnkern7075]

Martha Raye. She was on a few episodes of ALICE. She played the part of Mel's mom.

[@bernardmueller5676]

You forgot to mention Sylvia Kristel as a stewardess, as they were called back then. And oh, Patroni had a cameo in "View from the top". Yes, I saw that one. And Roger Ebert did, too.

[@cinemaforce1]

Oh I know there are a lot I left out for time. So many Emmanuel jokes so little time

[@padawanmage71]

I'm a huge fan of the Airport series, and am not ashamed to say i love 'Concorde' best (probably as i loved that plane). The first Airport was really good, though I was not a fan of Dean Martin's character, who, btw, was married to the sister of Burt Lancaster's character. Burt knows of Dean's sleeping around, yet somehow the sister either doesn't know or turns a blind eye. Also while Dean's marriage was still going ok, Burt's was already heading to a divorce, so again, not a fan of the flyboy...

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

*Airplane!* producers (Abrahams/Zuckers (ZAZ) wanted George Kennedy to play the part of Steve McCroskey (Lloyd Bridgets). Kennedy wasn't available. AZA then offered him in The Naked Gun. *Airplane!* was loosely based on the 1957 film *Zero Hour.* The Airport used in *Airport* is the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. That Terminal is still in use today. Building got longer. Inside has been remodeled. But the exterior looks the same after 60 years. The snow in the this fake or trucked in. The weather was a warm winter when *Airport* was filmed.

[@cinemaforce1]

Thanks for the info!

[@aintnodisco7127]

As I hear it, it wasn't that Kennedy wasn't available, he turned down the role. He said that he had a certain protectiveness of the Airport franchise and thought participating in a parody would besmirch the memory of the series. Hence, he was offered and took the Naked Gun work.

[@rginla]

The commentary is hilarious!!!

[@cinemaforce1]

Thank you!

[@jamesstuart3346]

Airport 2024: "Captain! A door plug has blown out!" 😅

[@cinemaforce1]

"The Boing Incident"

[@spectreagent]

But, honestly, I do love the airport films, even the Concorde

[@cinemaforce1]

You have to celebrate the entire Joe saga

[@johnrudy9404]

Someone already mentioned Zero Hour. I concur.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

I just noticed 'Patroni' is an almost-anagram of 'Airport'.

[@bartman898]

I remember seeing these movies when they came out. Especially the third one. Anyway, Airplane is much funnier if you have seen these airport movies.

[@jeromelombardo6053]

I think George Kennedy was in every movie in the 1970's.

[@cinemaforce1]

That is correct

[@TheNameOfJesus]

Your sense of humour is amazing. I just have one concern... you said Airport came out in 1970, but at 17:23 in the copyright line it says it was copyrighted in 1969. Regardless of when it was released, it's really a movie made in the 60s! It feels like it has some things in common with another 60s movie: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

[@cinemaforce1]

Oh thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's just a fun take on the films.