Review of Airport 2013 (2014) by Ali N — 13 Jul 2009

Ah, the disaster movie; that staple of Hollywood movie-making, circa the 1960's/70's. Ask the man on the street to list his favourites and he'll probably name The Towering Inferno, Earthquake, The Poseidon Adventure and, of course, Airport.

Old Hollywood's representation at the 1971 Oscars (nominated alongside New Hollywood's finest in MASH, Patton and Five Easy Pieces), Airport is a big budget, glossy Hollywood blockbuster the likes of which it's rare to see nowadays.

Ageing stars (Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy) tackle their caricature-like characters admirably, stoicly spouting their, sometimes unintentionally humerous, dialogue. The effects, while now ropey and dodgy, were top of the range.

The film starts at a deathly slow pace, introducing us to the airport and all the characters that will eventually be the passengers on this doomed flight. Director's George Seaton and Henry Hathaway (who directed the exterior scenes) do a good job of juggling this vast array of characters and sub-plots (divorces, adultery, pregnancies, terrorism) and capturing the hustle and bustle of the airport.

However, over half the running time has elapsed before the plane is even in the air. 30 minutes could have easily been cut from the opening to give the film more flow. Neverless, once we're in the air is when Airport really takes off.

Fun and exciting, while endearingly cheesy, melodramatic and overblown, with a fun cast of eccentrics (Helen Hayes' elderly conwoman, Van Heflin's suicide bomber who blows a hole in the side of the plane).

Kind of stupid and old fashioned though it may be, Airport has an endearing quality to it. It's one of the last of the Old Hollywood style, back when the likes of Bonnie and Clyde, Easy Rider and The Graduate were breaking through.

3 sequels followed, all starring Kennedy. A perfect Sunday afternoon film, silly but fun.