Summary
Melodrama about a bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved.
Cast
Burt Lancaster
Mel Bakersfeld
Dana Wynter
Cindy Bakersfeld
Dean Martin
Vernon Demerest
Barbara Hale
Sarah Demerest
Jean Seberg
Tanya Livingston
Jacqueline Bisset
Gwen Meighen
George Kennedy
Joe Patroni
Jodean Lawrence
Marie Patroni
Helen Hayes
Ada Quonsett
John Findlater
Peter Coakley
Van Heflin
D. O. Guerrero
Maureen Stapleton
Inez Guerrero
Barry Nelson
Anson Harris
Eileen Wesson
Judy Barton
Robert Patten
Captain Benson
Paul Picerni
Dr. Compagno
Ilana Dowding
Robbie Bakersfeld
Lisa Gerritsen
Libby Bakersfeld
Clark Howat
Bert Weatherby
Gary Collins
Cy Jordan
Lloyd Nolan
Harry Standish
Jessie Royce Landis
Harriet DuBarry Mossman
Sandra Gould
Millie Miles
Janis Hansen
Katherine Grace
William Boyett
Jack Ingram
James Nolan
Steven Lonigan
Peter Turgeon
Marcus Rathbone
Albert Reed Jr.
Ned Ordway
Dick Winslow
Mr. Schultz
Virginia Grey
Mrs. Schultz
Lou Wagner
Schuyler Schultz
Whit Bissell
Mr. Davidson
Ena Hartman
Ruth
Nancy Ann Nelson
Bunnie
Mary Jackson
Felice
Patty Poulsen
Joan
Malila Saint Duval
Maria
Sharon Harvey
Sally
Shelly Novack
Rollings
Lew Brown
Reynolds
Larry Gates
Ackerman
Chuck Daniel
Parks
Charles Brewer
Diller
Richard Mathews
Controller
Cathleen Cordell
Mrs. Donovan
William H. O'Brien
Waiter at Men's Club
Leoda Richards
Woman on Dais
Ray Ballard
Gilbert Price (uncredited)
Chuck Bowman
New York Dispatcher (uncredited)
Eve Brent
Mrs. David Corman (uncredited)
John Dennis
Cab Driver (uncredited)
John Francis
Maurice David (uncredited)
Harry Harvey
Dr. Avery Smith (uncredited)
Gordon Jump
Man Inspecting Hole in Plane (uncredited)
Eve McVeagh
Mrs. Henry Bron (uncredited)
Pat Priest
Mrs. Jerry Copeland (uncredited)
Don Ross
John (uncredited)
Marion Ross
Joan Myers (uncredited)
Mark Russell
Pfc. Bud Miller (uncredited)
Frank J. Scannell
Ted Fields (uncredited)
Susan Seaforth Hayes
First Class Flight Attendant (uncredited)
Allison McKay
Mrs. Irwin Jansen (uncredited)
John Nolan
Richard Ross (uncredited)
Ron Stokes
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Quinn K. Redeker
John Reindel (uncredited)
Crew
Director, Screenplay
George Seaton
Novel
Arthur Hailey
Reviews
Wuchak
April 9, 2021
7
_**Quaint, but fairly compelling airport soap opera with a disaster element**_
During a snowstorm at Lincoln International Airport in Chicago, the manager of the airport (Burt Lancaster) works overtime to clear the main runway of a Boeing 707 that’s stuck in the snow while dealing with his failing marriage. Meanwhile the next flight to Rome piloted by his brother-in-law (Dean Martin) has a suspicious person with an attaché case on board (Van Heflin). George Kennedy plays the head mechanic, Jean Seberg a customer relations agent, Jacqueline Bisset a flight attendant and Helen Hayes a stowaway.
"Airport" (1970) was the movie that kicked-off the disaster craze of the 70s. It’s not great like “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972), but it’s more compelling and less bloated than “The Towering Inferno” (1974). The soap operatic first half paves the way for the disaster-oriented second. It’s intentionally old-fashioned and was a huge hit at the box office. I wasn’t sure about it for the first 20 minutes, but I then found myself involved in the characters and their story, keeping my interest till the end.
After disaster films developed a bad rap years later, Lancaster panned “Airport” as the “worst piece of junk ever made,” which is ironic considering it was his most successful movie at the box office BY FAR.
The film runs 2 hours, 16 minutes, and was shot at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minneapolis, and Universal Studios, Universal City, California.
GRADE: B
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$10,000,000.00
Revenue:
$100,489,151.00
