Summary
In 1950s Canada, during a commercial flight, the pilots and some passengers suffer food poisoning, thus forcing an ex-WW2 fighter pilot to try to land the airliner in heavy fog.
Cast
Dana Andrews
Lt. Ted Stryker
Linda Darnell
Ellen Stryker
Sterling Hayden
Captain Martin Treleaven
Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch
Capt. Bill Wilson
Geoffrey Toone
Dr. Baird
Jerry Paris
Tony Decker
Peggy King
Stewardess Janet Turner
Patricia Tiernan
Mrs. Joan Wilson
Charles Quinlivan
Harry Burdick
Steve London
First Officer Walt Stewart
Jo Ann Wade
Treleaven's Baby Sitter
Ray Ferrell
Joey Stryker
John Ashley
TV Singer
Willis Bouchey
RCAF Doctor
Maxine Cooper
Sick Plane Passenger
David Thursby
Whitmond
Noel Drayton
Vancouver Control Man
Fintan Meyler
Hysterical Woman
Larry Thor
Vancouver Radio Dispatcher
Russell Thorson
Vancouver Flight Dispatcher
Robert Stevenson
Calgary Operator
Mary Newton
Plane Passenger with Rosary Beads
Will Sage
Vancouver Radar Controller
Hope Summers
Older Woman
Will J. White
Vancouver Policeman
Richard Keith
Calgary Station Manager
Arthur Hanson
Toer Operator
Roy Gordon
Frank Graham
Woody Chambliss
Reporter (uncredited)
William Conrad
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Fred Fisher
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
Rudy Germane
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
James Gonzalez
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Herschel Graham
Editor (uncredited)
Duane Grey
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
S. John Launer
Vancouver Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
James Maloney
Plane Passenger (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien
Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
Monty O'Grady
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Katherine Warren
Mrs. Purdy (uncredited)
John Zaremba
Passenger with Sick Wife (uncredited)
Crew
Director, Screenplay
Hall Bartlett
Screenplay
Arthur Hailey
Screenplay
John C. Champion
Reviews
John Chard
December 29, 2014
8
Tension and Terror in the Skies!
Famously parodied as Airplane in 1980, it gets forgotten just what a rollicking good thriller Zero Hour! is. Dana Andrews is the airman scarred by an incident during the war who has to battle his demons when the crew and passengers of the jumbo jet he is aboard fall victim to food poisoning. Sterling Hayden is down on the ground smoking loads of ciggies and having no faith in trying to talk Andrews down safely.
One of the first disaster aeroplane movies, it follows what we now regard as the staples of the genre. Troubled protagonist, family strife, calm characters, panic characters, lovely ladies, square jawed men, raging weather conditions and an aeroplane in serious danger of plummeting from the sky and killing all on board. It's sometimes hokey and one dimensional in terms of plot developments, but it commits to the drama and grinds out a suspenseful last half hour that can have you edging towards the edge of your seat.
A must see for fans of such fare. It's ok to love Airplane! and prefer its comedy smartness, but it's also ok to doff a respectful pilot cap towards Zero Hour! as well. 7.5/10
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00
Keywords
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