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Summary: Classic Hit Film Finally Available in Theatrical Widescreen!
Review: Bravo for a well done DVD of a classic hit movie! AIRPORT has previously only been shown in widescreen on cable television, in letterbox format. Those who bought their own copy for home viewing had to settle for a full screen pan and scan edition, which leaves out a great deal of the movie's main attraction, its spectacle, not to mention a number of the "artsy" split-screen shots which were in vogue at the time. If you are waiting for a definitive edition of AIRPORT for home viewing, this is a value. Excellent theatrical sound and anamorphic widescreen picture for maximum resolution even on your big screen. The movie score is a classic, too, and sounds great. The picture clarity and color are excellent, making this quite a bargain in Universal Pictures/Good Times home entertainment -- a big budget, all star cast motion picture for less than the price of two tickets to a revival screening.
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Summary: A CLASSIC FILM RUINED ON DVD!!!
Review: This film is a Universal Studio release. Why wasn't the DVD released by Universal instead of the cheezy Goodtimes Video? This film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards including best picture. It is brilliantly produced and directed. The film premiered at Radio City Music Hall in 70MM and 6 track sterophonic sound. Contrary to one of the reveiews here, Goodtimes did not mix the sound in the widescreen version in 3 channel surround. It is a [bad] 2 channel stereo track. This is a disgrace considering how effective a 5.1 Dolby Digital transfer would have been. The great sound effects and Alfred Newman's great score deserves better.. PLEASE, UNIVERSAL****************RESURRECT THIS FILM, AND MAKE IT A COLLECTERS EDITION AND GIVE IT THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Summary: A classic disaster film worth watching thirty years later.
Review: Most modern movies rely on special effects as their drawing card, and consequently many of the modern Hollywood disaster blockbusters with stunning effects have suffered with a poor plot. Airport is a classic disaster film from the days in which producers had to rely on a suspenseful plot to keep viewers interested. Rather than feed us dramatic images of Titanic disaster, it feeds us with the drama and suspense of a great plot. It doesn't have the special effects, but the plot is one that puts many modern movies to shame. Of course, the plot is taken straight from Arthur Hailey's enormously successful 1968 book "Airport". The great plot not only made the book a success, but it also makes this movie a success. In fact "Airport" spawned a succession of disaster movies, but retains the privilege of being one of the first and greatest. .... Can you believe it - a blockbuster suspense movie with a G rating? Today that's unimaginable. Not to say that "Airport" is completely clean. There were a couple incidences of blasphemy (albeit barely noticeable)/ And although infidelity wasn't shown on screen, it was certainly implied and its consequences (a pregnancy out of wedlock) formed an integral part of the plot. Both of the main male characters had broken marriages, and it was unfortunate that the plot tried to arouse sympathy for the immoral relationship of a pilot with a younger woman at the expense of his moral obligations to his wife. On the other hand, while mature themes such as pregnancy and abortion were raised, yet in the end it was a pro-life alternative that was presented in a positive light. While discerning viewers will want to be aware of these moral ambiguities, you will be pleased to know they are not dominant and do not substantially prevent enjoyment of the movie. Unlike most blockbusters, we are spared any gory scenes or lust for the eyes, and the focus is on the plot. And the plot is a good one, with several subplots. A busy airport manager is faced with blizzard conditions that threaten to force his airport to close. To make matters worse, he has to deal with a bogged plane blocking a runway, angry neighbourhood residents protesting at excessive noise, and an incoming flight with a stowaway ... and a mentally ill suicide bomber. The acting of the stowaway, by the way is superb - Helen Hayes won an Academy Award for her efforts, and the movie is worth seeing alone for her brilliant acting of the little old lady in her seventies. The role of the chief mechanic - an arrogant practical thinker devoid of emotion - was also well played. Sure this movie is dated. It comes from a time where smoking on aircraft was common, and where aircraft security was so lax it was possible for stowaways to practically walk on board. The acting isn't always convincing, and the special effects seem somewhat prehistoric. But nothing can beat a clean movie with a great storyline with a suspenseful ending, and this is one classic disaster film that will keep you riveted. Modern advances in movie making have often been accompanied by a retreat in morals and story-line. This is one good movie that demonstrates that sometimes older is better.
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Summary: Don't waste your time on the "standard format" AIRPORT
Review: My advice is that you not waste your time on the "standard format" version of the film "AIRPORT". It has been remastered and released in a new widescreen version. Read my review of the widescreen version, and if you already purchased the standard format version, throw it away and buy the widescreen version. You'll be glad you did!
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Summary: The original AIRPORT is still exciting 32 years later!
Review: As a young teen in 1970, I actually saw this film in the theatre 15 times when it premiered! I guess it all went to my head, because I became a flight attendant, and it's all because of this movie! (OK, so I'm crazy, but it pays the bills!) As an industry insider, I truly enjoy the historical aspects of this film. To see how an old woman can stow-away simply by walking onboard on a flight to Rome is amazing. To see the mad bomber easily carrying a bomb onboard in his briefcase is chilling. Hard to believe that airports once had no security screening or x-rays. You'll also notice the overhead shelf above the passenger seats isn't even enclosed. Didn't the carry-on luggage used to fall on their heads in turbulance? You'll notice many interesting differences in details like these throughout the film. But on to the film review... This is a truly exciting film. The stars are perfectly cast, especially the role of glamourous stewardess Gwyn Meighen as played by Jaqueline Bissett. It is wonderfully photographed. The tension-building music score adds to the excitement. Definitely a big-budget production. As the first of the string of airplane disaster films in the '70's, it remains by far the best. Everything about this production is purely First Class. Everything that followed (ie: "Airport 75" and "Airport 77") was pure camp. Nothing compares to the original. This film MUST be seen in widescreen to be best appreciated. If you (as I did) purchased the earlier "standard format" DVD version of this film, throw it away and buy the widescreen version. It's worth the $... TECHNICAL NOTES:
This widescreen version has been digitally enhanced, producing a very high-quality image. You'll love watching this film as it was originally presented in theatres.
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Summary: Seminal Disaster Film of the 1970's!
Review: This 1970 success owes much to previous air disaster flicks like 1955's "High and the Mighty" and 1956's "Julie". Alfred Newman's pulsating samba score and George Seaton's well-paced direction give "Airport" a distinct advantage over earlier and later extrapolations on its theme. While much of the drama is formulaic, the acting is generally good, and the casting includes some all-time greats in the entertainment field. The scene in which a priest crosses himself and simultaneously slaps a whining passenger is a gem, only to be treasured fully in widescreen. Fasten your sealbelts and enjoy the original and, still the best, "Airport".
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Summary: AIRPORT!
Review: The first and still the BEST of the series of movies that begins with this adpatation of ARTHUR HALEY's bestselling novel! BURT LANCASTER is trying to run the airport during a snow storm! His marriage is falling apart but JEAN SEBERG is there to comfort him! Meanwhile, DEAN MARTIN is the pilot who has just learned his girl friend, "Stewardess" JACQUELINE BISSET is pregnant! Then, just to make things really interesting, VAN HEFLIN is on board with a bomb! HELEN HAYES won an Oscar for Mrs. Ada Quonsett, the world's best little old lady Stowaway! MAUREEN STAPLETON and GEORGE KENNEDY are also around to send good thoughts as the STRICKEN FLIGHT heads for Chicago! Director GEORGE SEATON takes us back to those thrilling days when movies combined ACTION and SOAP OPERA in equal parts!
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Summary: Widescreen glory at last!
Review: Well, I bought the Widescreen edition and it blew my mind! This is the best of the Airport films, and it is also the best transfer to DVD of all the Airport films as well. Widescreen was needed for a long time, and it looks fresh, vibrant and wonderful. However, as with all the Goodtimes DVD's I have, I can't understand why they don't put anything extra on it. For example the original trailer would be nice (which is on the Internet Movie Database incidentally). Goodtimes should go to Ebay, and spent $US20 on the presskits and stuff like that, and put the stuff on the DVD. It would certainly make it nicer and more 'period' oriented. Things like Gone With The Wind will be done to death, but films like this still have a place in history, what with the actors and storyline and how good they actually are!
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Summary: Nice Try
Review: This DVD just does not cut it. It was made in 1970 and its obvious that no chnages to either audio or video were made before putting in on DVD. This is an excellent example of a very poor digital remake... The acting is not great, and is very easily made fun of. The story is also very mediocre and seems to drag on too long. The movie airplane makes fun of these shortcomings.
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Summary: Eventful day at an International Airport--Top Entertainment!
Review: Burt Lancaster is great as the dedicated General Manager of Chicago's Lincoln Airport, directing the handling of an array of trouble-situations. Whether dealing with a suicidal passanger aboard a jumbo jet, or a little old lady (superbly played by Oscar winner Helen Hayes) who is finally stopped from scamming the air lines out of free fares. When given an ultimatum by his wife, Lancaster chooses to remain loyal to his job. -- A side plot deals with pilot Dean Martin's concerns about the pregnancy of his stewardess girl-friend (played by Jaquelin Bisset). This part of the story line was handled rather progressively by 1970 standards. -- Maureen Stapleton gives another fine performance as the wife of the down-and-out guy who wanted to blow up the plane he was on in order for her to collect insurance money. She gives true meaning to the words "for better or for worse". -- "Airport" is the first in a line of many 1970s big budget disaster movies, and in my opinion it's also the best. You're gonna like this picture!
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