‘Airport’ now in stunning 4K

Category: Blu-ray's, DVD's and Digital

The iconic 1970 movie Airport started a long list of disaster films. From the best-selling book by Arthur Hailey, the movie stars Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, Jean Seberg, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton, Barry Nelson, Lloyd Nolan, Dana Wunter, and Barbara Hale. Needless to say, it is an all-star cast.

When a disturbed man sets off a bomb aboard a flight from Chicago (fictional Lincoln airport) to Rome, not only does it affect those on the jetliner, but also on the ground. With pilots Demerest (Martin) and Harris (Nelson) trying to keep the plane steady and return back to Chicago, the airport manager Mel Bakersfeld (Lancaster) is confronting a difficult dilemma on the ground. Another plane slid off the runway in the snowstorm causing the main runway to be shut down as it is stuck part way on the runway. Unfortunately, that is the runway the bomb-damaged flight needs to keep the jetliner in tact when they land.

So, with the help of Joe Patroni (Kennedy) leading the extraction of the stuck plane, Bakersfeld is also confronted by the locals who do not want the other runway to stay open due to the noise the takeoffs generate over their homes. This is just one more item causing him stress as he does his job overseeing the extraction of the stuck plane while hoping the bomb damaged plane will make it back.

And to add to his night, Bakersfeld is dealing with is his failing marriage to his wife (Wynter) who could care less about the problems at the airport. She is only interested in her social engagements that elevate her in society.

Patroni is a fun character who does things his own way and is determined to save the stuck plane while at the same time freeing the runway for the incoming flight.

On board the flight, Demerest is also plagued by the fact he just found out his girlfriend, flight attendant Meighen (Bisset), is pregnant. He has kept his affair from his wife Sarah (Hale), who happens to be Bakersfeld’s sister. And to add to this anguish, Meighen is badly injured from the bomb.

Playing out on the ground is the emotional distress of Inez Guerrero (Stapleton) whose husband (Heflin) is the man who detonated the bomb thinking the insurance she would get from his death would help ease her life. She is completely distraught by what he did.

Now, the fun aspect – yes, there is a fun aspect to this disaster story – is Ada Quonsett (Hayes) who is a perpetual stowaway. Unfortunately for her, she chose the wrong flight on which to stow away this time. She is aboard the tragic plane.

Now, add all of these aspects together and you get a memorable movie with an all star cast combining several interpersonal stories with a tragic incident that could spell doom for an entire plane. 

Spoiler alert (if you don’t already know) the plane does return with minimal damage and few casualties. 

This is an intriguing story with many interesting characters played out in the air and on the ground. And the soundtrack is definitely worthy of the blockbuster film.

Helen Hayes won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (1971), and the film was nominated for Best Picture as well as eight other nominations. Maureen Stapleton won the Golden Globe for best supporting actress (1971).

The movie inspired three other Airport films: Airport 1975, Airport ’77, and Airport ’79: The Concord.

The suspense in this film, along with the lives and interactions of the characters, provide an exciting viewing experience. To say it is emotionally-charged and dramatic is an understatement. Even though it is a disaster movie, there are some cute elements that help make it memorable.

Airport is available in a 4K/Blu-ray set from Kino Lorber and other retailers.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. Francine is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.