Airport 1975 (1974)

How can you not like this ride? After all, so many other pictures have been spawned from its storyline, dialogue and quotes. So much technically wrong in it that it doesn't matter - it's a hoot! And was it really the beginning of the end for Karen Black? I'm ready to book my ticket aboard Columbia 409 again and again - the costumes, the trite script but what really makes the movie is the superb aerial photography. Although every modern professional Air Crew member would cringe at the (far too often portrayed) Pilot = Hero who saves the day and Flight Attendant = Bimbo who makes Tea formula of this film, it is nonetheless well worth adding to any collection! But the real question is - what was Gloria Swanson doing with her head down her top as they approached Salt Lake City? - By the way this was her last film and she insisted on writing her own lines - and it shows! Enjoy 10/10

Fmovies: AIRPORT 1975

Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Panavision)

Sound format: Mono

A terrified stewardess (Karen Black) is forced to take the controls of a Boeing 747 after it's struck by a private aircraft in mid-flight, incapacitating the entire air crew.

Anyone who's seen the likes of AIRPLANE! (1980) is going to chuckle in all the wrong places whilst viewing this opportunistic melodrama, which was ripe for parody long before the Zucker brothers tore it apart in their landmark comedy. On its own terms, Jack Smight's film - devised in the wake of such ultra-successful disaster spectaculars as THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972) and THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974) - is a surprisingly routine affair, directed with complete indifference, and played to the hilt by a commercially-dictated 'all-star cast', including Helen Reddy, Gloria Swanson (her final screen appearance), Linda Blair, Dana Andrews, Sid Caesar, Myrna Loy and Charlton Heston as an experienced pilot summoned by authorities to help land the plane safely. Black gives a truly committed performance as the frightened stewardess forced to confront the situation head-on, and she's matched by disaster-movie stalwart George Kennedy as a flight engineer charged with overseeing the rescue operation, knowing that his wife and child are aboard the stricken plane. As with all Universal movies of the period, it looks like a widescreen TV feature, and the cheapskate production values are obvious throughout. That said, it's much more entertaining than its mediocre predecessor AIRPORT (1969); followed by AIRPORT '77 (1977).

This film is laughingly bad. Gloria Swanson looks like she's wearing a makeup factory. Charlton Heston wears some frightening looking outfits. Karen Black, the best actress of the cast, is trying to take it all seriously but you know she's thinking "Just think about the money! Just think about the money!" The effects look like they were shot in someone's garage. George Kennedy says lines like "He dropped his old fashioned wrench," which are apparently supposed to bring down the house. Dana Andrews looks like he's incredibly bored. And Larry Storch in a serious role? Larry Storch? A mistake has been made here. Granted, the shots of the full plane in action are pretty good. But for all of this, I watch it, I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame every time it's on. I even bought the video tape. You know why? Because it's so bad it's good. Gloria Swanson's last line in the movie is the best. Why did they wait until her last line to have a good line in the movie? Myrna Loy is good - actually, she really shines with this crowd.

Airport 1975 fmovies. Chuck full of stars...cross eyed beauty Karen Black, Moses himself Charlston Heston, demon possessed Linda Blair, lesbian singer Helen Reddy, CHIP'S Erik Estrada, 3's company Normal Fell a.k.a Mister Roper, screen legend Gloria Swanson in her last role, etc.

This is perhaps the best of the "Airport" flicks, full of suspense and thrilling moments, near perfect cinematography, even the score adds to the bone chilling excitement. I was truly entertained throughout the whole film.

The 747 was decorated in 1970's vomit! purples and yellows!! the girls with lots of hairspray and false eyelashes...

I love when the stewardess says to the frightened passengers, let me give you a drink, the pilot is flying the plane now!! ha ha

This is the second of four movies in the "Airport" series . It's exciting and amusing but full clichés and stereotypes with mediocre performance by all star cast . The movie is another jetliner epic with hero Heston . A commercial airline of the American Airlines 747 Boeing ( piloted by Efrem Zimbalist Jr. , Roy Thinnes , Erik Estrada ) is crashed to another smaller plane (piloted by Dana Andrews) . Then the flight attendant ( Karen Black who brings conviction to her character as dedicated stewardess turned pilot ) taking on control of the dangerous travel and forcing daring rescue attempt ( by Ed Flanders and Heston) . The film is detailing hectic flighty piloted by a stewardess and the relationship among passengers . All clichéd and stock roles with regurgitation of all usual stereotypical situations from disaster films , the nuns ( Helen Reddy as singing nun and Martha Scott ), an aging alcoholic woman (Myrna Loy , but Joan Crawford was firstly approached to play the character who turned down), nervous passengers , an old actress (Gloria Swanson) . Taking place on freeze skies and Rocky Mountains as background , the airplane heading to Salt Lake City . If you've seen the original ¨Airport¨ ( by George Seaton ) based on the Arthur Hailey's novel 'the daddy of them all' , you have seen them all .

The picture contains thriller, suspense , drama , moderate tension and is quite entertaining although with some flaws and gaps . Filmed at the height of the disaster genre from the 7os , this entry in the spectacular series profits of a strong acting by Charlton Heston who spent time on a simulator in preparation for the role , bringing life to character , he also starred a similar role at ¨ Skyjacked (1972) ¨ by John Guillermin . Gloria Swanson performs herself in her ending movie . Look quickly to Nancy Olson , Linda Blair , Sid Caesar, Beverly Garland , Norman Fell and Jerry Stiller , Ben Stiller's father , among others . And of course appears the classic character Patroni played by usual George Kennedy . The motion picture is regularly directed by Jack Smight , habitual TV director and occasionally for theater ( Midway , Harper , No way to treat a lady ) . It's an inoffensive diversion but is sometimes tediously unspooled and it was parodied heavily in Airplane! (1980) by Jim Abrahams and David Zucker . The film will appeal to Charlton Heston fans and disaster genre enthusiasts .

AIRPORT 1975 not only has a great cast and special effects it has a reputation that has lasted the 25 years since its release. I first heard of this movie when I first watched the original Airport and everyone said great things about it and I would have to agree. Karen Black ,though her eyes throw you off, gives a great performance as the stewardess who has to fly the plane after the flight crew is killed or hurt by a small plane which crashes into the plane. Charlton Heston, George Kennedy and the rest of the cast are great and keep this movie going from the word GO! I also love the score which has to be one of my favorites!! 10 out of 10