Introduction"Airport" is a 1970 American disaster movie directed and produced by George Seaton, and based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the very same name. The motion picture includes a star-studded ensemble cast led by Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin, together with Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, and Helen Hayes in a supporting role. The film marks the founding of the catastrophe movie category and set the tone for others like "Airport 1975", "Airport '77" and "The Concorde ... Airport '79".
Plot SynopsisThe movie opens at the imaginary Lincoln International Airport in Chicago, where manager Mel Bakersfeld (Burt Lancaster), captured amidst a getting worse snowstorm and a failing marriage, is attempting to keep his airport open regardless of the turbulent weather condition. At the same time, pilot Vern Demerest (Dean Martin) is challenging individual concerns of his own, with his stewardess sweetheart Gwen (Jacqueline Bisset) exposing she's pregnant with his child.
Main ConflictThe primary plot of "Airport" includes a suicide bomber named D.O. Guerrero (Van Heflin), a desperate man ridden with financial obligation who hatches a plan to explode a Rome-bound Boeing 707 jet and collect the insurance coverage cash to attend to his partner. Guerrero smuggles a bomb aboard the plane, which sets off a series of suspenseful episodes. Mel and his team look out to the bomber on board by Guerrero's wife, and they rush to reduce possible catastrophe.
Tensions EscalatingWhile the team faces this impending threat countless feet in the air, Mel deals with drama on the ground. His partner is threatening divorce, and an obstructed runway is triggering lethal backups at the beleaguered airport. Meanwhile, in the sky, the earnest attempts of the crew and a sly older passenger, Mrs. Ada Quonsett (Helen Hayes), who boarded the plane sans ticket or authority, add to the efforts to neutralize Guerrero.
Climax and ResolutionThe climax of the film sees Guerrero detonating the bomb when his objectives are discovered, triggering an explosive decompression but not damaging the aircraft. Demerest and the crew handle to stabilize the airplane, while on the ground, Mel works quickly to clear the snow-blocked runway. The aircraft makes an unstable but effective landing, and the survivors, consisting of Guerrero's better half, are left. By the end of the movie, Mel's marital relationship, nevertheless, seems at its end, while the relationship between Demerest and Gwen makes it through the distress and reaches a new level of understanding and commitment.
Legacy"Airport" was one of the highest-grossing films of 1970 and received 10 Academy Award elections, consisting of Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction, with Helen Hayes winning for Best Supporting Actress. In spite of the criticism for its melodramatic character developments, the film originated a new category of star-studded catastrophe legendaries and sealed its place in Hollywood history.
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