Film Overview"The Concorde ... Airport '79", released in 1979, is the fourth and final installation of the "Airport" movie franchise developed by Universal Pictures. The motion picture, directed by David Lowell Rich, operates within the catastrophe film genre that was highly popular throughout the 1970s. It follows the risky journey of the Concorde, a supersonic passenger airliner, filled with numerous characters each with their stories-- additional complicating the unfolding mayhem.
Main Plot and CharactersThe film's central plot revolves around a ceaselessly beleaguered Concorde flight from Washington D.C. to Moscow, with a drop in Paris. TV reporter Maggie Whelan (played by Susan Blakely), finds her partner Kevin Harrison (Robert Wagner), a defense professional, is associated with weapons sales to America's opponents. Panicked at the potential direct exposure, Harrison sets a course of lethal challenges to stop Maggie from reaching her location and making the news public.
Convoluted Paranormal DramaMeanwhile, the airplane, piloted by Captain Paul Metrand (Alain Delon) and Captain Joe Patroni (George Kennedy-- the only star to appear in all four "Airport" motion pictures), becomes subject to several attacks orchestrated by Harrison right from liftoff. From drone rockets to rogue French Air Force fighters, the airplane's trip ends up being a dangerous journey, all while airborne stress rises as travelers grapple with their personal dramas. Amongst those aboard are a heart transplant client, an aging playboy and his young lover, a divorcee looking for love, and even a Russian gymnastics team.
Production and ReceptionMaking complete use of the '70s fondness for disaster flicks, the action in "The Concorde ... Airport '79" is both airborne and ground-based. From breathtaking aerial acrobatics to a mid-air surge followed by an emergency situation landing, the film offers one disaster after another, making it a cornucopia of disasters.
Nevertheless, the motion picture's crucial reception was less than beneficial. Critics derided its excessive use of disaster-based clichés, absence of character depth, and unrealistic plot elements. The abundance of melodrama coupled with a complicated plot led to a mix of mockery and shock from audiences, ultimately making it a business flop.
With its unforgettable adventures, "The Concorde ... Airport '79" works as an influential cautionary tale about the threats of corruption and unchecked technological advances. While it didn't fly high in terms of cinematic achievement, "The Concorde ... Airport '79" undoubtedly provided its audiences a lot of wild, amazing moments, functioning, perhaps inadvertently, as an entertainingly ridiculous film.
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