Airplane! was released in the summer of 1980.
I have seen the movie a ton of times, and 30 years later, I am still trying to catch all the jokes and gags that the movie throws at you!
The film had an All-Star cast including:
Robert Stack
Lloyd Bridges
Leslie Neilsen
Peter Graves
Robert Hays
Julie Hagerty
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The film was the first to showcase Leslie Nielsen and his comedic talents, leading to a string of successful comedies for him.
I remember seeing this with “The Blues Brothers“. Now THAT was a double feature!!
“Can you fly this plane, and land it?”
“Surely you can’t be serious”.
” I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley”
The film was a major box-office success, earning over $83 Million while only costing $3.5 Million to make.
A sequel, “Airplane! 2: The Sequel” was released in 1982 with much of the original cast.
“Joey…You ever been in a cockpit before?”
“No sir, I’ve never been up in a plane before”
“You ever seen a grown man naked? “
“Joey, have you ever been in a… in a Turkish prison?”
The film is still a riot today! A sick joke like someone remarking that “the Sh*t is going to hit the fan!” followed by the sight of actual sh*t hitting a fan is just as funny today to my 13yr old as it was in 1980 when I was 15yrs old. Good gross-out humor is timeless!
David Letterman screen-tested for the role of Ted Striker.
Peter Graves was initially offended by the script and had to be convinced by friends to do the movie.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s role was initially supposed to be played by Baseball Player Pete Rose.
The movie was Julie Hagerty’s first film role.
Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, and Leslie Neilsen were all intentionally cast against-type to their usual serious roles and demeanor.
Whenever the plane is show flying, propellers are clearly heard even though the plane is a jet.
“…They’re coming in on Instruments!!”
Sadly, “Otto” the autopilot did not survive for long after the movie as his body disintegrated while being stored in the garage of one of the film’s three directors.
Stephen Stucker “Johnny” ad-libbed all his lines.
Classic movie, very funny good work recapping it.
By: hayden2015 on August 28, 2011
at 10:13 am
Man, try that advertising poster out in a post-9/11 world. Ouch!
I don’t know if I could handle “The Blues Brothers” and “Airplane” back to back. Maybe today, when I can quote both by heart.
My favourite is still “Assume crash positions!”. I always wanted to try that on one of my flights, but just could never work up the courage.
By: John Erickson on August 28, 2011
at 10:22 am
Very funny – though as John said about the poster…
By: blackwatertown on August 28, 2011
at 6:44 pm
Paul – Yes….who would have known back then how much the world would change…
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on August 28, 2011
at 6:57 pm