Airplane! (1980). Photofest.
(Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, US 1980, 88 min., DCP)
After a decade of disaster films dominating both the box office and year-end Top Ten lists, writers and directors Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker followed up their cult sketch film The Kentucky Fried Movie with a disaster spoof. Most closely satirizing Airport (1970), the film also takes time to skewer other films, including From Here to Eternity (1953), Jaws (1975), and Saturday Night Fever (1977). Disgraced pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) boards a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago in order to win back his old flame and flight attendant Elaine (Julie Hagerty). When a case of food poisoning spreads through the passengers and flight crew, Ted is the only option to land the plane safely. In the tradition of 1970s disaster films, Airplane! has an all-star cast, including Leslie Nielsen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Barbara Billinglsey, and an inflatable autopilot. If you’ve seen this film before, you know we’ll never be over Macho Grande!