JohnHowardReid
Dana Andrews (Ted Stryker), Linda Darnell (Ellen Stryker), Sterling Hayden (Treleaven), Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch (Captain Wilson), Geoffrey Toone (Dr Baird), Jerry Paris (Tony Decker), Peggy King (stewardess), Carole Eden (Mrs Wilson), Charles Quinlivan (Burdick), Raymond Ferrell (Joey Stryker), David Thursby (Whitmond), Russell Thorson (flight dispatcher), Joanne Wade (baby sitter), Richard Keith (station manager), Steve London (co-pilot Stewart), John Ashley (TV singer), Willis Bouchey (RCAF doctor), Maxine Cooper, Noel Drayton, Fintan Meyler, Larry Thor, Robert Stevenson, Mary Newton, Willard Sage, Will White, Hope Summers, Arthur Hanson, Roy Gordon. Narrated by Robert Beatty.Director: HALL BARTLETT. Screenplay: Hall Bartlett, Arthur Hailey, John C. Champion. Based on the television play Flight into Danger by Arthur Hailey. Photography: John F. Warren. Film editor: John C. Fuller. Production designer: Boris Leven. Assistant director: Lee Lukather. Music composed and conducted by Ted Dale. "The Glass Jump" composed by Billy Regis, played by the Billy Regis Band. Set decorator: Ross Dowd. Make-up: Steve Drumm. Script supervisor: Joan Ermin Buck. Property master: Tom Coleman. Executive secretary: Wink Blair. Assistant to the producer: Newt Arnold. Sound recording: Lyle Figland, Charles Grenzbach. Producer: John C. Champion. A Bartlett- Champion Production.Copyright 1957 by Bartlett-Champion Productions. Released worldwide through Paramount Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Loew's State: 13 November 1957. U.S. release: November 1957. U.K. release: 12 January 1958. Australian release: 6 March 1958. 7,482 feet. 83 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A passenger plane is in peril when both pilots collapse from food poisoning.NOTES: Arthur Hailey condensed his television play into a short story, then later expanded it into the novel "Airport" which was filmed in 1970, and was followed by no less than three sequels. Paramount spoofed the whole genre — and in particular Zero Hour — in "Airplane" (1980) and its sequel.COMMENT: This first and best version of "Airport" is one of the most thrilling movies ever made. Amazing isn't it that we don't see this one all the time on TV, instead of its overblown, overproduced and only mildly suspenseful remake. Just because a whole lot of money was thrown around on the remake doesn't make it any more entertaining. Rather the reverse is the case. Tension has been dissipated and undermined for the sake of production "values". As a general rule, suspense is better served by a small but adequate budget, black-and-white photography (any fool knows that color is detrimental to emotional involvement), a straightforward plot involving well-rounded but only three or four principal characters, a short time span and a limited number of settings. The remake breaks every single one of these guideposts. No wonder it's not half as gripping or exciting. Of course it must be admitted that Hall Bartlett has really excelled himself here with direction that is unusually forceful and persuasive. And he has drawn superlative performances from players such as Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell not normally noted for charisma and expertise. Sterling Hayden, Peggy King and Geoffrey Toone also enhance their portrayals with power and depth well beyond their customary range. Indeed the whole cast acquits itself admirably. One of the most enthralling and suspenseful films ever made. Producer John Champion deserves our lasting thanks from bringing this television play to the big screen — and not undermining but indeed enhancing its effectiveness, its thrillingly dramatic impact.
Boba_Fett1138
Right now, I really can't think off an earlier genre movie. This movie has got to be one of the very first disaster movies, a genre that became particularly popular in the '70's.It's sort of hard to watch this movie now days, since it's hard to detach it from "Airplane!", which is a movie that spoofs this movie. Some of the scenes and pieces of dialog are even exactly the same, which makes it particularly hard to watch this movie with a straight face and see it as a different movie on its own.I tried as best as I could but while trying so, I just couldn't ever really like this movie. It takes itself far too serious, even while it's having quite a ridicules concept. It also does a bad job at handling and building up its tension, which makes this movie even worse to watch.Nothing really ever got developed well enough and the characters remain disappointingly flat and stiff. How was I supposed to care for any of these persons? It of course doesn't help that the acting in this movie is absolutely dreadful. Even Sterling Hayden, who obviously was a more than capable actor, was quite horrible in this movie. This is all also partly due to it that the movie features some truly bad dialog in it at times.It's a bad movie in a goofy sort of way, which still makes this movie a somewhat watchable one.5/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
irvberg2002
Stryker has reached the destination airport with about two hours of fuel. The airport is closed in by fog and he is told to circle until there is a break in the fog to permit a better chance for safe landing. Although several occupants of the plane are in very urgent need of medical attention, most are not. Stryker decides to proceed with landing without awaiting better conditions, apparently because one of those needing medical attention is his son. He chooses to undertake a significant greater risk of death to most of the plane's occupants (including himself and his wife) for the sake of maximizing the survival chances of his own son. Has he made the right moral choice?
blanche-2
All I can say is, if you saw the comedy hit "Airplane," don't miss "Zero Hour!" on which much of "Airplane" was taken. Of course, this film was intended to be a drama. Thanks to "Airplane," it's almost as much of a comedy as its successor.I doubt "Zero Hour" was a major Hollywood release - it's an independent production in black and white, and by 1957, Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell were no longer the stars they once had been at Twentieth Century Fox. Both suffered from severe alcoholism, and Darnell additionally committed the mortal sin in Hollywood in those days of turning 30. The two play husband and wife, and you know the story - meat or fish? And don't say fish.I tried to decide if I would have liked this film on its own merits. I decided that it is over the top with some bad dialogue. The ending is suspenseful. The actors do what they can with some hokey moments.Surely, the writers could have come up with a better script. And don't call me Shirley.
