Side By Side Comparison of Zero Hour! vs Airplane!
If you always thought Airplane! was a parody of the Airport movies of the 1970’s, you’re not alone (this guy right here thought the same thing). But we were wrong!
The 1980 comedy “Airplane!” was practically a shot-for-shot remake of a 1957 movie called “Zero Hour”, but with jokes after the serious lines. Somebody made a YouTube video cross-cutting the two (scroll down)
Of Note: In both films, the co-pilot is played by an athlete. In “Airplane!”, NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabaar. In “Zero Hour”, NFL star Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch. Many believed “Airplane!” was just a spoof of 1970’s “Airport”. It turns out “Zero Hour” was based on a teleplay by Arthur Hailey, who would later write the novel “Airport”.
I’ll be honest – the list of comedies that still make you laugh out loud after forty years is a small one. But Airplane! still holds up – I dare you to not smile at some of these quotes:
1. “You can tell me. I’m a doctor.” — Rumack
2. “No, I’ve been nervous lots of times.” — Ted Striker
3. “I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.” — Rumack
4. “Alright, give me a Hamm on five; hold the Mayo.” — Captain Oveur
5. “I won’t deceive you, Mr. Striker. We’re running out of time.” — Rumack
6. “This? Why I can make a hat or a brooch or a pterodactyl…” — Johnny
7. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.” — Steve McCroskey
8. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking.” — Steve McCroskey
9. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.” — Steve McCroskey
10. “Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.” — Steve McCroskey
11. “I just want to tell you both good luck. We’re all counting on you.” — Rumack
12. “Now your husband and the others are alive, but unconscious.” — Steve McCroskey
13. “Well, to be honest, I’ve never been so scared. But at least I have a husband.” — Mrs. Hammen
14. “Wait a minute. I know you. You’re Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. You play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.” — Joey
