Airplane!
Filmmakers David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker created a spoof of the 1957 B-movie "Zero Hour" that also acted as a parody of 1970s disaster films, notably the "Airport" franchise. In doing so, ZAZ laid the groundwork for a completely new kind of film: rapid-fire humor, with jokes occurring every few seconds or less, as well as sight gags that pass rapidly.
Pilot Ted Striker in "Airplane!" can't get over a botched military mission or his former sweetheart, flight attendant Elaine, and pursues her aboard a long-haul trip. But then tragedy strikes: practically everyone on board becomes ill with food poisoning, and Ted is forced to take over flying the plane in lieu of the perplexingly titled Captain Oveur, all while being aided by stoic Dr. Rumack, who gets the joke in the film's pivotal conversation.
Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Haggerty, Leslie Nielsen
Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Year: 1980
Runtime: 88 minutes
Pilot Ted Striker in "Airplane!" can't get over a botched military mission or his former sweetheart, flight attendant Elaine, and pursues her aboard a long-haul trip. But then tragedy strikes: practically everyone on board becomes ill with food poisoning, and Ted is forced to take over flying the plane in lieu of the perplexingly titled Captain Oveur, all while being aided by stoic Dr. Rumack, who gets the joke in the film's pivotal conversation.
Starring: Robert Hays, Julie Haggerty, Leslie Nielsen
Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Year: 1980
Runtime: 88 minutes
