Airport

1 9 7 0 (USA)

For a generation that grew up on Airplane! (1980), the definitive disaster spoof, it may be impossible to take the overblown melodramatics of this adaptation of Arthur Hailey's best-seller seriously. 

But the combination of a star-studded cast, multiple story lines and special effects (in this case, just an airplane with a big hole in it) had moviegoers biting nails and buying tickets.

The story revolves around a busy Midwest (US) airport on a snowy night. Lancaster is the unflappable airport manager who keeps things in order during efforts to land a damaged plane safely.

Hayes stands out as a habitual and unlikely elderly stowaway (she won a best supporting actress Academy Award for her performance).

There are also entertaining performances from George Kennedy and Dean Martin.