"Zero Hour"

[kentauros]

The movie that inspired (and was parodied by) "Airplane!"

It's a fairly serious movie, yet I couldn't help but snicker and laugh loudly at various lines, music, sound effects, scenes, and war-flashbacks.

"How about some coffee Johnny?"
"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking."

And seeing Sterling Hayden in the Robert Stack / Rex Kramer role just kept me thinking he was going to start talking about "precious bodily fluids" any moment!

[Major Nikon]

1. Much of the dialog is identical between the two movies

I have a few buddies that get together once a month or so and have a movie night. About once per year or two we show Airplane! followed by Zero Hour! or vice versa. It's funny as hell to watch them back to back.

[kentauros]

2. Do you also watch

"Failsafe" and "Dr. Strangelove" back-to-back?

I think I'll have to get a copy of Airplane! so I can do the same, and see just how much of the dialogue is identical. I know I was laughing even before anyone started talking just because of the soundtrack alone!

[Major Nikon]

3. We haven't

Just about all of the movies we watch are aviation themed. All of us are pilots in the group.

IIRC, I think the folks who made Airplane! actually bought the rights to Zero Hour! which means the movie is essentially a remake.

[kentauros]

4. I saw some mention of them owning the rights

on the youtube link. It makes sense that it's then a hilarious remake

You'll have to do the pairing of Strangelove and Failsafe, then. They both do have an element of planes, especially with Maj. Kong

[DearHeart]

5. I couldn't stop comparing!

Throughout the entire movie, I kept listening for lines and comparing scenes. The war scenes in the beginning were the ones that got me laughing! Kept thinking that Ethel Merman was going to show up and sing!!

[kentauros]

6. I forgot about that part!

I really laughed the hardest and then had to back it up and watch it again when Sterling Hayden said, "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking."

[DearHeart]

7. The movie also had the

"I've got to get out of here!" woman and when they said the son's name was Joey, I couldn't stop laughing I always thought that Airplane! was based on the Airport movies of the 70s, but when I saw this one...

[kentauros]

8. You're right,

I thought it had to do with the Airport movies, too. I know TCM has mentioned it as the precursor/inspiration for Airplane! though the copy I have wasn't aired at a time when Robert Osborn came on to introduce it. Maybe one of their Guest Hosts will pair the two up sometime soon

Did you notice that Joey got a toy plane from the Capt? (not to mention even the general way he was holding the kid, like Robert Graves.)

You know, maybe we need to start a Lounge Movie Night where everyone rents/watches copies of movies like this and then we all comment. Might be fun!

[DearHeart]

9. That's a fabulous idea!

I did also notice the toy plane that Joey got and the way the Capt was talking to Joey. "Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?"

I also kept waiting for his wife to say into the radio "It's a damn good thing you don't know how much he hates your guts!"


I love all kinds of movies, mostly the classic movies, but I watch pretty much everything. A lounge movie night would be fun!

[kentauros]

10. I'll have to make a thread,

and gauge people's interest. Then we can all suggest movies, and vote or something similar to set up what to watch. Friday's might be good for a movie night

[DearHeart]

11. Fridays are the best night, at least for me

Have classes on Tues, Wed & Thurs-lots of work/papers too! I'll keep checking to see if it's a go!