"Airport 1975" released 1974

I suppose the success of Airport in 1970 was the main impetus behind the making of this movie, to which the only connection to Airport 1975 is George Kennedy as Joe Patroni.  Airport 1975, released October 18, 1974, was a box office blockbuster, becoming the third largest grossing film of 1974 behind The Towering Inferno and Earthquake, which starred both George Kennedy and Charlton Heston (Alan Murdock in Airport 1975).

Critics were not impressed, and the movie has been inducted into the Razzie Awards' Hall of Shame (along with its two sequels).

Dana Andrews plays Scott Freeman, the pilot of a twin-engine private Beechcraft Baron, who has a heart attack in flight and crashes into the cockpit of a 747, killing two crew members and blinding the captain.  Airport 1975 was heavily parodied in Airplane!, a comedy taken from Zero Hour! which also starred Dana Andrews.

The cast was star-studded with big names like Gloria Swanson, Karen Black, Efram Zimbalist, Jr., Susan Clark, Linda Blair, and Helen Reddy.

Reddy garnered the only award nomination as she was nominated for the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer - Female.

"The Concorde ... Airport '79" released 1979

The fourth and final (thank God!) installment of the Airport movie series, The Concorde...Airport '79, was released across the US August 17, 1979.  It opened to negative reviews by critics but it turned out to be an international hit, grossing $65M on a $14M budget.  George Kennedy reprised his role as Joseph Patroni.

It has been listed as one of the 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.  Roger Ebert included it in his book I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie.  I had to agree with him as the scene where Patroni fires a gun outside of the cockpit window at high-altitude and super-sonic speeds.

"Airport" wins Academy Award 1971

Airport, based on the novel by Arthur Haley, won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, April 15, 1971.  Helen Hayes took home the award for her role as Ada Quonsett, the lovable stowaway.  Released in May 1970, Airport received ten nominations, but won only one Oscar.

It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.

Maureen Stapleton was also nominated Best Supporting Actress for her role as Inez Guerrero. 

"Earthquake" released 1974

Universal Pictures released its blockbuster disaster movie Earthquake November 15, 1974.  After the success of Airport (1970) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972), a slew of disaster pics were released in 1974 including The Towering Inferno and Airport 1975.  Earthquake was the third grossing film of the year, with The Towering Inferno being the top-selling film.

The movie has an all-star cast that includes Charlton Heston, George Kennedy, Victoria Principal, Ava Gardner and Lorne Greene.  It won an Academy Award for Best Sound and one for Special Achievements in Visual Effects.

John Williams received a Golden Globe nomination for his original score.

My favorite movies: 1968-1973

My favorite moview from 1968-1973.  I got to 1974 and it's going to be another year where there are so many movies it is going to be hard to choose.

1968: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang starring Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes





1969: Hello, Dolly! starring Barbara Streisand and Walter Matthau



1970: Airport starring Dean Martin, Helen Hayes, George Kennedy and everybody else.




1971: Bedknobs and Broomsticks starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson



1972: The Poseidon Adventure starring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons and everybody else.



1972 (runner-up): What's Up, Doc? starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O'Neal.



1973: The Three Musketeers starring Michael York, Faye Dunaway, Charlton Heston and everybody else.



1973 (runner-up): Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee and John Saxon.

"Airport" released 1970

The movie that started it all, "Airport" was released March 5, 1970.  Three forgettable sequels followed, the fourth and last was one of the worst movies ever.  A pity, since the orginal with an all-star cast including the recently passed George Kennedy.  Helen Hayes won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and Maureen Stapleton won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.