mark.waltz Over the top soap opera nonsense makes this one of the worst "Grand Hotel in the Sky" themed films. While it obviously was not used in the writing of that 1980 comedy classic, it's the only way to stomach the tepid plot line, clichéd characters and wretched pacing of the film. So why did I put myself through this film yet again, for the third time? To find some humor in my way of re- looking at it, and to once again catch one of my favorite comic character actresses, Patsy Kelly, rising back up after nearly two decades away.Yes, the comic sidekick of Harlow, Faye, Davies, Todd and other blonde 30's bombshells, is listed way down the credit list. She's far more interesting than the lead characters of Efrem Zimbalist and Rhonda Fleming whose marital troubles set up the story, and the struggles of pilot Dana Andrews, once again facing "Zero Hour". It was a serious plot twist of that 1957 sleeper, more famous because of the big twist being used in "Airplane". When his back story is explained, it takes the movie off course, with strange bleeds and unappealing unknown actors as his wife and son.The threat here is a mid-air collision, not food poisoning. With both Andrews and Zimbalist thinking of their personal issues while flying, no one in the sky is safe! There's also Troy Donahue as a sailor flying home on a military plane with Zimbalist, John Kerr as the co-pilot, Keenan Wynn as a TV writer sitting next to a mystery woman who knew him in her past, and Anne Francis as the stewardess, all of their names showing up in 3D style in the credits. Really ridiculous dialog, especially the two strangers sitting next to each other imagining what the other one is thinking. It seems to have inspired one of the many gags in "Airplane!" This has some of the same aspects of the 1954 blockbuster "The High and the Mighty" missing that fabulous score and the interesting assortment of unique characters. When it tries to be funny or topical or poignant, it falls flat. Flashbacks to earlier situations makes the structure jumbled. But that's not surprising, with more than a dozen stories to try to follow, to try and accept unbelievable dialog, and to try to deal with the weird way the story takes off, and ultimately belly flops.

dbdumonteil To solve all your problems (or almost all of them) :feeling at peace with yourself (and with your son) ,making a declaration of love when you are shy and not very handsome,learning how to play a part your future career in Hollywood depends on,marrying the air hostess you're in love with,etc ,there is nothing like a good disaster!A crowded sky indeed!So many characters it's a wonder the director can solve all their problems !The disaster movies which became trendy in the seventies were not an improvement on this 1960 work,the only missing character is a young child!It's pleasant to see Patsy Kelly as a manager and there are many more familiar faces on the plane ,although they play cardboard characters.

MuggySphere Yes I loved it. What a gem of a movie.I taped this just on a whim as it was on a very late night run here and I have to say I loved it. I found it a treat and a gem. My favourite part of the film is when a character is thinking out loud the camera focuses in on that person and the lighting around them dims as we head into their world either via voice over or a flashback scene.I would not mind adding this movie to my collection if it ever comes out on DVD. This is one of the movies, no doubt that paved the way for movies like "Airport" and all those awful disaster movies of the 70s and 80s. Good going I'll give it 7/10

vmwrites One of the first modern day airline disaster movies, this 1961 film contains all the elements of suspense, humor and drama that one would expect of its genre. With the only drawback of a weak supporting cast, the story line is a solid one.In this film, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. plays a navy pilot on a collision course with a commercial jet piloted by Dana Andrews. Years later, in one of the later Airport series, the roles are reversed and Andrews plays the pilot of a small plane on a collision course with a commercial aircraft piloted by Efrem Zimbalist.Troy Donahue does a creditable job as a young sailor hitching a ride with Zimbalist to get home. An interesting device in this film is the close-up thought technique, particularly when used with the character played by Keenan Wynn.If you consider this film only among the other members of its generation, it comes out well.