busterggi Okay, its not possible to write an unbiased review,the story and so much of the script are in Airplane that your mind automatically fills in the missing parts and thus it becomes hilarious.It wasn't mean to be, it would be melodramatically over the top for anyone who hasn't seen Airplane because subtleness was not included in this picture. The musical cues alone would push it to the edge.Watch it for a black & white good time.

vincentlynch-moonoi When you hear that the spoof "Airplane" was based on this film, you immediately think this must be a lousy film. Well, you're wrong. At worst, this film is dated. And there are a couple of things that seem not right to me. But overall, this is decent film and well worth watching if you like this genre.The 2 things that don't ring true to me: Living in the third world for a while, I had my share of food poisoning and knew quite a few others who also had it. I guess it's possible, but what kind of food poisoning doesn't create diarrhea or vomiting, but does cause severe cramps? Well, while that seems odd to me, I was kinda glad they handled it this way...if you know what I mean. The other thing that seems odd to me -- and I'll let you watch the film to see what I'm talking about, but just why does Dana Andrew's wife take the copilots chair????? The other problem here -- although it;s temporary since both the regular pilot and co-pilot become unconscious -- but they were terribly wooden actors.So the big question of the film is: will World War II pilot Dana Andrews, who crashed during the war and blames himself for the death of his fellow fliers, and who has not flown in a decade, be able to land the plane without cracking up? So, the balance of the film rests on the acting.Dana Andrews, an underrated and much forgotten actor is top notch here, just as he was a few years later in another airplane disaster film ("The Crowded Sky"). Linda Darnell, an actress that is no favorite of mine, does nicely here as his wife, and, of course, they're estranged. The real weakness in the film, at least in terms of the main roles, is that of Sterling Hayden, the pilot who "talks" Andrews down. The two have a bad history from World War II, so it's interesting, if unlikely. Frankly I always felt Sterling Hayden had serious limitations as an actor, and it shows here.Make no mistake, this isn't the greatest airline disaster film ever made, but it's a very good film providing you can put yourself back in flying in the 1950s. Most of you never flew in a prop plane, but I remember doing so; a different time, so don't be too dismissive of what you see here. Recommended to watch...at least once.

Spikeopath Famously parodied as Airplane in 1980, it gets forgotten just what a rollicking good thriller Zero Hour! is. Dana Andrews is the airman scarred by an incident during the war who has to battle his demons when the crew and passengers of the jumbo jet he is aboard fall victim to food poisoning. Sterling Hayden is down on the ground smoking loads of ciggies and having no faith in trying to talk Andrews down safely.One of the first disaster aeroplane movies, it follows what we now regard as the staples of the genre. Troubled protagonist, family strife, calm characters, panic characters, lovely ladies, square jawed men, raging weather conditions and an aeroplane in serious danger of plummeting from the sky and killing all on board. It's sometimes hokey and one dimensional in terms of plot developments, but it commits to the drama and grinds out a suspenseful last half hour that can have you edging towards the edge of your seat.A must see for fans of such fare. It's OK to love Airplane! and prefer its comedy smartness, but it's also OK to doff a respectful pilot cap towards Zero Hour! as well. 7.5/10

blanche-2 All I can say is, if you saw the comedy hit "Airplane," don't miss "Zero Hour!" on which much of "Airplane" was taken. Of course, this film was intended to be a drama. Thanks to "Airplane," it's almost as much of a comedy as its successor.I doubt "Zero Hour" was a major Hollywood release - it's an independent production in black and white, and by 1957, Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell were no longer the stars they once had been at Twentieth Century Fox. Both suffered from severe alcoholism, and Darnell additionally committed the mortal sin in Hollywood in those days of turning 30. The two play husband and wife, and you know the story - meat or fish? And don't say fish.I tried to decide if I would have liked this film on its own merits. I decided that it is over the top with some bad dialogue. The ending is suspenseful. The actors do what they can with some hokey moments.Surely, the writers could have come up with a better script. And don't call me Shirley.