2. Ex-fighter pilot and taxi driverTed Striker (Robert Hays) became traumatized during an
unnamed war, leading to a pathological fear of flying. As a result, he is unable to hold a
responsible job. His wartime girlfriend, Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty), now a flight
attendant, leaves him. Striker nervously boards a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago on
which she is serving, hoping to win her back, but she rebuffs him.
After dinner is served, many of the passengers fall ill, and fellow passenger Dr. Rumack
(Leslie Nielsen) deduces that the passengers have contracted food poisoning from the
fish.The cockpit crew, including pilot Clarence Oveur (Peter Graves) and co-pilot Roger
Murdock (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), have also been affected, leaving no one to fly the
plane. Elaine contacts the Chicago control tower for help, and is instructed by tower
supervisor Steve McCroskey (Lloyd Bridges) to activate the plane's autopilot, a large
inflatable pilot doll (listed as "Otto" in the end credits), which will get them to Chicago,
but will not be able to land the plane. Rumack convincesTed to fly the plane, thoughTed
feels unable to handle the pressure and the unfamiliar aircraft.
McCroskey knows that he must get someone else to help talk the plane down and calls
Rex Kramer (Robert Stack). Kramer wasTed's commanding officer in the war, and despite
their hostile relationship he would be the best choice to instruct Striker. As the plane
nears Chicago,Ted is overcome by stress and can only land the plane after a pep talk
from Dr. Rumack. Lightning strikes the plane, disabling some of its engines. With
Kramer's advice,Ted is able to safely land the plane with only minor injuries to some
passengers.Ted's courage rekindles Elaine's love for him, and the two share a kiss. "Otto"
takes off in the evacuated plane after inflating a female companion.
Plot;
3. The 80's was a large step for comedies as they developed
largely.With new actors taking the screen and new types of
comedies and target audiences for those comedies, they
were changing.Which makes 'Airplane!' all the more
surprising to be an 80s film as its development appears to
stall take a look back towards spoof comedies and silly
humour. It's not to say that 'silly' humour and 'spoofs' had
been eradicated by the 80s, but they had become less
frequent. However Airplane! became one of the best and
most well known comedies of its time, and is still laughed at
to this day.
The Evolution
