Airport 1970

Airport is a 1970 American disaster film written and directed by George Seaton, and distributed by Universal Pictures. Based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel, it originated the 1970s disaster film genre, and is the first of four films in the Airport film series. It features an ensemble cast of performers, led by Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin, and featuring Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton, Barry Nelson, Lloyd Nolan, Dana Wynter and Barbara Hale. The film is about airport manager Mel Bakersfeld (Lancaster) trying to keep his airport open during a snowstorm, while suicide bomber D.O. Guerrero plots to blow up a Boeing 707 airliner in flight. It takes place at fictional Lincoln International Airport near Chicago (based on O'Hare International Airport). Ernest Laszlo photographed it in 70 mm Todd-AO. It is the last film scored by Alfred Newman and the last film roles of Van Heflin and Jessie Royce Landis.