Zero Hour!
by Hall Bartlett
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Dana Andrews, Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch, Geoffrey Toone, Linda Darnell, Sterling HaydenDirector: Hall Bartlett
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: John F. Warren
Producer: Hall Bartlett
Writer: Hall Bartlett
Editor: John C. Fuller
Producer: John C. Champion
Writer: John C. Champion
Writer: Arthur Hailey
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 81 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-06-26
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of Zero Hour!
Movie Review: taut, underrated thriller with lots of action and suspense
Summary: 5 Stars
Zero Hour! is a rather well done thriller movie starring Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell. The acting is very convincing and the plot moves along at a very good pace. The cinematography and the choreography both work well in the scenes on the airplane when some of the passengers are ill.
The action begins when shell-shocked war veteran Lt. Ted Stryker (Dana Andrews) just gets his first real job; he hurries home to tell his wife who's been upset over Ted's failure to bounce back emotionally after a war incident when Ted's decision cost the lives of six of his men. Unfortunately, Ted's wife Ellen (Linda Darnell) has just left him, taking with her their son Joey (Raymond Ferrell). Ted rushes to the airport and he makes it there just in time to get onboard the same plane as Ellen and Joey are on; Ted hopes he can persuade Ellen to return to him.
Things worsen, as you may well already know. The passengers who ate fish for dinner become ill with some type of life threatening food poisoning; and that includes the two pilots flying the plane! There is a doctor on board (Geoffrey Toone) but it doesn't look like he can do much for the ill passengers unless someone can land that plane in time to get the ill people to a hospital.
After the crew and the doctor find out that Ted is the only one with any flying experience, they ask him to get that plane down safely. This poses a huge emotional challenge for Ted as all the nasty memories of the war incident come back and threaten to ruin Ted's slim chances for landing the plane. The tension heightens with Ted's wife Ellen is asked to sit in the co-pilot's seat to help Ted communicate by radio with ground crew below.
Where does the plot go from here? You may know; but I'm not including plot spoilers in my review. Will Ted be able to land the plane? Will Ellen and Ted clash as they have to deal with each other as Ted tries so hard to land that plane? What about the sick passengers--will they survive the food poisoning?
Unfortunately, the DVD comes with few extras. There's the theatrical trailer and you can choose languages and scenes but that's about it.
Overall, Zero Hour! has a taut plot and it held my attention very well. It's also interesting to note that this film was the basis for the comedy Airplane! all those years later; I never knew that. I highly recommend Zero Hour! for people who enjoy thrillers and classic movies as well.
Summary of Zero Hour!
Passengers on an airplane become food-poisoned causing a major emergency. This film is what Airplane! is based upon.Runtime: 81 minFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 085391145127 Manufacturer No: 114512Similar DVD Movies
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