Drama
Thriller
In 1950s Canada, during a commercial flight, the pilots and some passengers suffer food poisoning, thus forcing an ex-WW2 fighter pilot to try to land the airliner in heavy fog.
Directors
Dana Andrews
Lt. Ted Stryker
Linda Darnell
Ellen Stryker
Sterling Hayden
Captain Martin Treleaven
Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch
Capt. Bill Wilson
Geoffrey Toone
Dr. Baird
Jerry Paris
Tony Decker
Peggy King
Stewardess Janet Turner
Patricia Tiernan
Mrs. Joan Wilson
Charles Quinlivan
Harry Burdick
Steve London
First Officer Walt Stewart
Jo Ann Wade
Treleaven's Baby Sitter
Ray Ferrell
Joey Stryker
John Ashley
TV Singer
Willis Bouchey
RCAF Doctor
Maxine Cooper
Sick Plane Passenger
David Thursby
Whitmond
Noel Drayton
Vancouver Control Man
Fintan Meyler
Hysterical Woman
Directors
User reviews1
Review
Featured review
Tension and Terror in the Skies!
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
John Chard29 Dec, 2014
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