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What Do You Mean You've Never Seen? Airplane

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Producer Chris | 06:45 UK time, Saturday, 9 January 2010

Today we have a very special edition of What Do You Mean You've Not Seen brough to you by Radio 1's Greg James.

I must have been about 8 when I first watched this film and I still watch it often - it is my favourite film of all time. That it's completely ridiculous utterly stupid says a lot about me, but I believe it to be perfect.

The film I'm talking about is 'Airplane'. Made in 1980 (5 years before I was even born!), 'Airplane' became a huge hit. It was made with a tiny budget, which was vital to the film's appeal and there is nothing 'glossy' about it. It is truly what you'd call 'shonky'. The plot is largely unimportant but follows an ex-fighter pilot who is afraid of flying but boards a plane in order to follow the love of his life who is a flight attendant. The pilots on the plane then fall ill and it's down to the traumatized ex-fighter pilot to land the plane and save the day.

What I love about this film is the directors were keen not to cast any proper comedians for the main roles. It is played deadpan and actors like the great Leslie Nielsen had never actually done any comedy before. In fact, it was his role in this film that led to a change in his career. He started being cast in similar roles such as blithering, inept Police Sergeant Frank Drebin firstly in the TV series 'Police Squad' and then the world famous 'Naked Gun' film trilogy.

Anyway, back to 'Airplane'. It is one of those films that you can keep watching over and over and STILL get new things from it. It would be pointless and frankly unfunny to explain some of my favourite parts of the film on a blog, but one of the most fantastic visual gags in the whole piece has to be of the 'autopilot'.

airplane_autopilot.jpg
Image courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment


When I first watched this film as a little boy, I genuinely thought/wished that the autopilot WAS like that! I still secretly think he is.

If you want a truly mad, ridiculous and bizarre watch, a true piece of escapism and like nothing you've ever seen before, then give this a go. It is an incredibly clever film with some of the most quotable lines of all time. And most importantly, it will make you laugh. A LOT. Or your money back.

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