OK, I didn't get to watch this movie until after I'd already seen 'Airplane!' and that means that the whole way through the film, I kept hearing Robert Hays' Stryker in my head. Some of the lines are lifted word-for-word. Once you manage to get over that, this is an entertaining movie. An average rating of 6.6 (at the time of writing this review) is a tad harsh, IMO. Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell both turn in solid performances in the cockpit as the mid-air disaster unfolds. Sterling Hayden, the guy who has to talk Stryker down through the landing procedure, also does a good job, but I just can't help seeing and hearing Lloyd Bridges the whole way through.It's a shame that 'Airplane!' has become such an iconic movie because anybody who watches 'Zero Hour' now will end up laughing because they've seen 'Airplane!'. In it's day, this was regarded as a tense, gripping movie. I think it's an all-round good movie, so just try to see it in it's own context and you'll enjoy it.

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

The moment the plot of Zero Hour! starts to take off a wry smile entered my face as I recalled some of the characters, dialogue and plotting was familiar.This was the basis for the Zucker Abrahams Zucker Airplane films which kick started Leslie Nielsen's later career for parody films.Ted Stryker is an ex-World War II fighter pilot who is still haunted by death of several of his men in a botched landing. Unable to hold down a regular job his wife and son have left him to fly to Vancouver and he quickly follows them and joins them on the plane and wants her to change her mind. However the pilots, their son anyone who had the dodgy halibut get severe food poisoning and its up to Stryker to land the plane without turning to jelly. A former air force comrade talks to him on the radio to guide him but he thinks Stryker is not up to it.Anyone who has watched Airplane will realise how familiar this movie is. In fact ZAZ took so many elements even taking whole scenes and dialogue. To the hysterical passenger, the passenger disapproving of the neighbouring passenger drinking, the sturdy doctor who even pops in to say good luck and when the kid goes in to see the cock pit.In fact it actually makes the viewing experience uplifting and gives this film a new lease of life. Its rather strange everybody playing it straight and po faced. I just wonder if the original writers ever realised how ripe their film was to be later poked fun of.

If, and it's a big if, you can watch this analytically as a separate viewing experience from the re-imagining of it as Airplane! than this is a competently made drama perfect for the lower half of the bill at a Saturday matinée. Dana Andrews moves through the picture with grim determination and that ultimate block of wood actor Sterling Hayden is even more constricted than usual. Lloyd Bridges didn't have to change much in his performance to parody him! Linda Darnell, in her second to last film, really doesn't have much too work with in her part but she is fine offering a quiet show of strength and support when needed. However as you watch even if you are trying to be detached and see it apart from the spoof a line will pop up like "Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit smoking." and it takes you right out of the movie. Still a good view.