History Trivia / Airplane

* OldShame: When interviewed for the DVDCommentary, Peter Graves said he felt really uncomfortable with some of his more risque lines, especially involving little Joey. He initially rejected the role, but was pressured by his friends, wife, and [[SoMyKidsCanWatch daughters]] to accept.
** Fortunately, later in life, Graves had relaxed enough about it to jokingly hit on the (now-adult, of course) actor who played little Joey in cast reunions.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Of the late 1970's early 1980's. While a lot of the jokes still stand due to the RapidFireComedy, there are references to now-obsure sports figures and pre-9/11 flying. For example, the "smoking ticket" joke (requesting a ticket in the smoking section of the plane, but getting a ticket that emits smoke) became outdated in 1998 when smoking was prohibited on all US domestic flights.
** In addition there's the Hare Krishna people at the airport. Most young people today have never heard of them, but they were ''really'' aggressive in getting your attention at airports back in the day - most audiences of the time would have viewed Rex Kramer's [[CurbStompBattle response to them]] as entirely appropriate.

** The producers also wanted to shoot the movie in black and white, like ''Film/ZeroHour''. The studio flat out told them that it would be a color film or a film by another studio.

** In an extreme example, the Zuckers first had the idea of parodying ''any'' late night TV thriller, complete with fake commercials. They recorded a random late movie, and would parody whatever movie came on. It was pure chance that this movie was ''Film/ZeroHour''.

* UsefulNotes/AFIS100YearsSeries:
** AFIS100Years100Laughs: #10
** AFIS100Years100MovieQuotes:
*** "Surely, you can't be serious." "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." #79

** Creator/CaitylnJenner was offered the role of Roger, but she turned it down in favour of ''Film/CantStopTheMusic''.

* AFIS100YearsSeries:

* ActingInTheDark: To an extent. Although all involved were aware that the film was supposed to be a comedy, many of the actors admitted that they were unsure of the exact tone ZAZ were going for and basically had to be shepherded into giving the line readings they wanted. A few of the actors, however, were on board from the beginning and new exactly what ZAZ wanted, including Robert Hays, Robert Stack, and (of course) Leslie Nielsen.

** The sound of Captain Oveur's uncontrollable flatulence was provided on-set by Leslie Neilson, using a handheld whoopie cushion he'd often keep on himself as a prank.

** The sound of Captain Oveur's uncontrollable flatulence was provided on-set by Leslie Neilson, using a handheld whoopie cushion he'd often keep on him on himself as a prank.

** In a 2008 interview on ''Series/TheTodayShow'', Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told the story of being on a European flight and asked to sit in an empty seat in the cockpit during takeoff so the crew could say they flew with Roger Murdoch.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Of the late 1970's early 1980's. While a lot of the jokes still stand due to the RapidFireComedy, there are references to now-obsure sports figures and pre-9[=/=]11 flying. For example, the "smoking ticket" joke (requesting a ticket in the smoking section of the plane, but getting a ticket that emits smoke) became outdated in 1998 when smoking was prohibited on all US domestic flights.

** Proofreaders advised the crew to shorten the commercials and they were eventually removed completely. The idea of having a shorter ''Airplane'' as the ''Fistful of Yen''-style centerpiece of a ''Kentucky Fried Movie'' sequel was also kicked around.

* CareerResurrection: Barbara Billingsley had been retired for nine years when she was cast as the "Jive Lady" [[PlayingWithCharacterType as a joke]]. She went on to have a second film and TV career because of this movie.

* RetroactiveRecognition: One of the Hare Krisha's is visibly David Leisure, before hitting it big as "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Isuzu Joe Isuzu]]" and scoring a role on ''Series/EmptyNest''.

* SwanSong: Last film appearance of the legendary Creator/EthelMerman, singing her iconic song, "Everything's Coming Up Roses".

** Music/BarryManilow was considered for the part of Ted.

** Creator/BillMurray and Creator/ChevyChase were suggested for Ted Striker by the studio, but rejected by the producers due to their insistence on having a "serious" cast.

** Creator/FredWillard was offered the role of Ted Striker.

** Creator/JackWebb was approached for roles.

* ReferencedBy: In ''Webcomic/KnightsOfBuenaVista'', when Mary's PlayerCharacter falls in LoveAtFirstSight with a guy, she describes it as seeing BishieSparkle and hearing the love theme from ''Airplane!''.

** Johnny's line of suggesting "Mister Rogers" as "best man on this. Someone who knows that plane inside and out and won't crack under pressure," was actually dubbed in. Stephen Stucker actually originally suggested, "Mamie Eisenhower", who [[TooSoon died during production]].

* TooSoon: A joke about Mamie Eisenhower was dubbed over when she died during production.

** The line "You ever seen a grown man naked?" was originally "You ever seen ''a grown man's cock?'' ", which directly played off the previous question "You ever been in a cockpit before?" but was replaced for being too risqué.

** In addition there's the Hare Krishna people at the airport. Most young people today have never heard of them, but they were ''really'' aggressive in getting your attention at airports back in the day - most audiences of the time would have viewed Rex Kramer's response to them as entirely appropriate.

** In Spanish, the film was released as "So where is the pilot?" in Latin America and "Land [as well] as you can" in Spain. From then on, almost every movie that had Creator/LeslieNielsen in its cast was released as "So where is X?" and "X as you can".

** In addition there's the Hare Krishna people at the airport. Most young people today never heard of them, but they were ''really'' aggressive in getting your attention at airports back in the day.

** Fred Willard was offered the role of Ted Striker.