Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Airplane!' at 40: David Zucker defends the comedy classic's controversial jive-talking sequence: 'Everything is so sensitive nowadays'
Yahoo! Entertainment ^ | July 2, 2020 | Ethan Alter

Posted on 07/03/2020 8:52:32 AM PDT by Stravinsky

Surely, we can be serious: Forty years ago in the summer of 1980, Airplane! flew into theaters and made the friendly skies safe... for laughter. The disaster movie spoof became an era-defining hit and launched the directorial careers of writing partners David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker — better known by their comedic call sign ZAZ. The trio went on to make such oft-quoted favorites as Top Secret!, The Naked Gun and Hot Shots!, but Airplane! remains their crowning achievement, even landing a spot on the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry.

...

While Airplane! is filled with gags that are funny in every age, some jokes play very differently in 2020 versus 1980. That includes moments like the “I speak jive” sequence, which might strike contemporary audiences as being out of step at a time when the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests are shining a light on the way race is addressed in Hollywood comedies from the past and present.

Zucker, though, stands by it four decades later. “It’s evenly laughing at Black people and white people. Everything is so sensitive nowadays, but when we show the movie, it still gets a laugh. People get it. It cuts through all the sensitivity, because in humor, you can’t be that sensitive.” On the other hand, Zucker notes that ZAZ made a point of road-testing all of their movies in front of preview audiences in order to spot jokes that crossed the line into meanness. “Sometimes stuff just isn’t funny, and that’s our fault. If the audience doesn’t get it, we haven’t done our job and we cut it out.”

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: airplane; culture; humor; jive; movies
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 next last

1 posted on 07/03/2020 8:52:32 AM PDT by Stravinsky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

I thought that was one of the most hilarious scenesd in the film, especially when the white, elderly woman started talking Jive. :)

Heck, my black friend laughed out loud watching that scene.


2 posted on 07/03/2020 8:55:15 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

As I posted on another thread: I wonder if BLM and the Democrats know how many smart, productive, black Americans they are insulting every day by coddling them like children unable to care for themselves.

The mere fact that articles like this exist prove the point.


3 posted on 07/03/2020 8:56:53 AM PDT by JennysCool
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

For several years late on Saturday night I watched Showtime at the Apollo on TV. The comedians were mixed but one was a mixed race women that was mocking her Italian self. Hysterical and by this standard racist.


4 posted on 07/03/2020 8:57:10 AM PDT by jimfree (My19 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than an 8 year Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky; Army Air Corps; BenLurkin
Get A Hold Of Yourself! GIF - PullItTogether Slap Hit - Discover ...
5 posted on 07/03/2020 8:57:25 AM PDT by KC_Lion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Of course, the white, elderly woman was Beaver Cleaver’s mom.

Which made it all the more funny.


6 posted on 07/03/2020 8:57:44 AM PDT by JennysCool
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Yep, that lady was none other than Barbara Billingsley of Leave it to Beaver fame.


7 posted on 07/03/2020 8:57:48 AM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

It was a funny movie. It did take a few totally out of the blue attacks on Reagan and Anita Bryant which were not funny or even tried to be.


8 posted on 07/03/2020 8:58:46 AM PDT by yarddog ( For I am persuaded.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0j2dVuhr6s


9 posted on 07/03/2020 8:59:50 AM PDT by Slicksadick (We accept the love we think we deserve.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps

“Yep, that lady was none other than Barbara Billingsley of Leave it to Beaver fame.”

That was the joke. Mrs. Cleaver speaking Jive.


10 posted on 07/03/2020 9:01:03 AM PDT by Meatspace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

The censors are coming, the censors are coming....


11 posted on 07/03/2020 9:01:43 AM PDT by cgbg (Masters don't want slaves talking about masters and slaves.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

Comedy has to offend or make light of a foible. Has to.

If Hee Haw, the Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres couldn’t kid country people.

If Animal House, Airplane I and II, Police Squad, the Blues Brothers and all the National Lampoon Vacation movies took out all the offensive materials about someone and anyone.....we’d see the opening and closing production credits and union label for stage crew members.
Three minutes long.


12 posted on 07/03/2020 9:02:12 AM PDT by frank ballenger (End vote fraud,harvesting,non-citizen voting & leftist media news censorship or we are finished.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky
“Blazing Saddles” has been reedited to conform to current events. It will be aired this Sunday evening on CBS from 8:00 to 8:02 p.m.
13 posted on 07/03/2020 9:03:05 AM PDT by CFIIIMEIATP737
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Meatspace

I dig, man. My momma didn’t raise no dummy.

;)


14 posted on 07/03/2020 9:03:16 AM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: cgbg

15 posted on 07/03/2020 9:03:36 AM PDT by real saxophonist (If you believe masks work, you also believe Santa Claus ate the Easter Bunny for dinner.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: CFIIIMEIATP737

They new their risk, they bought their tickets...I say, let ‘em crash!


16 posted on 07/03/2020 9:04:16 AM PDT by gas_dr (Trial lawyers AND POLITICIANS are Endangering Every Patient in America: INCLUDING THEIR LIBERTIES)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

No way in hell that movie would be made today.


17 posted on 07/03/2020 9:04:45 AM PDT by C19fan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

18 posted on 07/03/2020 9:05:59 AM PDT by Veggie Todd (Voltaire: "Religion began when the first scoundrel met the first fool".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cgbg

One little hint about where we Deplorables draw the line:

Hands off Animal House, Police Squad series, National Lampoon Vacation series, the Blue Brothers and Airplane series.

We won’t remain in a lotus position contemplating the rewards of cosmic consciousness if you touch those.


19 posted on 07/03/2020 9:06:25 AM PDT by frank ballenger (End vote fraud,harvesting,non-citizen voting & leftist media news censorship or we are finished.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Stravinsky

> Zucker, though, stands by it four decades later. “It’s evenly laughing at Black people and white people. ... “

Poor old fool. Evenness is such an outdated concept. He might as well be arguing for the return of the Model T Ford.

And Zucker had better shut up while he’s only a little behind. Because if he keeps talking reasonably, they’ll pull “Airplane” from movie lists just like they did with “Gone With the Wind”.


20 posted on 07/03/2020 9:06:26 AM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-95 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson