Don't Call Me Shirley: A Few Thoughts on Seeing 'Airplane!' on the Big Screen

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​I’ve always been supremely fascinated with how classic films manage to withstand the test of time. Because as the years pass us by, and new generations replace the old guard with brave new ideas, one would expect that older stories would become antiquated and simply fade away. But the true classics strike a chord that transcend generations. They relate to people from all walks of life and for me personally, seeing these types of films on the big screen with a diverse audience is a wonderful way to prove just how well an iconic film has managed to captivate us.
 
It's why institutions like the Alamo Drafthouse are so incredibly important, because not only do they allow for a celebration of nostalgia for those of us who have seen these movies before, they also allow for us to see first-hand how these stories still successfully entertain a modern audience after all this time and thanks to the Alamo, I once again had the opportunity to see a film that meets these criteria on the big screen for the first time, courtesy of a special screening of the 1980 classic, Airplane!
 
Now, I’m sure to some, it seems a bit outlandish to use Airplane! and the world ‘classic’ in the same paragraph, but the fact of the matter is, the movie truly is iconic. After all, it was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2010, and it’s a title that is instantly recognized by people and let’s be honest, the mere mention of this movie usually prompts a quote off and a conversation about how great this movie is and well, if that doesn’t make it a classic, I don’t know what does and really, what I was looking forward to the most in seeing this picture on the big screen, was witnessing how this sucker played out in front of a large audience and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
 
Because for a film that was released thirty-eight years ago, it still resonates with people, and it was amazing to hear the audience chuckling and chortling, or outright busting a gut as the jokes played out on the screen and really…that’s the film’s enduring legacy. The fact that its jokes are timeless and while it was wonderful to have a hearty laugh myself, and see my friend Emily, who came along to the show with me, nearly spit out her drink because a joke she forgot about caught her off guard, what truly impressed me about this experience, was bearing witness as to how this movie has managed to bridge the generational divide.  
 
Because sitting next to me, was a father and his daughter and it was inherently clear that he introduced her to this movie ages ago, and this was a grand opportunity to share in that memory one more time and it was just magnificent to see the two of them leaning in to quote their favorite lines and laugh with glee and it just speaks to the power of this film, and film in general and how it connects us on a fundamental level and well, I cannot thank the Alamo Drafthouse enough for letting all of us be reminded of this fact, and for allowing us to let loose and giggle with glee for an hour and a half by treating us to a screening of this magnificent and iconic comedy. 

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