10 Ingenious Ways Film Directors Beat The Studio
3. The Iconic Propeller Gag Was Created Due To Studio Interference - Airplane
Iconic parody film Airplane! probably isn't a movie most people associate with executive meddling and galaxy brain filmmaker scheming, but a frustrating stipulation from Paramount inadvertently led to one of the film's best gags.
Originally, directors David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams wanted to heighten the absurdity of the comedy by having the titular vehicle be an old-fashioned propeller plane.
However, Paramount insisted that it be switched out for a commercial jet airliner as to better connect with contemporary audiences. The filmmakers agreed and in turn were allowed to cast a slew of serious actors in deadpan roles rather than recognisable comedians.
But the Zuckers and Abrahams didn't simply let the propeller fight go: they decided to have some fun with it by dubbing propeller sound effects over all exterior shots of the plane throughout the movie.
Better still, the sound effect is taken from the 1957 drama Zero Hour!, which Airplane! itself is a parody of. Talk about a brilliantly petty way to get back at the studio.