MovieChat Forums > Airport (1970) Discussion > Mixed message about adultery

Mixed message about adultery

posted 10 years ago by mercury4
19 replies | jump to latest

On one hand they're telling you it's not okay to cheat on your spouse. Mel, Burt Lancaster's character, is stuck in a loveless marriage with his wife and is in love with Tanya. But no matter how he feels, he won't stray. They're showing you it's not okay to cheat. Mel does end up with Tanya, but only after his marriage is over.

Then, on the other hand, we have Vern, Dino's character, who is married to a nice wife, but he has no problem cheating on his wife with Gwen. In the end, Vern learns that Gwen is pregnant with his child. He gets to the airport and doesn't even look for his wife, who is noticeably concerned, and he goes off to the hospital with Gwen to live happily ever after. I don't get it. They say it's not okay and then that it is okay. I found it funny.

[–] richard.fuller1 9 years ago

This is the old idea for Hollywood; leave one for the mysterious figure.

Men attracted to young single women, or women attracted to the free spirit male.

It was the theme to It Happened One Night, essentially as well in Gone With the Wind.

It's supposed to captivate the audience and draw us in.

It is like watching an episode of The Brady Bunch or Partridge Family deal with Mike or Carol cheating on the other, so yea, it looks completely out of place.

[–] KobiyashiMauru 9 years ago

If you notice the films of this time period, the counter culture is now started to be firmly and openly embraced. I spotted it also watching it in the movie theatre at the age of 14. 😲

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded. Yogi Berra

[–] profbrane 9 years ago

Are all your decisions based on what characters in movies do?

[–] Stratego (31075) 4 years ago

I couldn't sympathize with the main characters whatsoever. Burt got off way too easy by putting to responsibility for the end of his marriage with the wife. Now it's apparently okay to run off with another woman.