MovieChat Forums > Airplane! (1980) Discussion > The Australian title of this movie is: F...

The Australian title of this movie is: Flying High. Huh?

posted 8 years ago by inoe-1
4 replies | jump to latest

I have considered this bit of trivia, examining it from as many angles as I can imagine, and I can't come up with any reason they would change the title for Australia. I have never visited Australia, but I'm reasonably certain they speak English. I have read the line numerous times, frontward and back, in case my eyes were tricking me; like I have some Freudian issue with 'Austria' preventing my recognition (the Austrian title...).

I did consider a veiled marijuana angle or an attempt to woo Ozzy Osbourne, possibly both; neither would overcome name recognition and American success.

Any ideas?

[–] snelling 8 years ago

In Germany, the translated title is, "Taxi Cab!" So, you never know.

"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer Sim--" - Frank Grimes

[–] TimeTunnel (4769) 5 months ago

Nope, the translated German title is:

"The incredible Journey in a crazy Airplane"
(Die unglaubliche Reise in einem verrückten Flugzeug)

[–] muzilon 8 years ago

Of course, Australia spells "Airplane" as "Aeroplane".

Although I did read somewhere that the reason the title was changed in some countries was due to legal objections by Universal Pictures, who had produced Airport (1970) (one of the films spoofed by Airplane).

[–] Improvfan (15) 5 months ago

The US movie The Concorde... Airport '79 had delays coming to Australia and New Zealand. And by the time the film was getting released to Australia and New Zealand it was 1980 not 1979 as it was released in the US. That movie title was changed to Airport '80 for Australian and New Zealand audiences. But by the time the movie was released in Australia and New Zealand the movie Airplane was getting the release also. Because the distributers were concerned Australia and New Zealand audiences would confuse the two films Airplane’s title was changed to Flying High.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/15-films-completely-different-titles-other-countries-movies-translation-a7929166.html