MovieChat Forums > Airport 1975 (1974) Discussion > George Kennedy's Joe Patroni

George Kennedy's Joe Patroni

posted 15 years ago by fjp1963
5 replies | jump to latest

In "Airport: the character's wife is named Marie and is is said that they have 5 children. In "Airport 75" his wife is now named Helen(played by Susan Clark who was not in Airport) and he has one son, Joe Jr. Are we to believe he got remarried and had another son that old in 5 years. Then of course his rise from a guy who digs out planes in the snow to a vice president, WOW!!! Of course all that could be ignored if he wasn't a walking stereotype of a macho jerk. I can't believe they put him in all 4 movies, too bad really.

[–] jrs-8 14 years ago

Then he goes from a VP to being pilot of the Concorde in the last movie. Yeah the filmmakers didn't take great care to make sure Petroni's backstory was consistent.

[–] turtletommy 14 years ago

That's good old fashioned American nose to the grindstone work ethic, just the time to do it in was slightly teeny-bit compressed...

Though how could he fit into a Concorde cockpit, he was a big man and that plane fuselage isn't that wide...

[–] snowleopard 14 years ago

What's wrong with working your way to the top?! If he hadn't gotten that 707 off that runway in the blizzard it could have taken down the entire airline! He probably got greatly recognized from the brass for that, promoted, and was found to be an outstanding exec!

Sure, he had an affair on the side which produced a son, got divorced, but that's his personal life.

Macho jerks were big in the 70's. It was how you got ahead. Still seems to be the way in much of business today actually!

Not sure what happened between 75 and 79 why he was "demoted" to being a pilot, but at least it was the prestigious Concord, not some beater DC-9. I haven't seen 77 or 79 in some time.

All in the spirit of movie business if you ask me!

[–] rorysa 14 years ago

In "Airport," the airline that was stuck in the snow was Trans Global, while Patroni worked for TWA.

[–] fjp1963 14 years ago

Of course, what was I thinking that explains it all. HA HA But can I stay hate him? And please knock that damn cigar out of his mouth.