During his lifetime, the late Canadian actor, Leslie Nielsen appeared in more than 100 movies, over 70 TV shows (including three stints on The Love Boat), and a trio of straight-to-VHS golfing videos. He also featured as a panelist on Match Game, starred in a series of commercials for Red Rock Cider, and played a key role in the series finale of beloved sitcom, The Golden Girls.
For many, Nielsen was that silver-haired comedian, who seemed pleasant and made audiences laugh in an increasingly goofy run of spoof movies. For others, he was a versatile actor, with a long list of parts to his name.
In truth, Nielsen was both. He could make audiences roar with laughter at the drop of a hat, yet he had so much more to offer than just deadpan humour and quick gags.
In this month’s bonus edition of Movie Reviews Special (don’t forget there was a Clint Eastwood Special earlier in the month), I’m taking a look at some of Nielsen’s work with reviews for five of his films. Movies reviewed include Forbidden Planet, The Poseidon Adventure, Airplane!, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, and Spy Hard.
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Now streaming…
Forbidden Planet (1956)
First up is the 1956 sci-fi movie, Forbidden Planet. Directed by Fred M. Wilcox, the movie stars Leslie Nielsen, Walter Pidgeon, and Anne Francis, and focuses on the crew of a spaceship which lands on a distant planet.
In the movie, it is the 23rd Century and the United Planets starship, C-57D lands on the planet, Altair IV. The aim is to search for any humans who may have survived after the ship, Bellerophon landed on the same planet 20 years previously.
Upon arrival, Commander John J. Adams discovers almost every member of the Bellerophon has passed away, except the mysterious Dr. Morbius. Morbius is living on Altair IV along with his daughter, Altaira, as well as their service robot, Robby.
According to Morbius, he and his daughter are the only humans on Altair IV, after his wife died from natural causes and an unseen force killed everyone else. However, there may be more to the unseen force than there first appears.
Long before Leslie Nielsen became known for his comedic roles (more about those later), he was viewed as a serious actor. His first acting gig came in 1950 via the TV show, The Clock, however it was the 1956 sci-fi picture, Forbidden Planet which put him in a lead role.
Taking on the part of Commander Adams, Nielsen is the captain of the starship, C-57D. In the film, he plays Adams as a no-nonsense, guy who leads his crew to Altair IV; crosses paths with Morbius; and engages in a ‘50s-style fling with Altaira (i.e. lots of smouldering looks, but no real passion).
He’s a hunk, a hero, and a heck of decent guy all rolled into one. It’s your typical stock ‘50s character, but Nielsen plays it well, and his character fits the narrative perfectly.
As for the film, Forbidden Planet is largely considered to be one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time – and not without reason. Sure, it’s getting on a bit now, and there’s a lot of exposition and somewhat stuffy dialogue to get through (once again, this is the 1950s), but the imagination, the execution, and the staging is marvellous.
Few films from this era have stood the test of time in the same way Forbidden Planet has – certainly not sci-fi films that’s for sure – yet this one still has plenty of gas in the tank. Director Fred M. Wilcox demonstrates a firm, confident hand on his picture, and one which knows exactly what it wants to do.
And then there is the set design and special effects which are nothing short of magnificent. From the beautifully realised landscape and the futuristic décor in Morbius’ home, to the brief but memorable reveal of the unseen force monster, Forbidden Planet is a visual wonderland.
If sci-fi pictures of the past are your thing, especially those from the 1950s, then Forbidden Planet is for you. Plus, the movie is backed by a Nielsen performance which demonstrates his range as a serious performer.
If you wish to check it out, Forbidden Planet is available to rent or buy on digital platforms.
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Now streaming…
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Up next is the disaster movie, The Poseidon Adventure. Directed by Ronald Neame, and based on the novel of the same name by Paul Gallico, the film follows a group of passengers who fight for survival when a luxury liner is overturned by a tsunami.
In the film, the S.S. Poseidon is travelling from New York City to Athens when tragedy strikes. A tsunami hits, the ship capsizes, and the survivors have to find a way off the upside-down boat as water pours in.
Featuring a cast including Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Shelley Winters, and of course, Leslie Nielsen, The Poseidon Adventure is a big budget action movie, high on star power, and even higher on spectacle. The film is from legendary producer, Irwin Allen, who had a hand in fellow disaster pictures including The Towering Inferno (1974), and The Swarm (1978), and is very much a special effects extravaganza where actors you recognise face a very uncertain future.
Amongst the ensemble sits Nielsen – the first actor to deliver a line in The Poseidon Adventure. Nielsen takes on the role of the ship’s captain, receives star billing during the opening titles, and has the all-important job of helping to set the scene.
Does he make it out alive? Spoiler: He does not.
Nielsen’s character doesn’t live beyond the first 30 minutes, but during his brief stint in the film he demonstrates honesty and integrity. His role is to essentially show how the S.S. Poseidon is in safe hands prior to the disaster and he pulls it off with aplomb.
As with his turn in Forbidden Planet, this is a serious role for Nielsen. There’s no comedy or wit, just a committed captain with a trustworthy face.
Outside of Nielsen’s brief involvement in the film, The Poseidon Adventure is a thoroughly entertaining picture with great performances from Borgnine, McDowall, et al. However, it is Gene Hackman who steals the film, playing the heroic Reverend Frank Scott, aka the guy in charge of leading the survivors.
Add to this great special effects, some superb staging (including strong under water scenes), and a good script, and The Poseidon Adventure is a rip roaring action blockbuster. OK, so Nielsen is barely in it, but don’t sweat the details of this great film and enjoy regardless.
Should you wish to check it out, The Poseidon Adventure is available to rent or buy on digital platforms.
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On disc…
Airplane! (1980)
And from one disaster movie to another – only this time around it is a movie which sets out to spoof the genre. The film is the 1980 disaster-comedy, Airplane!.
Directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, Airplane! stars Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, and Leslie Nielsen. The movie follows the crew and passengers of a commercial airplane which gets into trouble mid-flight.
In the film, Captain Clarence Oveur is piloting a Trans American flight from Los Angeles to Chicago when he and a number of passengers become ill. The cause is food poisoning via the in-flight meal.
With the Captain and his crew incapacitated, everyone on board the plane is suddenly in imminent danger. Their only hope lies in an ex-fighter pilot with a pathological fear of flying.
Back during the 1970s, disaster movies were big business. Films such as Airport (1970), The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno (1974), and Earthquake (1974) regularly cropped up on the big screen, entertaining audiences along the way.
And when you have something as successful as the disaster genre, it’s only a matter of time before someone starts poking fun. The good news is, when that fun is poked in Airplane!, it brings a whole lot of laughs.
Airplane! is not only funny, it’s one of the funniest movies of all time. Possibly the funniest (next to The Naked Gun – see below).
I know what you’re thinking, surely I can’t be serious? Well, I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley.
With a conveyor belt of jokes, an endless supply of witty lines, and scene after scene of slapstick, Airplane! throws everything and the kitchen sink at the screen and pretty much all of it sticks. The gag hit-rate on this film is off the scale, and while it is relentless, it’s so damn funny it never becomes exhausting.
A great deal of the comedy comes from the cast, who all got the memo, all understand the assignment, and all appear to be having an absolute ball bringing the picture to life. Yes, this includes Leslie Nielsen, who takes on the role of Dr. Rumack – a passenger and medical professional on the flight, brought into the action when the food poisoning kicks in.
Nielsen gets many of the film’s best lines and he delivers them without missing a beat. As with all the cast, he ignores the absurdity and chaos around him, plays things straight, and always maintains a twinkle in his eye.
What’s perhaps most surprising about Airplane! is that it marks Nielsen’s first comedy role on film. The actor started working in the industry in the ‘50s, yet it took until 1980 and this film before he started playing things for laughs.
Once Airplane! was a hit, he started doing more comedies. Nielsen didn’t abandon the serious stuff completely (check out 1982’s Creepshow for a macabre performance, as well as some of his TV work) but his film career did begin to move in a very specific direction from here on out.
Few films quite match the comedic value of Airplane!. The film serves up so many zingers it’s almost criminal that it’s this funny.
But hey, there is no crime here, just plenty of mirth and merriment. As well as an inflatable pilot; a young girl who likes her coffee like she likes her men; and a stressed-out air traffic controller, who picked one heck of a day to quit sniffing glue.
Anyway, should you wish to watch Airplane! the movie is now available to buy on 4K UHD.
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On disc…
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
Eight years on and Nielsen cranks things up a notch, moving away from a supporting role in Airplane! to a lead role in the detective spoof, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!. Directed by David Zucker, Nielsen plays the part of Lt. Frank Drebin, a top cop in the Los Angeles police force.
In the film, Queen Elizabeth is on her way to LA as part of a visit to the US, and Drebin and his team at the Police Squad are put on security detail. But Drebin has other things occupying his mind, as his partner, Officer Nordberg is in hospital and on life support.
With Norberg in a dire condition, and falsely accused of dealing drugs, Drebin is determined to clear his name. But with the Queen’s visit imminent, he is going to have to work tirelessly to crack the case.
You know how I said the gag hit-rate on Airplane! was off the scale? Well, the same hit-rate and the same scale applies to The Naked Gun.
The movie is a laugh riot from start to finish, with heaps of jokes, buckets full of humour, and a brilliant performance from Nielsen. He still plays things straight, but there’s a certain confidence and relaxation to his performance and it’s his best comedic turn by far.
He’s backed up by a great supporting cast which includes George Kennedy, Priscilla Presley, Nancy Marchand, and Ricardo Montalbán. O. J. Simpson also provides a decent turn as Nordberg, but it’s probably best we leave it at that.
Nielsen reprises the role of Drebin from the short-lived television show, Police Squad!, which aired for six weeks in 1982. The show featured similar humour to the movie, but The Naked Gun is funnier.
If for any reason (any reason whatsoever) you have never watched The Naked Gun, seek it out at your earliest convenience. The film is now available to buy on 4K UHD, and it is ready and waiting to be your new favourite comedy.
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Now streaming…
Spy Hard (1996)
And finally, onto 1996’s Spy Hard, where Nielsen is firmly in spoofing mode, via a film which is written (and titled) to be a parody of the spy/action genre. Here he plays secret agent, Dick Steele, aka WD-40, in role designed to playfully poke fun at the James Bond franchise.
The plot sees Steele called back into duty to square off against his old enemy, General Rancor. The villainous Rancor is seemingly back from the dead, and is a threat to the safety of the world.
Directed and co-written by Rick Friedberg, Spy Hard boasts a cast which includes Nicollette Sheridan, Charles Durning, Marcia Gay Harden, Barry Bostwick, and Andy Griffith. Meanwhile, “Weird Al” Yankovich provides the Bond-style theme song; various famous faces drop by for cameos (Mr. T, Pat Morita, Hulk Hogan, Ray Charles, etc); and Leslie Nielsen continues to be marvellous.
The gags in Spy Hard don’t always land as planned, but Nielsen is enjoyable to watch. The film’s shortcomings are nothing to do with him, and are instead to do with the writing.
Spy Hard struggles at times because either the jokes are a bit too obvious or the story just isn’t there. Some of the edges also appear to have been sanded off, reducing the overall impact in the process.
Director/writer Rick Friedberg has been fairly vocal about Spy Hard, putting some of the film’s shortcomings down to studio interference. During production there was a significant difference between what he envisioned and what Disney wanted, and changes were made outside of his control resulting in a film filled with set-pieces but not always a coherent story.
However, Spy Hard isn’t bad and there is plenty of fun to be had, as well as quite a few laughs. Nielsen gives it his all, there are some entertaining movie references (Speed, True Lies, Sister Act, etc), and this helps Spy Hard feel like a decent comedy, if a somewhat lite version of The Naked Gun.
Should you wish to watch Spy Hard, the movie is available to stream on Disney+.
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Star Movie
OK, all the movie reviews are locked in and it’s time for the Star Movie, which is clearly going to be a toss-up between two pictures: Airplane! or The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!. Why? Because both are excellent films, and both have the power to tickle ribs.
Plus they both got awarded five stars out of five. So, yeah, seems kind of obvious, doesn’t it?
But which is better? Well, that’s open for debate, with valid arguments on both sides.
However, one of these films casts Nielsen in a supporting role, while the other places him front-and-centre as the lead. For this reason, and this reason alone The Naked Gun clinches it and nabs the title of Star Movie.
And if you like The Naked Gun you may also like:
- The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991) – Leslie Nielsen returns for this amusing sequel which sees Frank Drebin assigned to a new case.
- Ruthless People (1986) – Naked Gun director David Zucker helms this mid-‘80s comedy starring Bette Midler and Danny DeVito.
- Police Academy (1984) – Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, and G. W. Bailey are amongst the ensemble in this popular law enforcement romp.
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And that’s it for another edition of Movie Reviews Special. As a reminder, there are new Specials landing every month, focusing on a range of topics from Bridget Jones to Tom Cruise and the Fantastic Four.
Plus, if you want even more movie reviews then let me point you in the direction of Movie Reviews 2025– your indispensable guide to what’s new at the cinema, on streaming, and on disc. A new edition of Movie Reviews 2025 is published every week (usually on a Friday), and it is jam-packed with all the reviews you could wish for.
Alex
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Thank you for taking the time to read this Movie Reviews Special on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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