The Flight of the Phoenix is a 1965 American survival drama film produced and directed by Robert Aldrich, based on the 1964 novel of the same name by English author Elleston Trevor. The story follows a small group of men struggling to survive their aircraft’s emergency landing in the Sahara. It stars an ensemble cast, with James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch, Hardy Kruger, Ernest Borgnine, Ian Bannen, Ronald Fraser, Christian Marquand, Dan Duryea and George Kennedy.
Though the film was not a financial success, it was well-received by critics, who praised Aldrich’s direction and the performances of its cast. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Bannen and Best Editing for Michael Luciano. Hardy Krüger was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor,[a] and Aldrich was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama.
The Flight of the Phoenix was remade in 2004, titled as Flight of the Phoenix.
Plot
It is hard to pick up any favorite performance in this movie, since they are all wonderful, but Ernest Borgnine and Hardy Kruger steal the show here, Who would have thought that an actor like Borgnine could have been so convincing as a schizophrenic simpleton (yes, I know that the movie doesn’t directly state or imply that he had such a condition, but my guess is Aldrich viewed him as one). As for Kruger, he managed to embody the Austrian/German mannerisms and psyche to a T. I have worked with Austrians and Germans my whole life and it gave me genuine flashbacks.
Watch “Marty”!
Plot question: WHY didn’t they eat the camel?
Not really a plot. Just a thing you thought would make logic.
Perhaps writers, directors needed to shorteb it. And felt camel eating was un interesting…….
Eagerly anticipating the next film in this franchise – Flight of the Phoenix: Break Dancing Hood Rats vs. Buxom Zombie Stewardesses ✈
I have loved this movie since the first time I seen it on “Dialing for Dollars” many, many years ago!
gliders were first…….of al…alllll