albertoveronese 'The' Flight of the Phoenix (1965) by director Robert Aldrich. A film that should be shown to every child ready for first day of school. This masterpiece shows both the beautiful and horrifying side of human existence - It is a insightful journey of emotions, panic, hope, guilt, vitality, tragedy. A journey to that what life can be. I won't say much about the greatness of this film, no word could possibly do it justice - but, if you are here because you saw the 2004's "push-button" idiotic remake, then you should compare the two pictures... We might make better airplanes today but when it comes to films forget it - we are yet to find something that comes close to the outstanding performances from famous and respected actors. Time was when the audience could take real joy and pride, going to movies - film used to be fun, it really was. Robert Aldrich's The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) show us the obvious non-intelligence and limitations of human conditions. Today, more than ever, it takes quite ingenuity and will to reach civilization...

Adam Peters (78%) A true fight for survival classic with a super strong cast including the great Richard Attenborough, and a harsh real sense of the arid, and very deadly setting. The life and death politics dealing with those in charge and those that are not in an ever worsening situation is handled very well as the truth behind each character eventually rises to the surface for all to see. Overall it's a tad over long, and the pacing is a little slack, but the story is a great old yarn style fight for life, and the fine use of score with Connie Francis almost haunting the soundtrack makes for a must-watch recommendation for all ages from me.

B. Warren This is a great movie, where plane crashes in desert, and, well, tough to say "spoiler" , since it is almost 50 yrs old and when the movie title says it all. Not to add that 90% of the movie is directed to this one, and ,as movie goes on, only possible outcome.This is like a Shakespeare play or something as sparse as "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" Initially one would call it a 'small' movie.... a few characters and a one set stage. But after watching it, seems like a much bigger stage.It's a good story that allows an amazing ensemble of great actors to strut their stuff. Well, maybe a couple didn't get a chance to fully develop, and one or two might have been a bit 'over the top', but the three keys players were outstanding.May catch hell for this, but I think one of Jimmy's best. What I didn't know till quite a bit after watching this movie for first time, was how much a Flyboy Jimmy was. It was in his DNA. When he said in the movie: "Time was you could take real pride, in just getting there, flying used to be fun Lou, it really was..." You knew that character he was playing and he were one and the same.

Wuchak "Flight of the Phoenix" (1965) is a survival story about a group of men who crashland in the Libyan desert. A German airplane designer (Hardy Krüger) amongst them suggests utilizing the workable remains of the wreckage to create a new Frankenstein plane, "The Phoenix," and fly out. Although his scheme is initially perceived as mad they soon realize it might be their only legitimate way out.Even though "Flight" is a survival adventure it's just as much a drama since the setting is stationary (a relatively small area of desert) and there's very little opportunity for action, except the occasional punch or two. The action here is the tension between the men. First and foremost there's pilot Towns' friction with the Kraut airplane designer, Dorfmann. Towns (James Stewart) is a man of old-fashioned practicality whereas Dorfmann is a visionary. Between the two is Towns' assistant, Moran (Richard Attenborough), who understands & likes Towns but sees the genius of Dorfmann.A stiff-upper-lipped British officer and his sergeant provide more tension. The officer always seems to make the quasi-heroic decision that, while admirable on the surface, is usually the dumbest choice. The sergeant realizes this and is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Does the British Army's chain of command mean anything in such a survival situation? Should he follow this boneheaded officer to a premature grave in the name of respect and loyalty or should he follow the wiser choices for the sake of survival? Towns despises the sergeant for choosing the latter, but is he really wrong? It's debatable.Other notables are on hand, like Ernest Bornine, Christian Marquand, George Kennedy and Ian Bannen. Borgnine's excellent as a half-crazed employee sent home in the company of his doctor, played by Marquand. One passenger resorts to constant joking and mocking to cope with the situation (Bannen).The film runs 2 hours and 22 minutes but the drama is so well-written it doesn't seem that long. Like all great films it pulls you in and holds your attention until the end.The film was shot, believe it or not, in the desert areas of Imperial County in SE California, as well as Yuma.DVD INFO: Some whiners complain about the DVD being butchered, etc. but I just viewed it and everything looked great and there were no scenes cut out.FINAL WORD: "Flight of the Phoenix" is one of the greatest survival adventure-dramas ever made. Although there's a little bit of datedness, the film stands head-and-shoulders above the 2004 remake.GRADE: A