#1116: ALDRICH, Robert: The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)

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ALDRICH, Robert (United States)
The Flight of the Phoenix [1965]
Spine #1116
Blu-ray


A downed airplane is a motley group of men’s only protection from the relentless desert sun, in this psychologically charged disaster epic, one of the all-time great survival movies. James Stewart is the veteran pilot whose Benghazi-bound plane—carrying passengers played by an unshaven ensemble of screen icons including Richard Attenborough, Ernest Borgnine, Ian Bannen, Dan Duryea, Peter Finch, and George Kennedy—crash-lands in the remote Sahara. As tensions simmer among the survivors, they find themselves forced to trust a coldly logical engineer (Hardy Krüger) whose plan to get them out may just be crazy enough to work—or could kill them all. Directed with characteristic punch by Hollywood iconoclast Robert Aldrich, The Flight of the Phoenix balances adventure with human drama as it conducts a surprising and complex examination of authority, honor, and camaraderie among desperate men.

142 minutes
Color
Monaural
1:85:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2022

Director/Writers

Based on the novel by Elleston Trevor.
Screenplly by Lukas Heller.
Robert Aldrich was 47 when he directed The Flight of the Phoenix.

Other Aldrich films in the Collection:

#568: Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

The Film

a

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Ten-page wraparound featuring an essay by filmmaker and critic Gina Telaroli.

Commentary

None.

Conversation

Between filmmaker Walter Hill and film scholar Alain Silver.

Interview

With biographer Donald Dewey on actor Stewart and his service as a bomber pilot.

Trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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