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• The Flight of the Phoenix

  • GypsyPi3000
  • 5/20/13

  This isn't the type of movie I'd normally think I'd like, but I really found myself enjoying it. After a couple of hours of watching my lips felt dry and cracked, my skin blistered, and my body felt covered with sand. That's how this film totally immerses you in the desert. From the cinematography to the acting, I found myself having a real experience. One of the best parts of the film is when they find out that the plane designer is really only a model airplane designer (or dare I say "toy" airplane designer). I found myself hysterically laughing too. After all we'd been through, to find out that that pompous jerk had never even designed a real flying airplane! It was just too much to take. But yes, finally we made it out! Hallelujah! I'd also like to take a moment to thank Paul Mantz (and all other stunt professionals) for the contributions they make to the film industry. Thank you Mr. Mantz, because of you I was able to see cinema magic happen almost 50 years later.

• Classic Stewart

  • DearPippo
  • 1/23/13

  If you like James Stewart, you'll love Flight of the Phoenix. Played in Stewart's intense style, the movie's plot is intriguing. You'll find yourself asking, "Would that really be possible?" Richard Attenborough is a great supporting actor. Hardy Kruger is believable in his role and Ernest Borgnine is always a star to watch. If you've seen the Dennis Quaid remake of this movie but not the 1965 original, Shame on You. See the best. You'll throw away your DVD of the new version.

• Flight Of The Phoenix

  • Bruce Reber
  • 10/12/12

  "The Flight Of The Phoenix" (1965) is a solid, suspensful story of a group of men fighting for survival in the Sahara Desert after their plane crashes, and them working together despite their various differences to build a new plane that will hopefully fly them out and save them from certain death. A top drawer cast, including James Stewart, Peter Finch, Richard Attenborough, Ernest Borgnine, Hardy Kruger and Dan Duryea, and great direction by Robert Aldrich of "The Dirty Dozen", "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte", "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" and "Kiss Me Deadly" fame. TFOTP is also similar in plot to "Five Came Back" (1936) and its remake "Back From Eternity" (1956), both directed by John Farrow and both of which I like to watch whenever they air on TCM. I didn't see the 2004 remake of TFOTP, but I agree with a previous reviewer that the 1965 original is way better.

• The absolute end of an era

  • Mike
  • 10/11/12

  I can watch this film now.... its been year since that day... The cast is great, The Yuma Arizona location looks perfect, The story seems more possible now than ever before. What has always darkend the screen for me was the Loss of Paul Mantz. Paul Mantz was that guy behind the flying in every aviation movie you ever loved. From the Serials, to Only Angels have Wings, to Twelve O'Clock High. ...But then.. in the heat of the day doing one more shot...it all came to an end. The hodgepodge of an aircraft that Mantz himself had supervised the building of, had broken in the middle. The Fuselage which was stretched from a WW2 Trainer, the AT6, and then attached to Beech model 18 wings, just failed. An aged stunt man who had been in films since the silents and who was riding on the wings along with several manakins sailed off and survived. Paul Mantz was not so lucky. As his partner Frank Tallman told it....Paul had come down head first.... on the only stone in the desert. Well, Thanks to TCM, you can still see Paul doing all kinds of stunts..you know....the loops, the spins, the crashes..all those things you can only see in the movies..

• Good Movie,Better Than Rehash

  • Cast
  • 10/9/12

  Good ensemble cast. Keeps going without too much intrigue

• COMPARING THE TWO VERSIONS

  • WILLIAM GAUSLOW
  • 5/14/11

  1965 version is the better than the 2004 version. At the end of the movie when the pilot tries to start the engine. The sequence and tension of the 1965 version is far more tense, dramatic and hair raising than 2004 version. In the 1965 version the final start (blast to start engine) results in a very stressful period watching the propellers struggle to get "going." I could feel myself in the 1965 version getting out of my seat, yelling at my TV for the propellers TO GO. GO, just GO. I think the airplane "designer" is played better by the 2004 version. I dare anybody to debate me (via email) concerning my conclusions. 1965 rules.

• They build a plane

  • Pete Bentley
  • 9/4/09

  The reviewer for TCM said they repair the plane useing one engine. Thats not what they do. The plot centers around the group building a new plane with parts of the wrecked plane. The reborn plane is designed by a model plane builder.This movie is great, and it has all the perfect steriotypes, Veteran Pilot,Drunk co-pilot,British Officer,Head case worker being sent home,Mexican,Preacher, and the antagonist a German. It should be noted that the stunt pilot died making this film, we see the plane fly, but we don't see it land on camera. Much better than the remake.

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