The Flight of the Phoenix
1965 · Movie · NR · 142 min · ★ 7.2 · 82% critics
A cargo aircraft crashes in a sandstorm in the Sahara, leaving a small group stranded with dwindling food and water. To survive, one passenger devises a plan to use an undamaged wing and rebuild a replacement aircraft from the wreckage before their supplies run out.
Based on The Flight of the Phoenix
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Details
- Years
- 1965
- Release date
- 1965-12-15
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 142 min
- Critic score
- 82/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (366 votes)
- Budget
- $5,000,000
About
You’ll like this if you enjoy tense survival ordeals and character-driven cooperation under pressure, with hope sparked by a bold, hands-on plan; Not for you if you want a lighter escape adventure or if you prefer straightforward action without long stretches of group conflict.
Pros: tense survival story; strong ensemble cast; inspiring teamwork | Cons: long and uneven pacing; some characters feel underused; survival logistics feel far-fetched
Themes
- thirst
- affectation
- pilot
- sahara desert
- crew
- disaster
- airplane crash
- desert
- alcoholic
- angry
- candid
- absurd
- +7 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1966 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1966 · nominated
Cast & crew
James Stewart
as Frank Towns
Richard Attenborough
as Lew Moran
Peter Finch
as Captain Harris
Hardy Krüger
as Heinrich Dorfmann
Ernest Borgnine
as Trucker Cobb
Ian Bannen
as Crow
Ronald Fraser
as Sergeant Watson
Christian Marquand
as Dr. Renaud
Dan Duryea
as Standish
George Kennedy
as Bellamy
Directed by Robert Aldrich