IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
The Flight of the Phoenix
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 13 | slideshow) Videos
The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   6,431 votes
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Lukas Heller (screenplay)
Trevor Dudley Smith (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Flight of the Phoenix on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 December 1965 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
One of the most startling twists of fate you have ever experienced in a motion picture! more
Plot:
After a plane crash in the Sahara, one of the survivors says he's an airplane designer and they can make a flyable plane from the wreckage. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 nominations more
User Reviews:
Good film about the use of resources. more (86 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

James Stewart ... Frank Towns

Richard Attenborough ... Lew Moran

Peter Finch ... Captain Harris
Hardy Krüger ... Heinrich Dorfmann (as Hardy Kruger)

Ernest Borgnine ... Trucker Cobb
Ian Bannen ... Crow
Ronald Fraser ... Sergeant Watson
Christian Marquand ... Dr. Renaud
Dan Duryea ... Standish
George Kennedy ... Bellamy
Gabriele Tinti ... Gabriel
Alex Montoya ... Carlos
Peter Bravos ... Tasso
William Aldrich ... Bill
Barrie Chase ... Farida
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
142 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (certificate #21017) | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-12 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director 'Robert Aldrich (I)''s son (William Aldrich) and son-in-law (Peter Bravos) are the first two casualties in the film, killed by falling cargo during the opening credits as the disabled plane is descending for its crash-landing. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Cuts and abrasions appear and disappear on the faces of all of the characters throughout the entire film. more
Quotes:
'Ratbags' Crow: Sometimes I wonder how you chaps never won the war.
Heinrich Dorfmann: War?
'Ratbags' Crow: [making sputtering sounds like an airplane and gesturung to suggest a plane flying in a mocking fashion]
Heinrich Dorfmann: [trying not to respond in kind] I wasn't involved.
'Ratbags' Crow: [makes a sound like a machine gun, falls down on the sand, and rolls over] That's it then! That's why they never won!
'Ratbags' Crow: [in a mocking tone] They didn't have old Heinrich!
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Senza Fine more

FAQ

How was the story inspired?
more
28 out of 35 people found the following review useful.
Good film about the use of resources., 21 January 2000
Author: yenlo from Auburn, Me

Edwin Aldrin the second man to walk on the moon was asked once if he was in his spacecraft and his engine quit running and he was going to die in an hour how would he spend that last hour? He replied `I'd work on the engine.' This film essentially is about that same type situation. A cargo plane with passengers aboard goes down in the Arabian Desert and the survivors quickly come to the realization that they eventually will be found but probably by that time they will be dead. One of the passengers says he can build a flyable plane out the existing wreckage and they can save themselves. However he's never taken on a project quite this large before.

There are a number of little subplots with the characters to include a hard-nosed pilot, his booze guzzling co-pilot, a British Army sergeant who has a dislike for officers, A by the book British Army officer, A doctor, A mental patient, A cynical oil field worker, an accountant, and so forth. It's somewhat of an all star cast so it helps the picture. Although a little long the film is intriguing. The only damper on this movie is that Paul Mantz a superb pilot was killed in the making of it.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (86 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
How did you all react to 'The scene' JAlexa9898
Flight of the phoenix jefadlm-1
Flight of the phoenix jefadlm-1
Ernest Borgnine as Trucker Cobb bullit2513
worst remake in the history of movies tgbclm
Soundtrack, anyone? Kerhonen
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Empire of the Sun Bitter Victory Passion in the Desert Walkabout The English Patient
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Adventure section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.