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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed by
Robert Aldrich
USA 1965
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. *** I'm a little appalled , yet not surprised, that a remake of this magnificent film has reared its ugly head. It is also fascinating to me how many incredible films Jimmy Stewart has starred in - no I won't compare the two films... it is unnecessary. Perhaps the 2004 edition will ignite some interest in the older, significantly more polished gem.
Robert Aldrich's 1965 "The Flight of the Phoenix" rates as one of the best psychological adventure films of the 60's (which is saying a whole heap!). The premise, though simple, resonates to an astounding tale of survival, male bonding, fortune and hope. A twin-engine propeller plane (circa 1940) takes off from a mining operation in the Middle East piloted by Capt. Frank Towns (Jimmy Stewart) with inexperienced co-pilot Lew Moran (Sir Richard Attenborough). When the harsh desert sandstorms stands up on its hind legs the plane crashes in the middle of nowhere... with no hopes of being found or rescued. Now survival mode kicks in - rationing - slim chances of trekking the desert - waiting. A key reason for the success of this film, aside from a marvelous narrative, are the strength of the cast including some of the greatest supporting players ever available: Peter Finch, Hardy Krüger, Ernest Borgnine, Ian Bannen, Christian Marquand, Dan Duryea and George Kennedy. Stewart, always excellent, may actually be at the zenith of his onscreen charisma as the disgruntled pilot looking for a reason to lose. With all the characters getting slightly touched in the head by the circumstances and the sun, they decide to build a new plane from the wreckage of the old. This is more in line with keeping themselves busy before death slowly arrives. The interaction between male characters here is like a keynote in sociology - ever gripping and consistently degrading their humanity as time wears on. This film is beyond a mere adventure story - it is a tale of survival, courage and most of all - communication.
NOTE: The plane they leave on at the end of the film was to be a C-82 Boom. The stunt of taking off was too dangerous, so legendary stunt pilot Paul Mantz was asked to merely come in low, run his landing gear along the ground, then take off again, simulating a take-off. On the second take the plane crashed and was destroyed, killing Mantz. As all main footage had already been shot, a North American O-47A observation plane from the Air Museum was substituted for the remaining close-ups. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: December 15th, 1965 - USA
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Comparison:
20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Box Covers |
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BONUS CAPTURES: |
Distribution | 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC |
Masters of Cinema - Spine # 149 Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Criterion Spine #1116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 2:21:45 | 2:22:00.011 | 2:22:03.097 |
Video | 1.83:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.11 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Disc Size: 49,422,588,951 bytes Feature Size: 42,752,665,152 bytes Total Bitrate: 34.83 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video |
1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Disc Size: 48,222,117,007 bytes Feature Size: 42,299,430,912 bytes Total Bitrate: 35.57 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate MoC Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate Criterion Blu-ray: |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (mono), DUBs: French (mono) , Spanish (mono) |
LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit Isolated Score: LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, None | English (SDH), None | English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • Theatrical
Trailer |
Release Information: Studio: Masters of Cinema
1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Disc Size: 49,422,588,951 bytes Feature Size: 42,752,665,152 bytes Total Bitrate: 34.83 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video
Edition
Details: Chapters 11 |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion
1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Disc Size: 48,222,117,007 bytes Feature Size: 42,299,430,912 bytes Total Bitrate: 35.57 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video
Edition
Details: Chapters 20 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below
Blu-ray captures were
taken directly from the
Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (February 2022): Criterion have transferred Robert Aldrich's The Flight of the Phoenix to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "2K digital restoration". The 1080P image looks quite different from the Masters of Cinema transfer from 6 years ago. This has much cooler colors and less prominent contrast. It has lost the golden yellow hue that are present on both original DVD and UK Blu-ray looking far more natural. The Criterion is also slightly cropped beside the Masters of Cinema counterpart (and the Fox DVD) with a surprising amount removed from all four sides. I can't deny the Criterion looks very pleasing despite the strong differences - detail seems to rise and the image may have more depth. It's always nice to see differences to give us more purchase options.
NOTE: We have added 54 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
Blu-ray,
Criterion use a 1.0
channel linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the
original English language.
The Flight of the Phoenix
has aggressive moments, loud plane engines noises etc. as well as quiet
calms. The score is by
Frank De Vol's (The
Dirty Dozen,
Kiss Me Deadly,
The Big Knife (1955),
What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?,
McLintock) memorable score is able to advance the film's
despair, tension and reserved elation plus we get the beautiful The
Phoenix Love Theme "Senza Fine" sung by Connie Francis. It
sounds superb in the uncompressed audio transfer.
Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked
Blu-ray.
Criterion don't have a commentary either, but they do add a couple of important extras. There is a new 20-minute conversation, recorded by the Criterion Collection in 2021, with filmmaker Walter Hill and Robert Aldrich biographer Alain Silver (What Ever Happened to Robert Aldrich?: His Life and His Films) who share their appreciation for Aldrich and his sunbaked achievement The Flight of the Phoenix. There is also a new 18-minute interview, recorded by Criterion in 2021, with James Stewart biographer Donald Dewey (James Stewart: A Biography) who reflects on Stewart's service in the United States Air Force and how it colored his choices as an actor. Lastly, is a trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by filmmaker and critic Gina Telaroli.
Robert Aldrich's 1965 "The Flight of the Phoenix"
is an incredibly well-made survivalist drama film. It's a totally
intriguing story with an incredible cast; James Stewart, Richard
Attenborough, Peter Finch, Hardy Krüger, Ernest Borgnine, Ian Bannen,
Ronald Fraser, Christian Marquand, Dan Duryea and George Kennedy. It is
one of my favorite films. It should be noted that the flying sequences
were flown by famous stunt pilot Paul Mantz, who died performing
touch-and-go landings as the mock-up model broke apart and cart-wheeled.
The final credit on the screen was, "It should be remembered... that
Paul Mantz, a fine man and a brilliant flyer, gave his life in the
making of this film..." I was so pleased so see
"The Flight of the Phoenix"
again. The Criterion has a new look and new, very relevant, extras. What
a fabulous film - great to be a part of the Criterion collection in
Region 'A'
Blu-ray.
This masterpiece film is strongly recommended!
***
ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B'
Blu-ray
August 2016': My initial reaction is - AMAZING! That's how the MoC, max'ed out bitrate,
dual-layered image quality compares to the old DVD from 13 years ago. This 1080P
looks fabulous - richer colors, far superior contrast
and some impressive detail on the film's many close-ups.
N Audio is likewise impressive. Frank De Vol's (The Dirty Dozen, Kiss Me Deadly, The Big Knife (1955), What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, McLintock) memorable score is able to advance the film's despair and tension - shifting between the two - and sounds superb in the linear PCM, lossless, audio transfer (also available in an isolated track option.) Plane engine noise adds intensive depth. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region 'B'-locked. As well as offering the isolated music and effects track, there is a new 25-minute video interview with film historian Sheldon Hall who has written Zulu: With Some Guts Behind It about the 1964 film. He gives some nice insights and I quite enjoyed it. There is also an original theatrical trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet featuring a new essay by film scholar Neil Sinyard and archival images. This Blu-ray presentation is magnificent and the film is a masterpiece. This has our highest recommendation! *** ON THE DVD: Not a bad image at all. Minor softness, but true filmic experience with no digital manipulations. Colors may be slightly washed, but contrast is very good. Subtitles are excellent, audio gives 4 choices (English stereo and mono) and 2 DUBs in mono. No extras save the trailers. It seems to have been a forgotten film - but a true gem so I doubt it will be SE'ed soon. It deserves it though. |
DVD Menus
Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
1) Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLECriterion Spine #1116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLECriterion Spine #1116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLECriterion Spine #1116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLECriterion Spine #1116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLECriterion Spine #1116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLECriterion Spine #1116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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Box Covers |
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BONUS CAPTURES: |
Distribution | 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC |
Masters of Cinema - Spine # 149 Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Criterion Spine #1116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
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