The Flight Of The Phoenix (1965)

A cargo plane flying oil workers and some military personnel from Jaghbub to Bengazi (in Libya) crashes in the desert. The survivors are too off course to expect any rescue. An aircraft designer (Hardy Kruger) proposes to the plane's pilot (James Stewart) that they build a small aircraft out of the remaining wreckage and escape. Based on the novel by Elleston Trevor and directed by Robert Aldrich (KISS ME DEADLY). Considered a "classic" now, the film actually received mixed reviews when it opened and was a box office failure. Ironically, when a remake came out in 2004, critics generally said how inferior it was to the original. It's a meticulous (perhaps too meticulous, it runs almost 2 1/2 hours) film that thoroughly details the machinations involved in surviving in the desert as well as the complications of creating a viable aircraft. The characters are all flawed and many (like Ronald Fraser's bitter soldier) are downright unlikable but I liked that there were no typical "heroes". There's a strong underscore by Frank DeVol. With Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch, Ernest Borgnine, Hardy Kruger, Ian Bannen (inexplicably nominated for an Oscar for his work here), Dan Duryea, George Kennedy, Christian Marquand and Barrie Chase (CAPE FEAR), whose entire performance consists of a bump and grind mirage dance.