The Flight Of The Phoenix - 1965 - 6/10
Sturdy yarn of desert survival.
A sandstorm knocks down a plane over the Sahara carrying oil workers: riggers, scientists, engineers.
Miles from civilization, off traffic routes, food and water running low.
Most of these are alpha males so there are plenty of pissing contests.
Eventually, the immortal phrase, “the gods help those who help themselves,” and the men rally themselves.
Akin to other big cast ensembles {The Magnificent Seven (1960) or The Great Escape (1963)}, although this suffers from poor momentum.
Although book-ended by action, much of the film observes the men sweat, suffer and argue.
