THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX

US, 1965,140 minutes, Colour.
James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Hardy Kruger, Peter Finch, Ernest Borgnine, Dan Duryea, Christian Marquand.
Directed by Robert Aldrich.

The Flight of the Phoenix is good action material. It is long but it holds the interest. It may be more of interest to male audiences because of the cast and their predicament.

In some ways the film is rather similar to the disaster films so popular at all times, like Airport or The Poseidon Adventure. However, the interaction between the survivors of the crash of the Phoenix is stronger drama than most of the ordinary fare that is offered. The men are, of course, a strange cross-section of humanity, illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of human behaviour. In this way, the film has much to offer on human nature as well as on the theme of survival.

Robert Aldrich, the director, has made a number of vigorous films of masculine tone and interest - The Dirty Dozen, Too Late the Hero, Ulzana's Raid, Emperor of the North. This film is one of his best.

1. The significance of the title, a Phoenix rising to new life from its ashes.

2. Was this a good suspense adventure story? Why? What were the best features?

3. How impressive was this as a film about survival? How strongly did the urge to survive come through?

4. How interesting was the interaction of the characters? The crises? The emergence of varying kinds of leadership? The leadership of expertise?

5. How plausible was the story? How real was the danger? With whom was the audience meant to identify? Whose responsibility was the actual accident?

6. Comment on the validity of the varying reactions to the accident - the deaths, wounds, nervousness, fear, fights, clashes?

7. How intelligent were the plans for survival, plans for getting away? How necessary for morale was the working out of such plans and doing them? Dorfman's plan? Did you identify with him?

8. Frank Towns - as an old expert, old style pilot, the James Stewart style character, his strengths, weaknesses, thinking he couldn't make a mistake, sense of responsibility for the group, friendship with Lou, the challenge of Dorfman; were his actions predictable? His final decisions for leaving? Firing of the charges? What had he achieved for himself and the others by the end of the film?

9. Lou - a drunkard, a failure, yet a decent man, how cowardly? His friendship with Frank, relationships with the other men, sense of responsibility, support of Dorf'man's plan, surprise at the truth, clash with Frank and the truth told, what had he achieved by the end of the film?

10. Dorfman - young, theoretical, arrogant, idealistic, Germanic, self-righteous, his plan and his failing to tell them the truth? His treatment of the others during the working, drinking the water, challenge to Towns, absorption in his plans, the truth about him? What self-knowledge had he? Was he right to try what he did? What had he achieved by the end of the film?

11. Harris - army type, his relationship with the sergeant, decision to go by foot, was it wise? His return, his weakness, yet willingness to help, courage in going to the Arabs, refusal of the sergeant, the fact that he had given his life for the others?

12. Watson - the ordinary man, fearful, a coward, selfish, his attitude towards Harris, his rebellion, the contempt of the other members, his refusal to go to the Arabs, the fact that he survived? Does the ordinary selfish man always survive?

13. Standish - a gentleman, elderly, helpful, calm temperament, religious?

14. Ernest Borgnine as the nervous character - his fears and immediate reaction, interaction with the others, longing to be saved, walking out into the desert? Why?

15. Dr. Renaud - his contribution, as a doctor, his concern, volunteering to go to the Arabs, giving his life for the others?

16. Ian Bannen as the rough man - the taunts, challenges, working; is he the type who also survives?

17. The Italian who died - why did he choose to die? How was his character communicated in talking about his past life? The use of the Phoenix waltz as a background to his sequences?

18. How real were the clashes between the men? Were they convincingly portrayed? Why do men clash like this?

19. The sequence with the Arabs - genuine danger, the resulting deaths and the impacts on the group?

20. Trust is an important ingredient for human survival. How was this borne out in the film?

21. The mistakes. How realistically were these presented?

22. The exhilaration of survival. Comment on the impact of the final sequences, the take-off, the flight, landing and amazement of the observers, the men rushing to the water. How happy and appropriate an ending was this?