Fate Is the Hunter

A film whose story is told in flashback, during the investigation of an airline accident. Sam McBane (Glenn Ford) is an executive of Continental Airlines who is desperate to prove that his old Army-Air Corps buddy Capt. Jack Savage (Rod Taylor) had not been drinking before the fatal flight. His investigation brings him into contact with several close friends of Savage. Through them, McBane learns a lot he didn't know about the airline pilot.

The plot of the movie takes off during the last 10 minutes when McBane and the only survivor of the crash, Stewardess Martha Stewart (Suzanne Pleshette, excellent in limited screen time), recreate the original fatal flight in every detail. A friend of mine who wouldn't usually go in for this kind of fare, after viewing it with me, said "Fate of the Hunter" turned into a pretty good movie due to the last part.

Glenn Ford has some good scenes, particularly during the CAB hearing and Rod Taylor is likeable in his role.

This is one of my personal favorite movies and I recommend it.

This is a fine film about an airliner crash and its later repercussions. Glenn Ford brings his usual earnestness to his role as an airline executive determined to discover the cause of the crash, which killed its pilot and his good friend (Rod Taylor). Reports that Taylor had been drinking only make Ford more determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. Top cast works well with an intelligent script, which unfortunately gets a little slow and talky near the middle of the movie. The flashback scenes with Ford, Taylor, Jane Russell and Wally Cox are extremely well done, and Dorothy Malone gives a fine, uncredited performance. Perfect TV fare, good for folks who like movies from the mid-1960s era.

PS--Isn't that Joe Patridge as the First Officer at the beginning of the movie?

One of the best "if only" this had happened, or this didn't happen the outcome would be totally different. I have seen this movie only once, and that was in 1964! It's a great old movie, with well know actors. If you ever get a chance to see it....DO !!

If this happens to be on your cable channel it is a MUST SEE!! Ford plays Sam McBane, a VP with an airline which has just lost a plane in a crash. Taylor plays the pilot of the aircraft, who also happens to have been a war-buddy. The rest of the cast is top-notch and the story outstanding. However, it bears pointing out that YOU MUST WATCH THE FIRST 10-12 minutes and MOST DEFINITELY the finale as it brings all of the film to full circle. Watch it and enjoy!!

This is a great movie. I only saw it once, and that was in 1964, when it first came out. I wish it were available in VHS format, but it is not. If only some cable station would air it, I would love to record it! It is a great story of what life is, not what we want it to be. It illustrates the many zany and unusual things that can happen to change our lives forever. It goes to show you, when it's your time to leave this world, not matter WHAT you do, it is your time.