The Flight That Disappeared

Little-known film about a cross-country flight that is transported to another dimension where time stands still. There are some scientists on board the flight that are responsible for building a new kind of nuclear weapon. They are put on trial in this other dimension by people from the future. It's a talky movie about ideas and Cold War fears that gets a little heavy-handed at times. The "logic" of the prosecutor is riddled with holes. The first half-hour is pretty dull before it slowly starts to pick up. Still, it's nearly an hour into the film before the trial starts. All of the characters are as exciting as cardboard. There are no big actors associated with this, though I did recognize a few faces. It's an interesting idea for a movie or even an episode of the Twilight Zone. I could see Rod Serling doing a lot with it. It's a slog to get through the buildup but the last 20-30 minutes is worth watching.

It is 1960. One of the last prop-driven plane flights containing two scientists and a cutie mathematician seems to be off schedule, for that matter off altitude and possibly out of time. What mysteries can this foretell and are we on for a heavy-handed warning? Can't say much about this film as it is a short subjects similar to the twilight zone programs. However a side added plus is being able to see the old prop-driven planes and 60s clothing. If you expect to see scanty closed space girls that I'm afraid you'll be disappointed.

Much of the time is given to introducing characters as you would normally have in a mystery such as "Ten Little Indians." During one of the conversations a passenger that seems to be a little unhinged expresses an attitude that parallels Randy Newman's song "political science." You may want to listen to a copy and see if he is not correct.

This film is worth watching and wondering if the heavy-handed warning still applies today.

A cross-country airliner, whose passengers include a nuclear physicist, a rocket expert, and a mathematical genius, is drawn beyond radar range by an unknown, unbreakable force.

Others have compared this film to "The Twilight Zone", and rightly so. I am almost surprised no one from the show was involved in this film, because the plot and political point of view is exactly the same. The only difference is that this is much longer (and maybe not necessarily so -- I can see this story being told in 25 minutes).

If the film has any real flaw, it is that the morality is a bit over the top and extreme. The message is a good one, and one that hardly anyone could disagree with. But it comes off almost preachy and condescending because there is not one ounce of subtlety in it at all. (I am being vague here so as not to spoil anything, though the plot is about as obvious as possible.)

Remarkably talented unknowns present a potentially hokey story that, in fact, holds up.

In 1961 the threat of devastating nuclear war hung and/or was held over the heads of every resident of Earth. This script asked the question, How guilty are the scientists who help create the weaponry that can destroy the human race, and destroy the future of yet unborn humans?

Author Fredric Brown asked a similar question in his short-short story, "The Weapon," in a very small setting with only three people.

"Flight" has a large cast that presents what might seem to be another doomed airplane story, but that turns out to be the shell containing the setting for asking our question.

There is a science-fictiony feel to this story, but there is probably no other way to deal with the subject: WHO is guilty when the "ultimate weapon" is created? Bureaucrats who demand such a weapon? Military and political people who will be responsible for its use? Or the scientists who do the actual intellectual work of bringing it into existence?

The question is the same as that dealt with in the Brown short-short, and is still one, after 60 years, that needs answering. And needs dealing with even by us who are not in those three categories, but who supply the tax dollars and the cannon fodder for what might well be very short, but totally destructive, wars.

One complaint I have about this excellent motion picture: The cast members are so overwhelmingly capable and even talented, each and every one should be a household name -- but isn't.

A copy of "Flight" is at YouTube and I urge you to watch it.

A passenger plane runs into strange problems.

Sort of feels like an extended episode of The Twilight Zone (1959) or The Outer Limits (1963). And keep in mind this appeared long before the first Airport (1970) movie so back then in 1961 this probably seemed like a landmark flick!

Cast member Gregory Morton (The Examiner) would go on to voice two alien beings in TV's Lost in Space (see episodes Follow The Leader & The Prisoners Of Space).

I enjoyed the movie a lot but not everything about it totally clicks. But well worth a watch.