The Flight That Disappeared (1961)

Excellent, a Must See

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Love the old stewardess's ( aka "flight attendant"). Plus cigarette smoking was allowed! A near classic B movie with an eerie soundtrack. Not sure what a Beta bomb is but I'm sure the the Russian's had it first. As the plane climbs higher and higher ( no engines working but still climbing) ground control has no answers. Even worse, cigarettes won't light due to lack of oxygen. The pilots and passengers are in suspended animation unless your a scientist. Time suspended where the the future and the past meet. Talk about a log jam! Will the beta bomb be created and used? Watch the movie and learn about early 1960' paranoia.

A bit slow and preachy, but an interesting tale well worth watching...Actually a more than decent script considering it was shot back in 1961...Second act drags but when they get into the third you sit up and take notice...Don't want to tell all the tale...You'll enjoy watching this yourself...So much junk was produced in this era, it is nice to see something of this quality was shot and produced by Hollywood...The only strange thing is the lost of several international flights lately and how some actually refer to this movie about that situation...All I know is that if I owned the rights to this flick I would mount a minor ad campaign to tie-in with those recent events and sell more copies of "The Flight That Disappeared"...Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

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.

As I write this review the rating stands at 4.6, which is way too low for this film. The acting is adequate, the story line well flushed out. Very interesting premise for a movie. What seems to be routine flight to D.C. ends up in a place where time is suspended. Plenty of time is spent introducing the characters and setting up the storyline. 3 scientists, each in their own way a part of the team to produce a "super bomb" are aboard. The plane climbs incredibly and without reason. When everyone is apparently in a state of suspended animation, these 3 are made to stand trial by future human beings whose existence may not happen if the bomb is created. It all sounds fantastical, and it is - but the film is very well put together. A bit too heavy on the moral judgements perhaps, but you must remember the time in which this film was made. Every American feared a nuclear attack from Russia. It really is a gem of a little movie and well worth the time invested to watch. I'm glad I ignored the rating and went with my instinct that this could be a good film and watched it - I was right.