"The Flight of the Phoenix", a 1965 American survival drama, is a film where Dan Duryea doesn't play a villain. It is a film produced and directed by Robert Aldrich and based on the 1964 novel "The Flight of the Phoenix" by English author Elleston Trevor. The story follows a small group of men struggling to survive their aircraft's emergency landing in the Sahara desert. It stars an ensemble cast, with James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch, Hardy Krüger, Ernest Borgnine, Ian Bannen, Ronald Fraser, Christian Marquand, Dan Duryea, and George Kennedy.

In the film, a rickety cargo plane delivering men and supplies to an oil rig in the Middle East crash-lands in the desert during a nasty sandstorm. When it becomes obvious that they're too far off course to ever be spotted by rescue planes, the men argue over how to best survive and save themselves. They have plenty to eat thanks to several crates loaded with dates, but there's only enough potable water to last them a couple of weeks or so. The difficult terrain and blistering heat make walking out on foot over a practical impossibility. Since help isn't likely to stumble across them before they run out of supplies, what can they possibly do? One of the passengers has a suggestion. It is a rather unconventional solution to their seemingly helpless situation.

"The film was not a financial success. Nonetheless, it was still well-received by film critics. They praised Aldrich’s direction and several cast performances.

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