THE FLIGHT THAT DISAPPEARED (1961)
Article 2972 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 6-27-2009
Posting Date: 10-3-2009
Directed by Reginald Le Borg
Featuring Craig Hill, Paula Raymond, Dayton Lummis
Country: USA

A flight carrying several scientists who are slated to work together developing the ultimate weapon finds itself lifted into the stratosphere and vanishing.

This could have made a half-hour episode of “The Twilight Zone”, but not one of the better ones. Furthermore, it could have easily been reduced to the length of an episode simply by removing the padding, cutting the unnecessary scenes, and streamlining the events that are necessary. Even at that, I’d opt for someone with a sense of dialogue to rewrite what was left. If I don’t sound impressed by the script of this one, then you’re hearing me right; what can you say about a movie that takes ten minutes at the end to deliver its final twist when it could have been neatly handled in one-fifth of that time? Certainly, Reginald Le Borg’s flat direction doesn’t help much, but I’m not sure that even an inspired, creative director could have done much to salvage this one, so maybe Le Borg was the best choice for it. If you do decide to watch, brace yourself for some tiresome preaching as well. This one is not recommended.