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McBane (Glenn Ford), is convinced of his friend's innocence and doggedly investigates. Flashbacks deal with both Jack's past and Sam meeting him, plus others they used to know, as well as Savage's ex-fiancee and his current girlfriend Sally Fraser (Nancy Kwan). Sally introduces the idea of fate to McBane, who rejects it. During the investigation, it is revealed that the pier structure had been scheduled for demolition but the project had been delayed a few days; had the pier been dismantled on time the plane would have made a successful belly-landing. Finally McBane learns that Savage had accompanied another war buddy to the bar and had not been drinking himself. During a press conference, McBane struggles with the concept of fate and coincidence as the possible cause of the tragedy. Meanwhile, Webster, when interviewed in the hospital, insists that she witnessed fault warnings and alarm bells for both engines.
336:
spilled during the turbulence of the first engine shut-down. He opens the console's access panel and finds that coffee seeped in, short-circuiting the wiring and causing both the radio failure and a false fire warning. In reality both the original and test flights still had a fully functioning second engine, enough to prevent the crash. McBane orders the second engine restarted, disregarding its fire warning, and the plane returns safely to the airfield. Savage is therefore exonerated of pilot error as the chain of circumstances caused the accident.
328:
temporal events) is replicated. McBane tries to convince
Webster to board the test flight, as she is the only remaining eyewitness to the cockpit procedures. She struggles through her post-traumatic reaction and boards the flight at the last moment. After take-off, Webster performs all of her normal duties and brings McBane coffee, just as she had done for the original flight crew. He sets the cup on a center console just as Savage had. McBane then shuts down an engine, simulating its incapacitation. He orders the craft to not be immediately
498:
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investigators blame pilot error, but the airline’s
Director of Flight Operations, himself a pilot, refuses to accept that conclusion and demands that the inquiry probe deeper into all the circumstances that contributed to the disaster. The film explores the lives of passengers and crew as well as the
335:
A short time later, the second engine warning light and alarm indicates there is a serious engine fire in the remaining good engine, exactly as
Webster had reported, and the radio fails. To maintain flight, McBane orders the first engine restarted. Then he notices that the coffee cup on the console
510:
An area of the
Twentieth Century Fox back lot was converted into the tarmac, taxiway, and runway seen in the film. Because of the fear of litigation, it was reported that no airframe manufacturer or airline was willing to cooperate in the production of the film, making these steps necessary. The
327:
Eventually, a re-enactment test flight is organized as part of the investigation. Piloted by McBane, its purpose is to exactly recreate the flight of the ill-fated airliner. Every detail both physical (the use of sandbags on seats to simulate the weight of the passengers) and sequential (chain of
319:
After the failure of both engines of his passenger jet during take-off, pilot Jack Savage (Rod Taylor) successfully belly lands the plane along what initially appears to be an open stretch of beach. However, it uncontrollably skids into a pier, exploding and killing all but one aboard, stewardess
323:
Early in the investigation, it is discovered that one engine failed after ingesting a seagull, while the other is mysteriously mechanically sound. Focus turns to pilot-error, as Savage was seen in a bar as little as an hour before the flight. The captain's wartime buddy, airline executive Sam C.
29:
534:
gave the movie a strongly negative review, writing that it would surely not be shown as in-flight entertainment and that "it might be better for airline travelers if they never see it anyplace." He called it "a stupid, annoying film".
542:
reviewed the movie as "generally well-acted" and "melodramatic and sometimes suspenseful," while noting that its "series of minor situations that are important in revealing character are also very trivial and lacking in drama."
505:
based on amalgam of two airframes, and was one of the most elaborate mock-ups ever to be used. The filmmakers were sensitive to concerns that aircraft manufacturers would see one of their designs being depicted as
471:, a medium in which the film played interminably". (Some prints of the film were released with Gann's name still in the opening credits immediately before that of Harold Medford, author of the screenplay.)
463:, but the author was so disappointed with the film, which bore no relation to the book about Gann's own early flying career, that he asked to have his name removed from the credits. In his autobiography,
578:
jetliners experienced in-flight engine shutdowns due to beverage spills on the cockpit center console in the area of the control panel for engine-start and aircraft monitor functions.
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490:. Modifications to the rear section of the aircraft included the addition of two nacelles to accommodate the simulated jet engines. A rear-mounted Boeing 707 spike-styled
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episode "Pilot Error"; the protagonist, who is the lead investigator in a mishap, relates the film's plot to his partner, comparing it to their current predicament.
721:"Movie Review: Fate Is the Hunter (1964), Screen: 'Fate Is the Hunter' Opens: Film of Plane Crash at Local Theaters Glenn Ford Is Starred With Nancy Kwan."
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technical operations of aircraft, the process of investigation, and the pressures brought to bear by relentless news media and industry politics.
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517:(1964–1968), and remained parked for several years on an overpass used for movie prop storage by the adjacent 20th Century Fox Studios.
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The film's storyline concerns the crash of a commercial airliner that killed all aboard except for one of the crew, a stewardess.
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donors, the second used to create the crash scene on the beach. The wings were reportedly removed and reversed, and a
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The "Consolidated
Airways" jet aircraft used in the film, called "Blue Ribbon", was one of two fabricated from
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511:"Fate" aircraft was later used in the filming of an episode of the ABC television series
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also makes an uncredited appearance. The film features an early film score by composer
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Fox That Got Away: The Last Days of the Zanuck
Dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox
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854:(The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989.
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467:, Gann wrote, "They obliged and, as a result, I deprived myself of the TV
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486:" were also added in order to achieve the appearance of a modern
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778:"A350 engine shutdown incidents linked to cockpit drink spills"
742:(Cleveland State University), 1964. Retrieved: August 12, 2019.
555:
needed to earn $ 4,800,000 to break even and made $ 2,210,000.
809:. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Company, 2016.
852:
Twentieth
Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History
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isolator and antenna were added to the tail section.
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The
Aircraft-Spotter's Film and Television Companion
455:was nominally based on the bestselling 1961 memoir
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279:(playing herself entertaining for the USO in a
574:On November 9, 2019 and January 21, 2020, two
501:The fictional airliner used in the film was a
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8:
1173:Films about aviation accidents or incidents
332:, as it was not during the original event.
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869:Duncan, Oklahoma: BearManor Media, 2010.
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621:The film is also mentioned in the 1995
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737:" 'Fate Is the Hunter' is just so-so."
666:"Jerry Goldsmith (1929-2004) tribute."
7:
320:Martha Webster (Susanne Pleshette).
1094:A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich
867:Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood.
14:
615:was used in the 1980 comedy film
1178:Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith
839:. New York: Lyle Stuart, 1988.
514:Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1168:Films directed by Ralph Nelson
1163:American black-and-white films
766:Retrieved: September 25, 2012.
588:List of American films of 1964
1:
1110:Christmas Lilies of the Field
570:Similar Airbus A350 incidents
1183:1960s English-language films
740:The Cleveland Memory Project
673:. Retrieved: April 14, 2011.
761:"Fate Is the Hunter" Awards
1204:
701:. Retrieved: July 3, 2015.
551:According to Fox records,
170:November 8, 1964
974:Requiem for a Heavyweight
966:The Man in the Funny Suit
960:
824:. New York: Knoff, 1978.
409:as Lisa Bond (uncredited)
34:Theatrical release poster
26:
16:1964 film by Ralph Nelson
776:Kaminski-Morrow, David.
538:Tony Mastroianni of the
430:Dort Clark as Ted Wilson
1158:American aviation films
1153:American disaster films
751:Silverman 1988, p. 323.
664:Clemmensen, Christian.
308:Civil Aeronautics Board
1148:20th Century Fox films
1102:Because He's My Friend
835:Silverman, Stephen M.
820:Gann, Ernest Kellogg.
764:Turner Classic Movies.
507:
482:nose cone along with "
696:"Fate Is the Hunter."
646:Solomon 1989, p. 254.
500:
146:Arcola Pictures Corp.
1188:1960s American films
1078:The Wilby Conspiracy
822:A Hostage to Fortune
726:, December 10, 1964.
694:Santoir, Christian.
465:A Hostage to Fortune
427:as Charles J. Dillon
1062:Flight of the Doves
990:Soldier in the Rain
982:Lilies of the Field
735:Mastroianni, Tony.
233:is a 1964 American
998:Fate Is the Hunter
952:Films directed by
912:Fate Is the Hunter
901:Fate Is the Hunter
895:TCM Movie Database
890:Fate Is the Hunter
724:The New York Times
719:Crowther, Bosley.
682:Gann 1978, p. 457.
655:Vagg 2010, p. 102.
613:Fate Is the Hunter
564:Fate Is the Hunter
553:Fate Is the Hunter
531:The New York Times
508:
453:Fate Is the Hunter
273:Fate Is the Hunter
230:Fate Is the Hunter
64:Fate Is the Hunter
22:Fate Is the Hunter
1143:CinemaScope films
1120:
1119:
860:978-0-8108-4244-1
850:Solomon, Aubrey.
845:978-0-81840-485-6
830:978-0-3944-9984-0
815:978-1-4766-2293-4
710:Beck 2016, p. 82.
559:Awards and honors
367:as Martha Webster
365:Suzanne Pleshette
265:Suzanne Pleshette
226:
225:
122:Robert L. Simpson
112:Milton R. Krasner
94:Suzanne Pleshette
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1138:1964 drama films
1070:The Wrath of God
1046:Tick, Tick, Tick
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611:An excerpt from
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484:supersonic spike
457:of the same name
415:as Mark Hutchins
397:as Mickey Doolan
389:Nehemiah Persoff
377:Constance Towers
285:Nehemiah Persoff
245:20th Century Fox
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156:20th Century Fox
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526:Bosley Crowther
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440:Robert F. Simon
436:as Mrs. Llewlyn
419:Robert J. Wilke
413:Howard St. John
403:as Dan Crawford
355:as Sally Fraser
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301:Jerry Goldsmith
249:Aaron Rosenberg
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222:$ 2.2 million
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1054:Soldier Blue
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1030:Counterpoint
1028:
1020:
1014:Once a Thief
1012:
1006:Father Goose
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972:
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954:Ralph Nelson
911:
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799:Bibliography
785:. Retrieved
782:FlightGlobal
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488:jet airliner
473:
464:
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451:
395:Mark Stevens
379:as Peg Burke
371:Jane Russell
334:
326:
322:
318:
305:
293:Mark Stevens
277:Jane Russell
272:
253:Ralph Nelson
229:
228:
227:
186:Running time
163:Release date
62:
45:Ralph Nelson
576:Airbus A350
434:Mary Wickes
421:as Stillman
283:sequence),
214:$ 2,525,000
190:106 minutes
76:Produced by
41:Directed by
1133:1964 films
1127:Categories
787:31 January
699:Aeromovies
594:References
547:Box Office
492:HF antenna
480:Boeing 707
448:Production
442:as Proctor
425:Bert Freed
359:Rod Taylor
353:Nancy Kwan
347:Glenn Ford
269:Rod Taylor
261:Nancy Kwan
257:Glenn Ford
243:film from
219:Box office
174:1964-11-08
139:Production
102:Rod Taylor
98:Nancy Kwan
90:Glenn Ford
635:Citations
618:Airplane!
521:Reception
469:residuals
383:Wally Cox
289:Wally Cox
281:flashback
118:Edited by
917:AllMovie
582:See also
238:disaster
235:aviation
203:Language
128:Music by
86:Starring
59:Based on
893:at the
506:unsafe.
503:mock-up
476:DC-7(B)
330:trimmed
206:English
195:Country
172: (
141:company
1113:(1979)
1105:(1978)
1097:(1977)
1089:(1976)
1086:Embryo
1081:(1975)
1073:(1972)
1065:(1971)
1057:(1970)
1049:(1970)
1041:(1968)
1038:Charly
1033:(1967)
1025:(1966)
1017:(1965)
1009:(1964)
1001:(1964)
993:(1963)
985:(1963)
977:(1962)
969:(1960)
873:
858:
843:
828:
813:
291:, and
211:Budget
599:Notes
241:drama
906:IMDb
871:ISBN
856:ISBN
841:ISBN
826:ISBN
811:ISBN
789:2020
340:Cast
315:Plot
267:and
915:at
904:at
624:JAG
528:of
459:by
68:by
1129::
780:.
687:^
303:.
295:.
287:,
271:.
263:,
259:,
945:e
938:t
931:v
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862:.
847:.
832:.
817:.
791:.
176:)
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