MovieChat Forums > The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) Discussion > How did you all react to 'The scene'

How did you all react to 'The scene'

posted 15 years ago by JAlexa9898
35 replies | jump to latest

I am not sure if any of you know the scene to which I am refferring to but its the scene where they find out he makes model airplanes. The reason I am asking is every time my mother sees this movie its always the same way. She sits in front of the tv STONE faced, not one word comes out of her mouth. Then I am in the other room and when it hits the scene where they find out he makes model airplanes its hillarious laughter. I guess my mother looses it every time she sees Jimmy Stewart face. Anyone else loose it over this scene?

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hockeyhrs 10 years ago

Dorfmann is quite right when he says that the principles-of-flight used in model airplanes are more or less identical to those used in full-scale airplanes.

Where they differ is in (a) the design and complexity of the avionics used to control them, and (b) the tools & methods of manufacture and test . . . . and these it would be ludicrous to assume that a model airplane designer would know.

Engineers are even more specialized than doctors, and not even the best of my peers (I'm an electrical engineer in military radar & electronic warfare) is as conversant in as many different technologies as Herr Dorfmann.

But the average cinema-goer doesn't know any of this, so the movie works beautifully for everyone, except the few engineers who can not muster the requisite amount of "suspension of disbelief".

[–] GoRetroPam 9 years ago

Yes, I laughed my a$$ off.

[–] greenleafie 9 years ago

I thought it added an interesting twist to the plot. Somehow, it made me want The Phoenix to fly even more. Too bad they didn't have a huge rubber-band.