Someone put a lot of work into this great film...

Even thought this was a low budget TV Movie from 1970 and made on probably $500 and a free topee for William Shatner, this film really rocks. If anything, the only "criticism" is the psychological drama style of the movie which makes it slow moving. But this is more of an artifact of the times as this was the style of most early 1970s movies that I've seen.

The most impressive thing that I notice is the attention to detail in the film. If you've actually seen pics of the crash site of the "Lady Be Good" you'll notice that the "Home Run"'s crash is shown in almost exactly the same position as the 'Lady Be Good' complete with tail broken off.

Although the film was made in 1970, the action is supposedly taking place in 1958-1959 and the director and creators went through great lengths to get the uniforms and equipment right. Even the transport helicopter is a 1950s style helicopter (UH-1 Hueys would have been the copter of choice for a 1970s unit).

The crew dialog is very interesting as well, with the one joke where the young airman comments in confusion on how the Brooklyn Dodgers were now in Los Angeles.

I also find the 'upbeat' ending interesting as well. IMHO, 1970s films are usually very depressing and deliberately made so, what with Vietnam and Watergate and all. But this film kind of subverts that. The last man thinks he'll be left there forever but the investigator is racing back to the plane after finding the diary, giving hope that he will find the final man's remains. You rarely see this 'ray of hope' in an early 1970s film, as far as I see it, and I'm glad they did that.

I love this film, have ever since I first saw it over three decades ago. Its slow moving but can keep your attention the first time through with all the 'psychological' elements. Truth be told, the material is slightly stretched for 90min film but its not a crippling fact.

For me, even though the action is occurring out of doors in a wide panorama of desert, this film feels very claustrophobic which greatly adds to the atmosphere. I think its the ghosts saying how they have tried to walk away before but can never leave and the occasional scenes inside the cramped interior of the plane. I feel the trapped feeling the ghosts are as it looks like their remains will not be found.

The film has aged well too, being based mainly on human frailties and interpersonal drama. A remake which kept the original story intact would look little different. Modern special effects on the combat scene 'flashback' would probably be the only major difference in a modern version if the original story was faithfully reproduced (which it wouldn't, they'd throw in back-story and love interest and all sorts of drama which would pull away from the ghost story and totally ruin it! :-) )