Joseph_Gillis The movie's title was only a partial clue; the opening scene of airmen lounging by a plane wreck in the Libyan desert, and talking of their life in that inhospitable wilderness for the preceding 17 years, immediately alert you that we're venturing into 'Twilight Zone' territory. Except that this film is more about the twilight zone of the conscience of a guilt-wracked man: a man who'd suppressed his guilt for 17 years, but is now being forced to confront it, publicly, and by men who had come to respect him.There's so much that's admirable about this film it's hard to know exactly where to start: I suppose everything has to start with the script, which is superb, as is its editing, structure, and direction. Using the ghosts of dead men as both commentators and judge and jury of the navigator who'd abandoned them is an inspired choice, as is leavening the drama and tragedy with the comic relief they provide, a relief derived partly from their tacit recognition of their powerlessness.At times it plays like a detective story, too, as the most likely scenarios are assessed, and as pressure is brought to bear upon the Major leading the enquiry, reminding him of the necessity to think of his career, and of the distinguished officer whose career and reputation he may be about to damage, irreversibly, should he make the wrong conclusions. Until we learn of the mistake the major had himself made.Inevitably a decision had to be made, but even then the director and screenwriter found a way to ingest a little poetry: those beautiful, elegiac final scenes, where the ghosts feel their immortality slipping away, were a fitting end to a wholly admirable piece of work.It was interesting that I would have first become aware of two of the three leads playing commanding officers in science-fiction ships of different eras - respectively Richard Basehart, as the general (Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea), and William Shatner (Star Trek). Unsurprisingly, Basehart, being the more feted actor, shone brightest here, but Shatner acquitted himself well as the pragmatic enquiry leader, focused on his career, and his imminent pension. Vince Edwards did well, also, as the major, with his own debt to pay.

tvsgael2-2 I just saw an HD copy on You Tube, but it's wide screen. The aspect ratio must be at least 185. It seems to be 16 by 9 compatible. I don't have the link, but it's easily found as long as it lasts. I may try to change the aspect ration on my download, since their heads are a little squashed, but it is odd that someone would do that to a film. It's definitely top quality images.

malcmgm A superb film and a pleasant surprise to come across it on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqxZoVLn6Tg.Compelling from start to finish and very original even though based on a true story.The story is well presented and unfolds cleverly keeping you thinking all the time and not quite sure what is going to happen next. Shatner is fine even though he still playing Kirk as in all his films. The performances of the the aviators are great and the casting is spot on. I started watching this film at 1am and only intended to watch the first half hour but couldn't stop watching it until the I reached the satisfying conclusion. Very very good!

pretchless2 It has been years since I saw this film, but it has always stood out as a great story about the planes and crews of World War II who never returned from their missions.Is it possible that the crews of these lost planes might be ghosts, hoping that one day they will be found so their spirits can be put to rest? What do these ghosts do to pass the time while they wait to be found? I always remember the scene where the ghosts of the dead airmen are playing baseball while listening to the investigating team as they examine the crash site. The current news they hear is that the Dodgers and the Giants have moved to the West Coast. The story keeps the viewer in suspense as you wonder if the "sole survivor" will be found out and if the bodies of the dead airmen will be recovered. An exceptional piece of work...