Fate Is the Hunter (1964)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

Ernest K. Gann (book)
Harold Medford (writer)

Release Date:

16 October 1964 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A man refuses to believe that pilot error caused a fatal crash, and persists in looking for another reason.

Plot Keywords:

Pilot | Investigation | Airplane Accident | Aviation | Airplane

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Glenn Ford	...	Sam C. McBane
Nancy Kwan	...	Sally Fraser
Rod Taylor	...	Capt. Jack Savage
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Martha Webster
Jane Russell	...	Herself
Wally Cox	...	Ralph Bundy
Nehemiah Persoff	...	Ben Sawyer
Mark Stevens	...	Mickey Doolan
Max Showalter	...	Dan Crawford
Constance Towers	...	Peg Burke
Howard St. John	...	Mark Hutchins
Robert J. Wilke	...	Stillman
Bert Freed	...	Charles J. Dillon
Dort Clark	...	Ted Wilson
Mary Wickes	...	Mrs. Llewlyn

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13

Company:

Arcola Pictures

Trivia:

Jane Russell considered herself semi retired at this time and agreed to do a cameo for her friend Aaron Rosenberg.

Movie Connections:

Version of Island in the Sky (1953)

Soundtrack:

Fate Is the Hunter

An Overlooked Classic

If you have the chance to catch this movie, please do. In an age where cursing, nudity and violence seem to occupy most films, this is something special...a classic, counting on its storyline, acting and believable characters to hold our attention. The mystery that surrounds the tragedy in this movie cleverly ties together the people involved, the incident itself and is not resolved until the end. The characters are unique, introduced in brief anecdotes by which we come to learn about them. It makes one realize that we too have that same myriad of people we touch ourselves in our own lives. The music is beautifully orchestrated by Jerry Goldsmith. Glenn Ford's intense style is a sharp contrast to Rod Taylor's swashbuckling character. A very strong performance was given by Suzanne Pleshette as well. Her face of pure terror when she is on the second flight is fascinating and believable. My only regret is not being able to get a copy of the soundtrack, which has one of the most beautiful trumpet solos I have ever heard. A movie worth watching anytime, with anyone.