Flight from Ashiya (1964)

A helicopter rescue team tries to save the survivors of a shipwreck off the coast of Japan during a raging typhoon.

Director:

Michael Anderson

Writers:

Elliott Arnold (novel), Elliott Arnold,

Stars:

Yul Brynner, Richard Widmark, George Chakiris

Cast

Cast overview:
Yul Brynner	...	TSgt. Mike Takashima
Richard Widmark	...	L:t. Col. Glenn Stevenson
George Chakiris	...	2nd Lt. John Gregg
Suzy Parker	...	Lucille Caroll
Shirley Knight	...	Caroline Gordon / Stevenson
Danièle Gaubert	...	Leila
Eiko Taki	...	Tomiko
Joe Di Reda	...	SSgt. Randy Smith
Mitsuhiro Sugiyama	...	Charlie
E.S. Ince	...	Capt. Walter Mound
Andrew Hughes	...	Dr. Horton
William Ross	...	Capt. Jerry Cooper
June Shelley	...	(as June Elliott)

Storyline

A helicopter rescue team tries to save the survivors of a shipwreck off the coast of Japan during a raging typhoon.

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Plot Keywords:

avalanche | flashback | rescue | based on novel | independent film

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Taglines:

Plunge into hell with the most fearless breed of men on earth!

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Genres:

Adventure | Romance | Drama | War

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Details

Country:

Japan USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wir warten in Ashiya

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Harold Hecht Films, Daiei Motion Picture Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tuesday Weld originally announced for Shirley Knight role.

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Quotes

Sergeant Mike Takashima: My father was a Buddhist, my mother a Seventh-day Adventist.

User Reviews

Silly but some good flying scenes.

I concur with the most of the previous comments. The film is silly, the acting is wooden, the story is contrived and mawkish, and the 1941 and 1942 flash back scenes give no real sense of the periods depicted.

Most of the scenes filmed using models are ludicrous, especially the water landings and the take off after the rescue, but there are some good shots of real aircraft (Sikorsky UH-19 helicopter, Douglas DC-3, and Grumman HU-16 Albatross amphibian) and a few flying scenes that will appeal to aviation buffs.

One previous comment is in error: the air rescue aircraft is a Grumman HU-16 Albatross, not a Martin PBM.