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The Flight of the Eagle

Released Apr 8, 1983 2h 19m History Drama List
Reviews 73% Audience Score 50+ Ratings
This film, based on real-life events, follows Salomon August Andrée (Max von Sydow), a daring Swedish engineer who attempts to reach the North Pole via hot-air balloon. Joined by his loyal companions, Knut Fraenkel (Sverre Anker Ousdal) and Nils Strindberg (Göran Stangertz), Andrée departs from northern Norway in his balloon, but he and his partners don't make it far before complications ensue. Once the balloon crashes and the men are stranded on the ice, the expedition veers towards tragedy. Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Diane Haithman Detroit Free Press Although this film can't quite compete with Das Boot in consistent quality, Flight of the Eagle, starring Max Von Sydow as Andree, provides that same sort of unbearable intensity. Rated: 7/10 Mar 24, 2023 Full Review Carol Flake Vanity Fair As in Troell's earlier films The Emigrants and The New Land, we experience the new world along with the travelers. Despite the aeronauts' failings, we never lose our sense of connection with them. Sep 20, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jan Troell's historical tale was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar. Rated: B+ Aug 9, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (3) audience reviews
Stephen C A masterpiece and after the director had busted out in the US with the terrible Hurricane a massive achievement. Based on true events the film is placed really well and the film doesn't feel phony as one would imagine it would have been if it was made in America Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Based on a true story and a true very stupid idea. The Idea to cross the north pole in a ballon. This actually happend at one point in 1897. Stiff upper lipps, no training and no testing of the ballon in advance is added to the mix of grim failure. Max Von Sydow is magic as most times, and looks, technique and scenerys is all top notch. **** Spoiler **** Everyone dies Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting Swedish film starring Max von Sydow and based on the true story of three men who try to begin the first men on the North Pole by using a hydrogen balloon as their transportation. It’s a long movie and the first half of the movie is pretty slow, but then when they finally go on the voyage it starts to get really interesting. The film does an excellent job of showing the isolation of the three explorers. They’re stuck in an endless land of ice and they have to try to return home. The score is great and the cinematography is also very impressive. The final shot is also amazing. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Flight of the Eagle

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The Flight of the Eagle

The Flight of the Eagle (1982) The Flight of the Eagle (1982) The Flight of the Eagle (1982) The Flight of the Eagle (1982) The Flight of the Eagle (1982) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This film, based on real-life events, follows Salomon August Andrée (Max von Sydow), a daring Swedish engineer who attempts to reach the North Pole via hot-air balloon. Joined by his loyal companions, Knut Fraenkel (Sverre Anker Ousdal) and Nils Strindberg (Göran Stangertz), Andrée departs from northern Norway in his balloon, but he and his partners don't make it far before complications ensue. Once the balloon crashes and the men are stranded on the ice, the expedition veers towards tragedy.
Director
Jan Troell
Producer
Jörn Donner
Screenwriter
Georg Oddner, Ian Rakoff, Klaus Rifbjerg, Jan Troell
Distributor
Summit Entertainment
Production Co
Bold Productions, Polyphon Film- und Fernsehgesellschaft mbH, Svenska Filminstitutet, Svensk Filmindustri, Adnorsk, Sveriges Television, Norsk Film
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 8, 1983, Original
Runtime
2h 19m
Sound Mix
Surround