A Classic Flying Tale Returns to Theaters A Little Early Than Expected

December is going to be a good month for aviation movies. Due to the intense hoopla surrounding the Leonardo DeCaprio portrayal of Howard Hughes in "The Aviator," yet another "buzz-worthy" aero-picture is coming to theaters a few days early.

20th Century Fox has moved up the release of The Flight Of The Phoenix to Friday, December 17--five days earlier than originally planned. 

Fox President Bruce Snyder explains that, "The Aviator's move gives us a terrific opportunity to `take an earlier FLIGHT' as the only action adventure picture of the holiday season. And as the first plane off the runway, we'll have extra holiday playing time for a film that will have terrific word of mouth."

This is a movie known to many aviators for its first rendition, in which one of the aviation world's most notable stunt flyers, Paul Mantz, lost his life. Directed and Produced by Robert Aldrich, the 147 minute film was released in December, 1966 and told an amazing tale of a plane crash in a desolate area of the Sahara Desert -- forcing the survivors to build a smaller aircraft out of the wreck in order to save themselves form the ravages of the desert. The 2004 version stars Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi, Tyrese Gibson, Mirando Otto and Hugh Laurie. (Photos provided courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

FMI: www.flightofthephoenix.com, www.apple.com/trailers/fox