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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling, January 4, 2005
The Hindenburg, based on the 1972 Michael Mooney book, mixes historical fact with Hollywood drama as it depicts the last voyage of the famous airship. Although it purports to explain how the pride of the Third Reich burst into flames, the truth will never be known.Produced and directed by Robert Wise (The Day the Earth Stood Still, West Side Story, The Sound of Music), the film is one of many all-star disaster pictures made in the 1970's. Wisely, he has chosen to open with original newsreel footage, and concludes with the famous radio broadcast by Herbert Morrison. Screenwriter Nelson Gidding tries hard to make the film a mystery, but it never quite takes off. His scenes revolving around a 'clairvoyant' kook ashore who insists the dirigible will blow up over New York are distracting and hokey. Still, Gidding stays fairly close to the facts and many of the characters are clearly based on real people. George C. Scott gives a committed and credible performance as a government representative with a conscience sent aboard to investigate potential saboteurs. The always radiant Anne Bancroft adds a touch of romance in her portrayal of a Countess fleeing Hitler's regime. Charles Durning is underutilized as Captain Pruss, Robert Clary adds comedy relief as the clownish Joe Spah, while Burgess Meredith and Rene Auberjonois play a couple of card sharps out to bilk their fellow passengers. David Shire's symphonic score is a little overdone, while the art direction wavers between stunning and silly. The disaster sequence was shot in black and white, so that actual footage of the tragedy (clearly identified by the grainier images) could be interspersed with new scenes. And, with so many characters trying to escape, the actual 34-second explosion lasts an exciting 6 minutes. [It is remarkable that only 35 of the 97 aboard died in the horrific melee.] While too much time is spent showing the innumerable suspects creeping about the ship, The Hindenburg is an entertaining film which offers a compelling recreation of life aboard this once popular method of travel. Like the dinosaurs, the age of the zeppelins came and went... Rating: 6 out of 10.
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