{"id":98591,"date":"2025-05-30T22:45:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-31T05:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=98591"},"modified":"2025-05-31T13:45:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T20:45:34","slug":"red-tent-the-1969","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=98591","title":{"rendered":"Red Tent, The (1969)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;When we take up leadership, we forfeit the right to be human &#8212; and nobody who&#8217;s fit to lead can do that.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Red-Tent-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Red-Tent-Poster-196x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-98592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Red-Tent-Poster-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Red-Tent-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Red-Tent-Poster-177x270.png 177w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Red-Tent-Poster.png 614w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe guilt-ridden surviving general (Peter Finch) of a dirigible crash near the Arctic in 1928 is visited by ghosts of various people involved in the event &#8212; including his pilot (Nikita Mikhalkov), Norwegian explorer <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roald_Amundsen\">Roald Amundsen<\/a> (Sean Connery), the girlfriend (Claudia Cardinale) of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Finn_Malmgren\">a Swedish meteorologist<\/a> (Eduard Martsevich), rescue aviator <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Einar_Lundborg#Biography\">Einar Lundborg<\/a> (Hardy Kruger), and the chief of the Soviet rescue crew (Grigoriy Gay).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Claudia Cardinale Films<\/li>\n<li>Explorers<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Ghosts<\/li>\n<li>Guilt<\/li>\n<li>Peter Finch Films<\/li>\n<li>Sean Connery Films<\/li>\n<li>Search<\/li>\n<li>Survival<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis joint Soviet\/Italian film was directed by Mikhail Kalatozov and based on a novel crafted from the real-life outcome of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Italia_(airship)\">the airship Italia<\/a> (which I hadn&#8217;t heard of prior to watching this movie). It&#8217;s framed as a flashback tale of survivor&#8217;s guilt (17 men died), with Finch (General Nobile) literally haunted by the choices he made each step of the way. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Finch-Survivor-Guilt.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Finch-Survivor-Guilt.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"936\" height=\"494\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Finch-Survivor-Guilt.png 936w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Finch-Survivor-Guilt-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Finch-Survivor-Guilt-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Finch-Survivor-Guilt-768x405.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Finch-Survivor-Guilt-512x270.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, the bulk of the movie takes place in exciting location-based action. I&#8217;ll cite from Wikipedia&#8217;s entry on the film, since it nicely provides an overview of what happens: <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The expedition is successful at first, but ends in disaster. The Italia is weighed down when ice forms on it. Colliding with the ground, the airship&#8217;s gondola is torn away from its keel and the envelope containing the airship&#8217;s hydrogen cells; freed of the weight of the gondola, the rest of the ship floats away and out of control, taking some of Nobile&#8217;s crew with it. Nobile maintains control of the surviving crew who are now marooned on arctic pack ice with salvaged supplies. They shelter in a tent that they dye red for visibility. They manage to repair the radio, but after receiving no response to their distress calls, three survivors (Zappi, Mariano, and Malmgren) decide to set off across the ice to seek help. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Trekking.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Trekking.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"941\" height=\"494\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98762\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Trekking.png 941w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Trekking-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Trekking-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Trekking-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Trekking-514x270.png 514w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 941px) 100vw, 941px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Much more drama ensues from there &#8212; and you&#8217;re guaranteed to be kept on the seat of your pants despite knowing the ultimate outcome. <\/p>\n<p>As one can imagine, the shooting schedule for this visually impressive film was truly extensive; according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0067315\/trivia\/?item=tr4623260&#038;ref_=ext_shr_lnk\">IMDb&#8217;s trivia<\/a>, &#8220;Filming went for 62 weeks&#8221; and &#8220;included location work in Estonia, the Baltic Sea and the Spitzbergen Archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, and [included] studio work in Moscow and Rome.&#8221; While not all of the story is equally compelling (i.e., Cardinale is clearly there simply to provide a female touch): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/vlcsnap-2024-07-07-23h14m33s848.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/vlcsnap-2024-07-07-23h14m33s848.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/vlcsnap-2024-07-07-23h14m33s848.png 704w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/vlcsnap-2024-07-07-23h14m33s848-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/vlcsnap-2024-07-07-23h14m33s848-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/vlcsnap-2024-07-07-23h14m33s848-495x270.png 495w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; it&#8217;s worth a look for the footage alone. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> It was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0067315\/trivia\/?item=tr5285742&#038;ref_=ext_shr_lnk\">interesting to learn<\/a> that &#8220;the film was shown in the West and in the USSR in different editing versions and with different soundtracks: in the Soviet version, sounds the music of Aleksandr Zatsepin, in the Italian version [which I watched]: Ennio Morricone&#8217;s.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A haunting look at death and survival in the harshest conditions<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Scream.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Scream.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"930\" height=\"490\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Scream.png 930w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Scream-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Scream-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Scream-768x405.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Scream-512x270.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Truly impressive cinematography and location shooting<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Hood-Snow.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Hood-Snow.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"932\" height=\"494\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Hood-Snow.png 932w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Hood-Snow-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Hood-Snow-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Hood-Snow-768x407.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Hood-Snow-509x270.png 509w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 932px) 100vw, 932px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Plane-Rescue.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Plane-Rescue.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"937\" height=\"487\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-98769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Plane-Rescue.png 937w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Plane-Rescue-300x156.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Plane-Rescue-128x67.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Plane-Rescue-768x399.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Red-Tent-Plane-Rescue-519x270.png 519w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 937px) 100vw, 937px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ennio Morricone&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a fine and ambitious internationally-produced adventure film. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0067315\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=WMlHAAAAIBAJ&#038;sjid=7YsDAAAAIBAJ&#038;pg=6574%2C3370052\">Village Voice Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/moria.co.nz\/fantasy\/red-tent-1969.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;When we take up leadership, we forfeit the right to be human &#8212; and nobody who&#8217;s fit to lead can do that.&#8221; Synopsis: The guilt-ridden surviving general (Peter Finch) of a dirigible crash near the Arctic in 1928 is visited by ghosts of various people involved in the event &#8212; including his pilot (Nikita Mikhalkov), Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen (Sean Connery), the girlfriend (Claudia Cardinale) of a Swedish meteorologist (Eduard Martsevich), rescue aviator Einar Lundborg (Hardy Kruger), and the chief&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=98591\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=98591"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98591\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98782,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98591\/revisions\/98782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=98591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=98591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=98591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}