FLIGHT FROM ASHIYA deployed a tag line “Plunge into hell with the most fearless breed of men on earth!” Which sounds better than “Dive Into The Lousiest Movie Of The Year!” That was 1964, though it had been filmed two years earlier, shot mostly in Japan, with a few scenes done in Italy. Ostensibly a tribute to the daring personnel of the United States Air Force Air Rescue Service, it’s a flashback-infused melodrama based on “Rescue!”, a novel written by Elliott Arnold. The author and Waldo Salt share guilt for the terrible screenplay, with Michael Anderson responsible for the limp direction. Other than a chance to observe some popular actors wrestling with bad material, it’s pitiful in nearly every aspect.

Operating out of their base in Ashiya, Japan, three men of the Air Rescue Service go into action to save plane crash survivors, clinging to a life raft in stormy seas. Under their resolute professional surfaces they each have nagging conscience issues, and we endure flashbacks that explain their pain. 100 minutes of an acute absence of realism, cheesy melodrama, unbelievable romances, slapdash art direction, cornball scoring, unconvincing special effects and insipid dialogue.

Stuck in the thankless leads are Richard Widmark, Yul Brynner and George Chakiris, who not only have to deal with the comic book plotting and lack of period flavor in the flashbacks (set in the Italian Alps in the mid-50s, the Philippines in 1941 and Tunisia in 1942) but contend with three lifeless counterparts in Shirley Knight, Suzy Parker and Daniele Gaubert.

Reviews were withering and box office went “Mayday!” at 101st place, the $2,300,000 gross not enough juice to salvage the $1,800,000 cost.