HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Posted on 12/31/2023 6:52:17 AM PST by Rummyfan
Billy Wilder didn't think much of The Spirit of St. Louis. Filming on his 1957 movie about the landmark transatlantic flight by Charles Lindbergh had not been easy – Wilder called it "horrendous," complaining about the constant delays due to weather, adding that "I never should have made this picture."
It's a film that looks like nothing else in Wilder's filmography; I'm constantly surprised when I remember that he was the director. Looking back, Wilder judged it a failure mostly because "I wasn't able to depict the character," adding that "I should confine myself to bedrooms maybe."
He made it between The Seven Year Itch (1955) and Love in the Afternoon (1957) – two far more typically Wilderian pictures, though even fans might admit that they weren't really among his best. You can place it in the middle of a relative lull in his career, which began after Sabrina (1954) and ended with Some Like it Hot (1959).
What shocked me as a Wilder fan was that, after avoiding the film for years thanks to its poor reputation and the director's own dismissal, it isn't that bad. Though you really need to squint hard to see Wilder at all in its two-hour-plus runtime.
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I loved It !
.
The girl in Red Hat with the mirror before
JiJiJimmy started his Flight
Intrigued me.
.
The Fly in his Plane....too.
I remember the movie well. I thought Stewart was perfect for the part.
“You bet your life.”
Not a Bad movie but again the overusage of Jimmy Stewart.
Too old for starters. Never mind his silly speech patterns standing in for “regular middle American”.
Always bugged me how he started being put in westerns at this point.
This movie made a very memorable impression on my nine year old self. I’m going to have to see it again.
Stewart was great in Winchester 73.
Also The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence.
Steyn's piece falls all over itself by mentioning (over and over) Lindbergh's admiration for the Nazi regime - but never mentions his outstanding contributions to American intelligence by giving detailed reports of the German aircraft industry, performance of key new German aircraft, and the organization of the Luftwaffe.
It also doesn't mention FDR's vindictiveness when Lindbergh applied to renew his commission and serve in combat as an airman - FDR denied him any place in the organization of our air forces and any role in the war.
No mention at all of Lindbergh's pioneering work in the development of techniques to extend the range of American aircraft and then training American pilots in his techniques, including leading combat missions in P-38s and F4U Corsairs and being credited with some "kills" against Japanese aircraft.
No mention of Lindbergh's work in reforming the Ford Willow Run plant to build good B-24s in record time and to help modify and design better versions of that bomber.
Lindbergh was an American hero - not perfect - but a hero.
“One, Two, Three” is Wilder’s masterpiece, still one of my all-time favorite movies.
Mine too! Jimmy Cagney was just fantastic!
Certainly true. But the reviewer got it right when he said there was just something off about Lindbergh. It was only after his death that it came out he had several families in Germany. And he went far down the eniro-whacko path in his sunset years. Nevertheless, his Paris flight was an astounding feat, and his service in WW II admirable.
And in my case for sure, they'd be absolutely right.
My guess about Lindbergh? Aspberger's.
I enjoy the movie and watch it again from time to time even though it does have a few hokey Hollywoodizations.
I thank you for teaching me. I had not known these positive things about Lindbergh.
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