Amelia Earhart never set out to be an example, to be a champion of women's rights, she just wanted to see the world and have fun doing it. As a young girl she was smitten with the the idea of flying, to be free to move in three dimensions. From Kansas, a very straightforward person, she knew what she wanted and forged ahead until she got it. She wanted to see the world, the whole world, and flying would take her there.
She was not the best female pilot of her time, but she was the most persistent. We would still probably have female airline pilots, military pilots, and space shuttle pilots today even if Earhart had never come along, but she sure helped make sure it happened in a timely manner.
Hilary Swank, co-producer, is Amelia Earhart. The movie begins in earnest on June 1, 1937, in Miami where she and her navigator set out for the around-the-world flight that was to be completed in California on July 4th. But as history witnesses, she didn't make it, the plane and crew were lost at sea, searching for the tiny Pacific island where they were to re-fuel for the flight to Hawaii.
Between the first scene in June 1937, and the last scene in July 1937, the middle of the movie takes us from 1928 to 1937, the years where she was expanding her flying experience and getting involved with those who would be key participants in her life. Richard Gere is George Putnam, whom she married, even though she had always thought she was not the marrying type, it would be too confining. And Ewan McGregor as Gene Vidal, former Olympian and then West Point aviation instructor, and who went on to form several airlines in the USA. And who also is the father of Gore Vidal.
I found and watched the documentary DVD of Amelia Earhart's life, several weeks before I watched this movie on DVD. Both are worth the time to view them. I know it is silly in context, but during this movie, as Amelia was searching for the tiny island, I found myself hoping this time she would make it safely.
Good movie.
She was not the best female pilot of her time, but she was the most persistent. We would still probably have female airline pilots, military pilots, and space shuttle pilots today even if Earhart had never come along, but she sure helped make sure it happened in a timely manner.
Hilary Swank, co-producer, is Amelia Earhart. The movie begins in earnest on June 1, 1937, in Miami where she and her navigator set out for the around-the-world flight that was to be completed in California on July 4th. But as history witnesses, she didn't make it, the plane and crew were lost at sea, searching for the tiny Pacific island where they were to re-fuel for the flight to Hawaii.
Between the first scene in June 1937, and the last scene in July 1937, the middle of the movie takes us from 1928 to 1937, the years where she was expanding her flying experience and getting involved with those who would be key participants in her life. Richard Gere is George Putnam, whom she married, even though she had always thought she was not the marrying type, it would be too confining. And Ewan McGregor as Gene Vidal, former Olympian and then West Point aviation instructor, and who went on to form several airlines in the USA. And who also is the father of Gore Vidal.
I found and watched the documentary DVD of Amelia Earhart's life, several weeks before I watched this movie on DVD. Both are worth the time to view them. I know it is silly in context, but during this movie, as Amelia was searching for the tiny island, I found myself hoping this time she would make it safely.
Good movie.