Very sober and respectful for a Billy Wilder film, this focuses on the least controversial aspect of Lindbergh's life - his Atlantic plane flight. I felt Wilder would make a more memorable movie about the kidnapping, or the America first movement, or his war service, or his German mistresses. I get why he chose this version - presumably there was no "choice" due to Lindbergh being alive - but still...
James Stewart is famously too old to play the lead, though at the same time he was perfect casting (All-American, pilot). Even too old he's better than John Kerr (who turned it down!) would have been.
Wilder wanted to add a fictitious story how the journos around that night chipped in to pay for a hooker to sleep with virginal Lindbergh on the flight. Not a bad idea - some female love interset. He couldn't do it.
Hal Needham did some stunt work on this. Billy Wilder went up on the wings of the plane for one shot.
Two hours and fifteen minutes' running time. Not much happens on the flight - he chats to a fly, falls asleep at one stage (easily the best sequence).
It is of interest. You can't say it's a bad film. Well done and a little dull. Beautiful music. I remember my English teacher putting on a VHS and making us watch it. I guess it was safe material for schools, even though we would've learned more about human nature discussing Lindbergh's politics and kidnapping.
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