Flight for Freedom
Flight for Freedom | |
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Directed by | Lothar Mendes |
Written by |
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Story by | Horace McCoy |
Produced by | David Hempstead |
Starring | |
Cinematography | |
Edited by | RKO |
Release date |
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Running time | 102 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $1.5 million (US rentals)[2] |
Flight for Freedom (also known as Stand to Die) is a 1943 American drama film directed by Lothar Mendes and starring Rosalind Russell, Fred MacMurray and Herbert Marshall. Film historians and Earhart scholars consider Flight for Freedom an à clef version of Amelia Earhart's life story, concentrating on the sensational aspects of her disappearance during her 1937 world flight.[3] The film's ending speculated that the main character's disappearance was connected to a secret mission on behalf of the U.S. government. As a propaganda film, the Japanese characters in Flight for Freedom were portrayed as devious and evil.[4]
Plot
In the aviation establishment of the 1930s, well-known
When her plans are made public,
Awaiting the repair of her aircraft, Tonie travels back to mainland United States accompanied by Paul Turner, who reveals he wants to marry her at the conclusion of the flight. Turner, however, is apprehensive about the dangers involved in her flight. One of the concerns is that Gull Island, a tiny island rendezvous in the Pacific is a daunting challenge for even the best navigator.
The U.S. Navy sends Randy Britton to join Tonie in New Guinea as her navigator. She finds out that the Japanese will be waiting for her on Gull Island. Not wanting to jeopardize Randy, her true love, Carter takes off early in the morning before he reaches the airport. She vanishes during the latter part of the world flight, triggering a massive search which proves fruitless.
Cast
- Rosalind Russell as Tonie Carter
- Fred MacMurray as Randy Britton
- Herbert Marshall as Paul Turner
- Eduardo Ciannelli as Johnny Salvini
- Walter Kingsford as Admiral Graves
- Richard Loo as Mr. Yokohata (uncredited)
- Charles Lung as Flyer
- Bud McTaggart as Flyer
- Bruce Edwards as Flyer
Production
Flight for Freedom was produced by
Principal photography, under the working title Stand to Die, was completed from late-August to late-October 1942, with additional scenes shot in December, as the release was held back to coincide with the headline news surrounding the Battle of Midway. Newsreel footage was incorporated to show naval missions over the area that Tonie Carter was portrayed as having overflown.[6]
Reception
Flight for Freedom furthered a belief that Earhart was spying on the Japanese in the Pacific at the request of the
The Hollywood Reporter announced that the proceeds from the Hollywood premiere were given to war charities. Rosalind Russell later reprised her role in a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast on September 20, 1943, co-starring George Brent as Randy Britton.[1]
Awards
References
Notes
- ^ Some researchers have speculated that Earhart and Noonan were shot down by Japanese aircraft, as she was thought to be spying on Japanese territory so the United States would have a reason to search the South Seas Mandated Islands.[8]
Citations
- ^ a b "Flight for Freedom: Detail View." American Film Institute. Retrieved: April 23, 2014.
- ^ "Top Grossers of the Season." Variety, January 5, 1944. p. 54.
- ^ Goldstein and Dillon 1997, pp. 273–274.
- ^ Butler 1997, p. 416.
- ^ Lovell 1989, p. 421.
- ^ "Notes: 'Flight for Freedom'." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: August 12, 2013.
- ^ "Common Earhart myths." Archived December 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine tighar.org, 2009. Retrieved: November 28, 2009.
- ^ Cochran 1954, p. 160.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley. " 'Flight for Freedom,' a film speculation on fate of woman flier, with Rosalind Russell in lead, at the Music Hall." The New York Times, April 16, 1943. Retrieved: September 4, 2010.
- ^ "Academy Awards Database: 1943 (16th)."[permanent dead link] The Official Academy Awards Database. Retrieved: April 14, 2015.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-306-80887-0.
- Cochran, Jacqueline. Stars at Noon. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1954.
- Goldstein, Donald M. and Katherine V. Dillon. Amelia: The Centennial Biography of an Aviation Pioneer. Washington, D.C.: Brassey's, 1997. ISBN 1-57488-134-5.
- Lovell, Mary S. The Sound of Wings. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989. ISBN 0-312-03431-8.
- Rich, Doris L. Amelia Earhart: A Biography. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989. ISBN 1-56098-725-1.