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Amelia Earhart (film)

January 01, 1970

Amelia Earhart is a 1976 American biographical drama television film directed by George Schaefer and written by Carol Sobieski. It stars Susan Clark as Amelia Earhart, and John Forsythe as her husband, George P. Putnam.

Amelia Earhart
TV Guide promotional photo
GenreBiographical drama
Written byCarol Sobieski
Directed byGeorge Schaefer
Starring
Music byDavid Shire
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerGeorge Eckstein
CinematographyTed Voigtlander
EditorJim Benson
Running time150 minutes
Production companyUniversal Television
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseOctober 25, 1976 (1976-10-25)

Unlike more recent depictions of Earhart's life, this film makes an attempt to cover her entire life from her childhood on a Kansas farm, her nursing during World War I, an early boyfriend, employment at a Boston children's orphanage, her interest and exploits in aviation, her marriage to Putnam, and her famous disappearance in 1937.

The film was the first dramatization of Earhart's life and co-starred a parade of well-known actors of the time and originally premiered on NBC Monday Night at the Movies on October 25, 1976.[1]

Plot edit

In 1907, when Amelia Earhart is nine years old, growing up on a Kansas farm, she is an intelligent and precocious child. She builds a play aircraft with her sister "Pidge." Later, as America enters World War I in 1917, Amelia, now a college student working in a doctor's office, decides to join the war effort and become a nurse. One night on the roof of her building, while on break with a coworker, she sees an aircraft, rekindling her childhood interest in aviation.

In 1921, a young Earhart has her first training flight with female flight instructor Neta Snook. That same year, she buys her first aircraft, a Kinner "Canary," with the blessing of her father, who has become a chronic alcoholic. In 1924, she and her mother embark on a cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to Boston in an open roadster, engaging in arguments along the way. In Boston, Earhart has an on-and-off relationship with a young man and later works in a children's orphanage, using whatever little money she saves to subsidize her passion for flying.

In 1928, while employed at the orphanage, Earhart is invited to become the first woman ever to fly the Atlantic in a fixed-wing aircraft, the Fokker "Friendship." However, she flies as a passenger, with pilot Wilmer Stultz and copilot Lou Gordon (Steve Kanaly) at the controls. That same year, she pilots her Avro Avian biplane in a coast-to-coast, stop-and-go flight, where some southern locals recognize her from the transatlantic Friendship flight. Not satisfied with having been a passenger on the Friendship flight, Earhart yearns to fly the Atlantic again as the first solo female aviator to do so. She marries George Putnam in a quasi arranged or open-marriage. This marriage to wealthy Putnam enables her to buy an expensive high performance red Lockheed Vega with which she plans the solo Atlantic flight. Earhart decides to leave Newfoundland on May 20 1932, the fifth anniversary of Charles Lindbergh's 1927 flight.

Her marriage to media tycoon George Palmer Putnam, who had been her publicist since the Friendship flight, and a series of record-breaking flights propel her to international fame as a long-distance flyer. Despite her open and frequently strained relationship with Putnam, she develops a close bond with his son David. With help from a close friend and adviser, Paul Mantz, Earhart plans her longest flight ever—a round-the-world attempt in 1937. The disappearance of Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan during the last stage of the flight leads to a massive but fruitless search effort, solidifying Earhart as an aviation icon.

Cast edit

 
Susan Clark in a promotional image for the production

Production edit

The film dramatized Earhart's life, but "refuses to speculate on the cause of Ms. Earhart's disappearance during a round-the-world trip in 1937"; however despite the lack of speculation "the clues that do exist are presented in full".[2] Mainly staying close to the historical record, one departure is portraying stunt pilot Paul Mantz as her "purported lover", a long-standing rumor that has never been substantiated.[3] Sobieski's screenplay drew on "her own experiences as a licensed pilot".[4]

Principal photography took place at Camarillo Airport, California, with aerial sequences flown by well-known aerobatic pilot Art Scholl and Frank Tallman, owner of Tallmantz Aviation, a company primarily involved in flying for film and television production.[5] A de Havilland Moth appeared in place of the Avro Avian that Earhart had purchased in England. A Lockheed 12A (S/N 1204), was featured as Earhart's famed Lockheed Model 10 Electra, used in the circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937.[6]

Reception edit

Interest in the story of Amelia Earhart, especially with the release of Amelia (2009) led film reviewers to recall the earlier Earhart portrayals.[7] Rosalind Russell had played "an Earhart-esque flier in 1943's Flight for Freedom" and Diane Keaton starred in the 1994 TNT movie Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight.[8] Susan Clark's performance compared favorably among the Earhart movies.[9][10]

Amelia Earhart was nominated for a 1977 Emmy awards with William H. Tuntke (art director) and Richard Friedman (set decorator) nominated for Outstanding Art Direction or Scenic Design for a Dramatic Special; both Susan Clark and Susan Oliver were nominated for their work in the category of Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special, Clark for Outstanding Lead Actress and Oliver for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress.[11][12] The production was also nominated for the 1977 Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture Made for TV.[13]

Amelia Earhart was screened at the AFI/Los Angeles International Film Festival (AFI FEST salutes the television movie), June 18–July 2, 1992.[14]

References edit

Notes
  1. ^ "Amelia Earhart." 2016-03-02 at the Wayback Machine YourTrailers.net. Retrieved: May 2, 2012.
  2. ^ Lovell 2009, p. 351.
  3. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Amelia Earhart (1976)." The New York Times, 2010. Retrieved: May 2, 2012.
  4. ^ Blau, Eleanor. "Carol Sobieski, 51, A Writer of Scripts For Films and TV." The New York Times, November 9, 1990. Retrieved: May 3, 2012.
  5. ^ "Tallman biography." Aerovintage.com. Retrieved: May 4, 2012.
  6. ^ Mikkelson, David and Barbara. "The Plane Truth." snopes.com, 2012. Retrieved: May 3, 2012.
  7. ^ "About Susan Clark." yahoo.com. Retrieved: May 3, 2012.
  8. ^ Butler 1997, p. 416.
  9. ^ King, Susan. "Amelia Earhart's soaring spirit." Los Angeles Times, May 25, 2009. Retrieved: May 3, 2012.
  10. ^ Goldstein and Dillon 1997, pp. 273–274.
  11. ^ "Susan Clark." Emmys.com. Retrieved: May 28, 2012.
  12. ^ "Susan Oliver." Emmys.com. Retrieved: May 28, 2012.
  13. ^ "Amelia Earhart (1976) Awards." IMDb. Retrieved: May 2, 2012.
  14. ^ "Amelia Earhart (1976): Miscellaneous Notes." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: May 3, 2012.
Bibliography
  • Butler, Susan. East to the Dawn: The Life of Amelia Earhart. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley, 1997. ISBN 0-306-80887-0.
  • Goldstein, Donald M. and Katherine V. Dillon. Amelia: The Centennial Biography of an Aviation Pioneer. Washington, DC: Brassey's, 1997. ISBN 1-57488-134-5.
  • Lovell, Mary S. The Sound of Wings: The Life of Amelia Earhart. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2009, First edition 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.

External links edit

  • Amelia Earhart at IMDb  
  • allMovie/synopsis
  • Amelia Earhart (1976) on Turner Classic Movies

January 01, 1970
amelia, earhart, film, amelia, earhart, 1976, american, biographical, drama, television, film, directed, george, schaefer, written, carol, sobieski, stars, susan, clark, amelia, earhart, john, forsythe, husband, george, putnam, amelia, earharttv, guide, promot. Amelia Earhart is a 1976 American biographical drama television film directed by George Schaefer and written by Carol Sobieski It stars Susan Clark as Amelia Earhart and John Forsythe as her husband George P Putnam Amelia EarhartTV Guide promotional photoGenreBiographical dramaWritten byCarol SobieskiDirected byGeorge SchaeferStarringSusan ClarkJohn ForsytheStephen MachtJane WyattMusic byDavid ShireCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionProducerGeorge EcksteinCinematographyTed VoigtlanderEditorJim BensonRunning time150 minutesProduction companyUniversal TelevisionOriginal releaseNetworkNBCReleaseOctober 25 1976 1976 10 25 Unlike more recent depictions of Earhart s life this film makes an attempt to cover her entire life from her childhood on a Kansas farm her nursing during World War I an early boyfriend employment at a Boston children s orphanage her interest and exploits in aviation her marriage to Putnam and her famous disappearance in 1937 The film was the first dramatization of Earhart s life and co starred a parade of well known actors of the time and originally premiered on NBC Monday Night at the Movies on October 25 1976 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 5 References 6 External linksPlot editIn 1907 when Amelia Earhart is nine years old growing up on a Kansas farm she is an intelligent and precocious child She builds a play aircraft with her sister Pidge Later as America enters World War I in 1917 Amelia now a college student working in a doctor s office decides to join the war effort and become a nurse One night on the roof of her building while on break with a coworker she sees an aircraft rekindling her childhood interest in aviation In 1921 a young Earhart has her first training flight with female flight instructor Neta Snook That same year she buys her first aircraft a Kinner Canary with the blessing of her father who has become a chronic alcoholic In 1924 she and her mother embark on a cross country road trip from Los Angeles to Boston in an open roadster engaging in arguments along the way In Boston Earhart has an on and off relationship with a young man and later works in a children s orphanage using whatever little money she saves to subsidize her passion for flying In 1928 while employed at the orphanage Earhart is invited to become the first woman ever to fly the Atlantic in a fixed wing aircraft the Fokker Friendship However she flies as a passenger with pilot Wilmer Stultz and copilot Lou Gordon Steve Kanaly at the controls That same year she pilots her Avro Avian biplane in a coast to coast stop and go flight where some southern locals recognize her from the transatlantic Friendship flight Not satisfied with having been a passenger on the Friendship flight Earhart yearns to fly the Atlantic again as the first solo female aviator to do so She marries George Putnam in a quasi arranged or open marriage This marriage to wealthy Putnam enables her to buy an expensive high performance red Lockheed Vega with which she plans the solo Atlantic flight Earhart decides to leave Newfoundland on May 20 1932 the fifth anniversary of Charles Lindbergh s 1927 flight Her marriage to media tycoon George Palmer Putnam who had been her publicist since the Friendship flight and a series of record breaking flights propel her to international fame as a long distance flyer Despite her open and frequently strained relationship with Putnam she develops a close bond with his son David With help from a close friend and adviser Paul Mantz Earhart plans her longest flight ever a round the world attempt in 1937 The disappearance of Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan during the last stage of the flight leads to a massive but fruitless search effort solidifying Earhart as an aviation icon Cast editSusan Clark as Amelia Earhart John Forsythe as George P Putnam Stephen Macht as Paul Mantz Susan Oliver as Neta Snook Snookie Catherine Burns as Pidge Earhart Jane Wyatt as Amy Earhart Charles Aidman as Mr Earhart Eddie Barth as Sid Isaacs Bill Vint as Fred Noonan inaccurately written as Fred Norman Jack Colvin as Wilmer Stultz Steve Kanaly as Lou Gordon John Archer as Dr Paterson Florida Friebus as Miss Perkins Lance Kerwin as David Putnam Kim Diamond as Young Amelia Earhart Lowell Thomas as Broadcaster Colleen Camp as Starlet David Huffman as Itasca Radio Operator Kip Niven as Allen Bradford her boyfriend Kathleen O Malley as Mrs Gallagher nbsp Susan Clark in a promotional image for the productionProduction editThe film dramatized Earhart s life but refuses to speculate on the cause of Ms Earhart s disappearance during a round the world trip in 1937 however despite the lack of speculation the clues that do exist are presented in full 2 Mainly staying close to the historical record one departure is portraying stunt pilot Paul Mantz as her purported lover a long standing rumor that has never been substantiated 3 Sobieski s screenplay drew on her own experiences as a licensed pilot 4 Principal photography took place at Camarillo Airport California with aerial sequences flown by well known aerobatic pilot Art Scholl and Frank Tallman owner of Tallmantz Aviation a company primarily involved in flying for film and television production 5 A de Havilland Moth appeared in place of the Avro Avian that Earhart had purchased in England A Lockheed 12A S N 1204 was featured as Earhart s famed Lockheed Model 10 Electra used in the circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937 6 Reception editInterest in the story of Amelia Earhart especially with the release of Amelia 2009 led film reviewers to recall the earlier Earhart portrayals 7 Rosalind Russell had played an Earhart esque flier in 1943 s Flight for Freedom and Diane Keaton starred in the 1994 TNT movie Amelia Earhart The Final Flight 8 Susan Clark s performance compared favorably among the Earhart movies 9 10 Amelia Earhart was nominated for a 1977 Emmy awards with William H Tuntke art director and Richard Friedman set decorator nominated for Outstanding Art Direction or Scenic Design for a Dramatic Special both Susan Clark and Susan Oliver were nominated for their work in the category of Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special Clark for Outstanding Lead Actress and Oliver for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress 11 12 The production was also nominated for the 1977 Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture Made for TV 13 Amelia Earhart was screened at the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival AFI FEST salutes the television movie June 18 July 2 1992 14 References editNotes Amelia Earhart Archived 2016 03 02 at the Wayback Machine YourTrailers net Retrieved May 2 2012 Lovell 2009 p 351 Erickson Hal Amelia Earhart 1976 The New York Times 2010 Retrieved May 2 2012 Blau Eleanor Carol Sobieski 51 A Writer of Scripts For Films and TV The New York Times November 9 1990 Retrieved May 3 2012 Tallman biography Aerovintage com Retrieved May 4 2012 Mikkelson David and Barbara The Plane Truth snopes com 2012 Retrieved May 3 2012 About Susan Clark yahoo com Retrieved May 3 2012 Butler 1997 p 416 King Susan Amelia Earhart s soaring spirit Los Angeles Times May 25 2009 Retrieved May 3 2012 Goldstein and Dillon 1997 pp 273 274 Susan Clark Emmys com Retrieved May 28 2012 Susan Oliver Emmys com Retrieved May 28 2012 Amelia Earhart 1976 Awards IMDb Retrieved May 2 2012 Amelia Earhart 1976 Miscellaneous Notes Turner Classic Movies Retrieved May 3 2012 Bibliography Butler Susan East to the Dawn The Life of Amelia Earhart Reading Massachusetts Addison Wesley 1997 ISBN 0 306 80887 0 Goldstein Donald M and Katherine V Dillon Amelia The Centennial Biography of an Aviation Pioneer Washington DC Brassey s 1997 ISBN 1 57488 134 5 Lovell Mary S The Sound of Wings The Life of Amelia Earhart New York St Martin s Press 2009 First edition 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 External links editAmelia Earhart at IMDb nbsp allMovie synopsis Amelia Earhart 1976 on Turner Classic Movies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amelia Earhart film amp oldid 1213263895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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