The Spirit of St. Louis

The Spirit of St. Louis
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 08/15/2006 Run time: 135 minutes Rating: Pg
Customer Review: The Story of a 20's Hero
Everyone knows the story of Charles Lindbergh. His trans-Atlantic flight was a sensation in the 20s and inspired songs like "Lucky Lindy" and dances like the Lindy Hop. He started as an airmail flyer, but his love of flight and belief in it as an industry inspired him to attempt the impossible. The world held their breath hoping he would achieve his goal, to fly from New York to France without stopping. But it seemed impossible. He proved them wrong. Billy Wilder directs this aviation adventure expertly. The setting is authentic without being overbearing. The actors wear costumes from the era, but nothing jumps up and screams, "Hey guys, this is 1927!" Stewart is great as always. He is a bit too old for the part, but his Lindy haircut is a nice assimilation to the role. He is well suited to biopics, because he can make even the unlikable seem sweet and genuine. (Not to say that Lindbergh was not a likable man.) He carries the bulk of the film on his shoulders with his inner dialogues while confined to the airplane. There are lots of great aereal shots including gorgeous overhead shots of land and a breath-taking shot looking up at the sun peeking through the clouds. This is a slow-moving and deliberate movie with scenes of tension mixed in, but it is really a showcase for those with a love of flying, like Stewart and writer Wendell Mayes certainly had.
Customer Review: spirit of st. louis dvd
My husband totally enjoyed this movie so I purchased it for him for Christmas. He is very particular regarding aviation movies but I know he will very pleased to get this for his collection.