Flight for Freedom

Director: Lothar Mendes Lothar Mendes

Overview

Flight for Freedom was an "a clef" version of the Amelia Earhart story. Rosalind Russell plays the Earhart-like aviatrix Tonie Carter, who spends the early part of the film fighting against the aviation industry's prejudice against woman pilots. Tonie establishes a reputation as "the Lady Lindbergh," setting flight records on a near-weekly basis. Along the way, she falls in love with an agreeable flying ace (Fred MacMurray), much to the dismay of her conservative flight instructor (Herbert Marshall). The film's ending expands on speculation regarding Amelia Earhart's disappearance during a 1937 flight; Tonie Carter flies off on a secret mission to aid the Pacific war effort, then vanishes before completing her task. Flight for Freedom was produced for RKO by Floyd Odlum, whose wife Jacqueline Cochran was herself a renowned aviatrix.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/07/2015
UPC:	0888574144876
Original Release:	1943
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00
Sales rank:	44,058

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Rosalind Russell	Tonie Carter
Fred MacMurray	Randy Britton
Eduardo Ciannelli	John Salvini
Herbert Marshall	Paul Turner
Walter Kingsford	Adm. Graves
Damian O'Flynn	Pete
Jack Carr	Bill
Matt McHugh	Mac
Richard Loo	Mr. Yokahata
Charles Lung	Flyer
Bud McTaggart	Flyer
Donald Dillaway	Flyer
Eddie Dew	Flyer
Jack Cheatham	Doorman
Frank Mills	Cab Driver
Ed Agresti	Headwaiter
Paul Stanton	Airport Official
Ann Summers	Woman at Airport
James Eagles	Charlie,Charlie
Stanley Andrews	Prosperous Gent
Gerald Pierce	Bellhop
Ernie Alexander	Drunk
Tom Dugan	Bartender
Buddy Williams	Black Waiter
Martin Ashe	Collins
Hugh Beaumont	Flight Instructor
Mary Treen	Newspaper Woman
Clarence Straight	Petty Officer
Kathleen Ellis	Telephone Operator
Isabelle La Mal	Telephone Operator
Forbes Murray	Capt. Knowles
Shirley Lew	Mrs. Yokahata
Byron Shores	George Lake
Theodore von Eltz	Cdr. George
William Forrest	Vice-Consul

Technical Credits

David Hempstead	Producer
Lothar Mendes	Director
Vernon L. Walker	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Flight for Freedom is not a great movie, but it is a pretty good movie, especially for a film a large part of the purpose of which was purely propagandistic. Although Freedom takes place several years before America entered World War II, part of its aim was to help maintain U.S. support for the war by creating a thinly veiled Amelia Earhart biography, complete with pure supposition as to what really happened when the famed aviatrix mysteriously disappeared. In fact, the theory advanced by Freedom is one that had a great deal of support during the 1930s and 1940s, although it is largely discounted now. If it were nothing but propaganda, Freedom would have limited dramatic appeal, but the main character at its center is appealing enough to stand on its own. Some of the screenplay's dramatics get a little ham-handed, and the romantic aspect is frustrating; it's good when it's going, but it doesn't go often enough. Fortunately, Rosalind Russell is on hand to sweep away any weak spots in the script. She knows exactly how to fly a vehicle like this, and unlike Earhart, there's never any doubt as to where she's going or what's on her mind. There's able support from Fred MacMurray and Herbert Marshall, but this is Russell's film all the way.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler