THE SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS

US, 1957, 134 Minutes, Colour.
James Stewart, Murray Hamilton, Patricia Smith.
Directed by Billy Wilder.

The Spirit of St. Louis is a patriotic piece of Americana. Written and directed by Willy Wilder, noted for his more satirical looks at American society from The Big Carnival and Sunset Boulevard to The Apartment, The Fortune Cookie and The Front Page. The tone of this film is much more serious and is presented in colour and wide screen. James Stewart, in fact too old for the part, plays Charles Lindbergh in the preparations for his epic trans-Atlantic flight and in the flight itself. The film does not go on to Lindbergh's subsequent history, especially the kidnapping of his child or his political activity in the 30s. It is an optimistic American film.

1. Audience interest in Charles Lindbergh and his personality and achievement? How much was the film a tribute to him? How much insight into him, aviation, American heroism? The significance of the foreword and the tone that it gave to the film?

2. Colour photography, style? Wide-screen, the atmosphere of the 20s, the excitement of pioneering in aviation and its uncertainties and dangers and excitement?

3. The film as the work of Billy Wilder and his reputation for cynical style and insight into America? How much sentiment into this piece of Americana? A happy blend of the cynic and the sentiment?

4. The film as a James Stewart vehicle? How appropriate was he as Lindbergh? The importance of his age, appearance, skills, easy going attitudes? The importance of so much of the film being Lindbergh's commentary and the style of delivery by Stewart?

5. The dramatic impact of the structure: the situation of the trans-Atlantic flight, the flashbacks and their placement, especially during the flight? The momentum of his achievement and its meaning in view of the flashbacks?

6. The atmosphere of the anticipation of the success of the flight? Lindbergh's ideas, enthusiasm? His backers? The people involved, the public, the girl with the mirror? How easy is it to comprehend the excitement of aviation in the 20s? The prospects for commercial aviation? Lindbergh and the type of heroism prevalent in the 20th century? The exploration of the air?

7. How well did the film present Lindbergh as a person? The style of his personality (and its linking with James Stewart's cinema personality?), Lindbergh's motivation, his knowledge of planes, his wanting to achieve for himself, for aviation?

8. The background of his airmail work, the competition for the planes and engines, the attitudes of the backers? Did Lindbergh persuade them well that he had the qualifications for flying?

9. The trip to California, his arrival and the conversation with the plane builders, the many sequences of building the plane, the atmosphere of rivalry with the other competitors wanting to cross the Channel before him?

10. How well did the portrayal of the various personalities in his life focus on Lindbergh and help to understand him and what he achieved? The details of the characterizations of his fellow workers, the girl with the mirror etc? The reporters?

11. His anxiety and lack of sleep before take-off. the drama of the take-off and the inherent danger and yet his success?

12. How well did the film involve the audience in the flight itself, the passing of time, the conditions and the lack of instruments in which to be certain? The flying over Canada, Labrador? His being tired, nodding to sleep? The importance of chance in his flight? Newfoundland and his being on course?

13. The importance of the memories during the flight e.g. the priest and his influence and the medal of St. Christopher? The memories of his flying partner and the various incidents in his life preparing him for this? The happiness of his life?

14. The danger of the Atlantic, the ice and the icing-over of the windscreen? His food? Sleep?

15. The exhilaration of Ireland and the fact that he would achieve his goal? The humour of the people on the boat?

16. The arrival in Paris and flying over the city, the arrival and his sense of achievement and happiness? The importance of the reception in New York?

17. How important is it for us to see the pioneers and the heroes of the 20th century in their context, society, the consequences of their achievement?