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{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| show_name = Skyward
| image = Skyward (film).jpg
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| genre = Drama
| story = [[Anson Williams]]
| story = [[Anson Williams]]
| writer = Nancy Sackett<ref name="nancy-anson">(20 June 1980) [https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19800620.1.16&srpos=14&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-skyward+%22ron+howard%22-------1 Bette Davis on Location], ''Santa Cruz Sentinel'' ([[Associated Press]] story), p. 16</ref>
| writer = [[Nancy Sackett]]
| director = [[Ron Howard]]
| director = [[Ron Howard]]
| starring = [[Bette Davis]]<br>[[Howard Hesseman]]<br>[[Marion Ross]]<br>[[Clu Gulager]]<br>Ben Marley<br>[[Lisa Whelchel]]<br>[[Suzy Gilstrap]]
| starring = [[Bette Davis]]<br>[[Howard Hesseman]]<br>[[Marion Ross]]<br>[[Clu Gulager]]<br>[[Lisa Whelchel]]<br>Suzy Gilstrap
| music = [[Lee Holdridge]]
| music = [[Lee Holdridge]]
| country = [[United States]]
| country = United States
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = English
| executive_producer = [[Anson Williams]] and [[Ron Howard]]
| executive_producer = [[Anson Williams]]<br>[[Ron Howard]]
| producer = [[John A. Kuri]]
| producer = [[John A. Kuri]]
| editor = [[Robert Kern, Jr.]]
| editor = Robert Kern Jr.
| cinematography = [[Robert Jessup]]
| cinematography = Robert Jessup
| runtime = 100 minutes
| runtime = 100 minutes
| company = Anson Productions
| company = Anson Productions<br>Major H Productions
| distributor =
| network = [[NBC]]
| network = [[NBC]]
| released = {{Start date|1980|11|20}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|1980|11|20}}
}}
}}


'''''Skyward''''' is a 1980 American [[Television film|made-for-television]] [[Drama (genre)|drama film]] directed by [[Ron Howard]] and written by Nancy Sackett. The film stars [[Bette Davis]], [[Howard Hesseman]], [[Marion Ross]], [[Clu Gulager]], Ben Marley and [[Lisa Whelchel]] and broadcast on [[NBC]] on November 20, 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/475276/Skyward/ |title=Skyward (1980) - Overview |publisher=TCM.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/129036/Skyward/overview |title=Skyward - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes |publisher=NYTimes.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-22}}</ref>
'''''Skyward''''' is a 1980 American [[television film|made-for-television]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] starring [[Bette Davis]], [[Howard Hesseman]], [[Marion Ross]], Suzy Gilstrap, [[Clu Gulager]] and [[Lisa Whelchel]]. It was directed by [[Ron Howard]], written by Nancy Sackett and broadcast on [[NBC]] on November 20, 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/475276/Skyward/ |title=Skyward (1980) - Overview |publisher=TCM.com |date= |access-date=2015-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/129036/Skyward/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623063948/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/129036/Skyward/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-06-23 |title=Skyward - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Hal Erickson |author-link=Hal Erickson (author) |date=2015 |access-date=2015-06-22}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Bette Davis stars as a flight instructor at an old Texas airport. When a young girl in a wheelchair finds the airport by watching gliders fly, she decides she wants to learn how to fly. Davis teaches her to fly with some special controls compensating for her handicap. Howard Hessman is an aircraft repair service mechanic trying desperately to get an old airplane back in the air. The three, together, put the young girl and the old plane up in the air.
Bette Davis stars as a flight instructor at an old Texas airport. When a young girl in a wheelchair finds the airport by watching gliders fly, she decides she wants to learn how to fly. Davis teaches her to fly with some special controls adapted for her disability. Howard Hesseman is an aircraft repair service mechanic trying desperately to get an old airplane back in the air. The three, together, put the young girl and the old plane up in the air.

==Production==
The film was made on location in [[Rockwall, Texas]], with the plot centering on the town's airport.<ref name="postreview"/><ref name="rock2">Wilfong, David (16 August 2009). [https://www.rockwallheraldbanner.com/news/local_news/rockwall-seeking-to-become-film-friendly-city/article_8c300d93-a04e-59a3-a6e2-6711310a86a1.html Rockwall seeking to become ‘Film Friendly City’], ''Rockwall County Herald Banner''</ref>

Director Ron Howard has credited this film as helping to convince studios that he could direct feature films. Getting General Electric to sponsor the film was a big step, and getting Bette Davis on board was also ambitious. Howard recalls that Bette Davis was initially concerned about Gilstrap's casting because she had no real acting experience. Davis referred to Howard to "Mr. Howard" at the beginning of the first day of filming, but he soon became "Ron," and she later highly complimented his work, telling him he could be another [[William Wyler]].<ref name="howardint">[https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/shows/ron-howards-skyward Ron Howard's Skyward], Archive of American Television (Ron Howard Interview), retrieved 9 September 2020</ref><ref name="davisint">Wygant, Bonnie. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QvPvejJm2w Bette Davis Interview], NBC DFW (1980)</ref>

Ron Howard reminisced: "On working with Bette Davis during the filming of 1980's "Skyward": "She didn't much like that there was this 25-year-old from a sitcom that was directing her. I was talking to her on the phone and I said, 'Well, Ms. Davis, I'll protect you as the director and make sure you're prepared and that your performance will not suffer,' and she said, 'I disagree, Mr. Howard.' I said, 'Ms. Davis, just call me Ron,' and she said, 'No, I will call you Mr. Howard until I decide whether I like you or not.' And then (on the set) I gave her a note. And she tried it, and it worked for her. She said, 'You're right, that works much better. Let's shoot.' And at the end of the whole thing, I said, 'Well, Ms. Davis, great first day. I'll see you tomorrow."' She said, 'Okay, Ron, see you tomorrow,'" and she patted me on the ass."

==Reception==
[[John J. O'Connor (journalist)|John J. O'Connor]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' opined that G.E. Theater, "an indefatigable supplier of upbeat dramas," had "clearly found itself another hefty dose of safe inspiration" in this film. But he did credit the casting of paraplegic teenager Suzy Gilstrap<ref name="gilpeep">Gritten, David (7 December 1981). [https://people.com/archive/paralyzed-by-a-falling-tree-suzy-gilstrap-turned-to-acting-and-her-career-heads-skyward-vol-16-no-23/ Paralyzed by a Falling Tree, Suzy Gilstrap Turned to Acting and Her Career Heads Skyward], ''People''</ref> in the lead role, as well as the casting of [[Bette Davis]] and [[Howard Hesseman]].<ref name="timesreview">[https://www.nytimes.com/1980/11/20/archives/tv-handicapped-girl-and-her-flying-lessons.html TV: Handicapped Girl And Her Flying Lessons], ''[[The New York Times]]''</ref> [[Tom Shales]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called the movie "one sweet piece of work" and a "lyrical heartwarmer."<ref name="postreview">[[Tom Shales|Shales, Tom]] (20 November 1980). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1980/11/20/reaching-for-the-stars/30f78e3c-e90e-437d-b8e5-b4bc5865ec4d/ Reaching For the Stars], ''[[The Washington Post]]''</ref>

The movie was the 16th ranked prime time television show in the United States for the week of its release, with a 22.0 Nielsen rating.<ref name="ratings1">(26 November 1980). [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/182754278/ Bullseye! CBS hits rating record with two shots], ''Courier-Post'' ([[Associated Press]] story)</ref>

The movie's success led to a one-hour Christmas special directed by [[Vincent McEveety]] in December 1981 called ''Skyward Christmas''. Though Gilstrap reprised her role as Julie, the cast was largely new and the production generally received poor reviews.<ref name="skychris">(3 December 1981). [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/406229043/ 'Skyward' sequel flops], ''Dayton Daily News''</ref><ref name="gilpeep"/>


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
Line 33: Line 46:
*Ben Marley as Scott Billings
*Ben Marley as Scott Billings
*[[Lisa Whelchel]] as Lisa Ward
*[[Lisa Whelchel]] as Lisa Ward
*Suzy Gilstrap as Julie Ward<ref name="suze1">(16 November 1980). [https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19801116.1.165&srpos=4&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-skyward+%22ron+howard%22-------1 Don't Feel Sorry], ''San Bernardino Sun'' (TV Week)</ref>
*Suzy Gilstrap as Julie Ward
*[[Irma P. Hall]] as Mrs. Sinclair
*[[Irma P. Hall]] as Mrs. Sinclair
*Mark Wheeler as Mr. Olsen
*Mark Wheeler as Mr. Olsen
Line 45: Line 58:
*Kate Finlayson as Nurse
*Kate Finlayson as Nurse
*Rusty McCaskey as Boy in Class
*Rusty McCaskey as Boy in Class
*Charley French as Boy in Class
*[[Bill Blackwood]] as himself
*[[Bill Blackwood]] as himself


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|2}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 56: Line 70:


[[Category:1980 television films]]
[[Category:1980 television films]]
[[Category:1980s drama films]]
[[Category:1980 films]]
[[Category:American television films]]
[[Category:1980 drama films]]
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:American drama television films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ron Howard]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ron Howard]]
[[Category:NBC network original films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Lee Holdridge]]
[[Category:Films shot in Dallas, Texas]]
[[Category:NBC original films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Dallas]]
[[Category:Films about disability in the United States]]
[[Category:Films about people with paraplegia or tetraplegia]]
⚫
[[Category:1980s American films]]

Latest revision as of 01:14, 30 August 2024

Skyward
GenreDrama
Written byNancy Sackett[1]
Story byAnson Williams
Directed byRon Howard
StarringBette Davis
Howard Hesseman
Marion Ross
Clu Gulager
Lisa Whelchel
Suzy Gilstrap
Music byLee Holdridge
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersAnson Williams
Ron Howard
ProducerJohn A. Kuri
CinematographyRobert Jessup
EditorRobert Kern Jr.
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesAnson Productions
Major H Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseNovember 20, 1980 (1980-11-20)

Skyward is a 1980 American made-for-television drama film starring Bette Davis, Howard Hesseman, Marion Ross, Suzy Gilstrap, Clu Gulager and Lisa Whelchel. It was directed by Ron Howard, written by Nancy Sackett and broadcast on NBC on November 20, 1980.[2][3]

Plot

[edit]

Bette Davis stars as a flight instructor at an old Texas airport. When a young girl in a wheelchair finds the airport by watching gliders fly, she decides she wants to learn how to fly. Davis teaches her to fly with some special controls adapted for her disability. Howard Hesseman is an aircraft repair service mechanic trying desperately to get an old airplane back in the air. The three, together, put the young girl and the old plane up in the air.

Production

[edit]

The film was made on location in Rockwall, Texas, with the plot centering on the town's airport.[4][5]

Director Ron Howard has credited this film as helping to convince studios that he could direct feature films. Getting General Electric to sponsor the film was a big step, and getting Bette Davis on board was also ambitious. Howard recalls that Bette Davis was initially concerned about Gilstrap's casting because she had no real acting experience. Davis referred to Howard to "Mr. Howard" at the beginning of the first day of filming, but he soon became "Ron," and she later highly complimented his work, telling him he could be another William Wyler.[6][7]

Ron Howard reminisced: "On working with Bette Davis during the filming of 1980's "Skyward": "She didn't much like that there was this 25-year-old from a sitcom that was directing her. I was talking to her on the phone and I said, 'Well, Ms. Davis, I'll protect you as the director and make sure you're prepared and that your performance will not suffer,' and she said, 'I disagree, Mr. Howard.' I said, 'Ms. Davis, just call me Ron,' and she said, 'No, I will call you Mr. Howard until I decide whether I like you or not.' And then (on the set) I gave her a note. And she tried it, and it worked for her. She said, 'You're right, that works much better. Let's shoot.' And at the end of the whole thing, I said, 'Well, Ms. Davis, great first day. I'll see you tomorrow."' She said, 'Okay, Ron, see you tomorrow,'" and she patted me on the ass."

Reception

[edit]

John J. O'Connor of The New York Times opined that G.E. Theater, "an indefatigable supplier of upbeat dramas," had "clearly found itself another hefty dose of safe inspiration" in this film. But he did credit the casting of paraplegic teenager Suzy Gilstrap[8] in the lead role, as well as the casting of Bette Davis and Howard Hesseman.[9] Tom Shales of The Washington Post called the movie "one sweet piece of work" and a "lyrical heartwarmer."[4]

The movie was the 16th ranked prime time television show in the United States for the week of its release, with a 22.0 Nielsen rating.[10]

The movie's success led to a one-hour Christmas special directed by Vincent McEveety in December 1981 called Skyward Christmas. Though Gilstrap reprised her role as Julie, the cast was largely new and the production generally received poor reviews.[11][8]

Cast

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ (20 June 1980) Bette Davis on Location, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Associated Press story), p. 16
  2. ^ "Skyward (1980) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  3. ^ Hal Erickson (2015). "Skyward - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
  4. ^ a b Shales, Tom (20 November 1980). Reaching For the Stars, The Washington Post
  5. ^ Wilfong, David (16 August 2009). Rockwall seeking to become ‘Film Friendly City’, Rockwall County Herald Banner
  6. ^ Ron Howard's Skyward, Archive of American Television (Ron Howard Interview), retrieved 9 September 2020
  7. ^ Wygant, Bonnie. Bette Davis Interview, NBC DFW (1980)
  8. ^ a b Gritten, David (7 December 1981). Paralyzed by a Falling Tree, Suzy Gilstrap Turned to Acting and Her Career Heads Skyward, People
  9. ^ TV: Handicapped Girl And Her Flying Lessons, The New York Times
  10. ^ (26 November 1980). Bullseye! CBS hits rating record with two shots, Courier-Post (Associated Press story)
  11. ^ (3 December 1981). 'Skyward' sequel flops, Dayton Daily News
  12. ^ (16 November 1980). Don't Feel Sorry, San Bernardino Sun (TV Week)
[edit]
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