Skyward (film): Difference between revisions
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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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. |
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. |
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==Production== |
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The film was made on location in [[Rockwell, Texas]].<ref name="postreview"/> |
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| ⚫ | 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> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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[[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> |
[[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> |
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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 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> |
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Revision as of 15:49, 9 September 2020
| Skyward | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Nancy Sackett[1] |
| Story by | Anson Williams |
| Directed by | Ron Howard |
| Starring | Bette Davis Howard Hesseman Marion Ross Clu Gulager Lisa Whelchel Suzy Gilstrap |
| Music by | Lee Holdridge |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Anson Williams Ron Howard |
| Producer | John A. Kuri |
| Cinematography | Robert Jessup |
| Editor | Robert Kern Jr. |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production companies | Anson Productions Major H Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | November 20, 1980 |
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
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 Rockwell, Texas.[4]
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.[5][6]
Reception
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[7] in the lead role, as well as the casting of Bette Davis and Howard Hesseman.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10][7]
Cast
- Bette Davis as Billie Dupree
- Howard Hesseman as Koup Trenton
- Marion Ross as Natalie Ward
- Clu Gulager as Steve Ward
- Ben Marley as Scott Billings
- Lisa Whelchel as Lisa Ward
- Suzy Gilstrap as Julie Ward[11]
- Irma P. Hall as Mrs. Sinclair
- Mark Wheeler as Mr. Olsen
- Jessie Lee Fulton as Secretary
- Bill Thurman as Pilot #1
- Rance Howard as Pilot #2
- Rhonda Minton as Stephanie
- Gene Pietragallo as Jason
- Greta Blackburn as Miss Russell
- Jeff Nicholson as Theatre Usher
- Kate Finlayson as Nurse
- Rusty McCaskey as Boy in Class
- Bill Blackwood as himself
References
- ^ (20 June 1980) Bette Davis on Location, Santa Cruz Sentinel (Associated Press story), p. 16
- ^ "Skyward (1980) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
- ^ "Skyward - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
- ^ a b Shales, Tom (20 November 1980). Reaching For the Stars, The Washington Post
- ^ Ron Howard's Skyward, Archive of American Television (Ron Howard Interview), retrieved 9 September 2020
- ^ Wygant, Bonnie. Bette Davis Interview, NBC DFW (1980)
- ^ a b Gritten, David (7 December 1981). Paralyzed by a Falling Tree, Suzy Gilstrap Turned to Acting and Her Career Heads Skyward, People
- ^ TV: Handicapped Girl And Her Flying Lessons, The New York Times
- ^ (26 November 1980). Bullseye! CBS hits rating record with two shots, Courier-Post (Associated Press story)
- ^ (3 December 1981). 'Skyward' sequel flops, Dayton Daily News
- ^ (16 November 1980). Don't Feel Sorry, San Bernardino Sun (TV Week)