The Spirit of St. Louis is a 1957 film directed by Billy Wilder. It is a biographical drama that tells the story of Charles Lindbergh and his historic transatlantic flight. 

Plot

The film chronicles the life of Charles Lindbergh (played by James Stewart), a young American pilot known for being the first man to make a solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris in 1927. The plot primarily focuses on the period leading up to this famous flight.

Young Lindbergh pursues his passion for aviation and decides to compete for the Orteig Prize, a cash reward offered to anyone who could complete the perilous transatlantic flight. After securing the necessary financial backing, Lindbergh begins his preparation and the construction of his aircraft, which he names "The Spirit of St. Louis."

The film explores the challenges and difficulties Lindbergh faces during the flight, including technical issues and moments of extreme fatigue. In the end, Lindbergh successfully completes his historic flight from New York to Paris, becoming a national hero and an aviation icon.

"The Spirit of St. Louis" is a biographical film that celebrates Charles Lindbergh's audacity and determination in achieving an extraordinary milestone in aviation.

Complete Cast:

• James Stewart as Charles A. Lindbergh
• Murray Hamilton as Bud Gurney
• Patricia Smith as Mirror Girl
• Bartlett Robinson as Benjamin Frank Mahoney
• Marc Connelly as Father Hussman
• Arthur Space as Donald Hall
• Charles Watts as O.W. Schultz
• Harold Goodwin as Wilbur C. Whitehead

Director: Billy Wilder

Producer: Leland Hayward

Writer: Billy Wilder, Wendell Mayes (based on the book "The Spirit of St. Louis" by Charles A. Lindbergh)

Music by: Franz Waxman

Cinematographer: Robert Burks

Production Cost: Not publicly disclosed.

Box Office: Not publicly disclosed, but known for not meeting expected public success.

Awards: Although it did not win, the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Special Effects.

Critics' Reception: "The Spirit of St. Louis" received generally positive reviews, particularly for James Stewart's performance and Billy Wilder's direction. The film was praised for its attention to technical detail and the portrayal of the historic flight, though some critics felt that the film's length and slow pacing limited its impact.

My opinion. The Spirit of St. Louis retells the interesting story of the famous flight, and the film is all about Lindberg with James Stewart giving an excellent performance. However, the story is unfortunately predictable and the film struggles to find emotional cues many of which are replayed in flashbacks and some of which are rather trite (when Lindberg lands in a barracks).

Good music, good direction, somewhat flat story.