The Aviator (1985 film)
Encyclopedia
The Aviator is an American
adventure film
directed by George T. Miller
. The story of the film was adapted by Marc Norman
from the book The Aviator written by Ernest K. Gann
. The film stars Rosanna Arquette
as Tillie Hansen, the teenage daughter of a wealthy banker, and Christopher Reeve
as Edgar Anscombe, a pilot in the US Air Mail Service.
Though set in the northwestern United States, the movie was actually filmed in Slovenia
near Kranjska Gora
, which was then part of Yugoslavia
.
) is a flight instructor giving a young pilot landing instruction. During one of the landing attempts, the plane crashes and the young pilot is killed, though Edgar survives.
Ten years pass, and Edgar has become a Contract Air Mail pilot flying the rugged CAM-5 route between Elko, Nevada
and Pasco, Washington
, with a stopover in Boise, Idaho
. When asked to take a passenger, Edgar reluctantly agrees, revealing that the last time he had a passenger in his plane, it was the doomed trainee from the opening sequence.
Tillie Hansen (Rosanna Arquette
) is outspoken and rebellious. She makes it clear that she does not want to go to her aunt's house, but her father demands it. He uses his influence as banker for the airline to secure passage for Tillie on Edgar's flight. Tillie annoys Edgar with her questions, and he acts coldly towards her.
During the stopover at Boise, a mechanic changes the oil in the engine, but neglects to tighten a hose. The tension between Edgar and Tillie continues to escalate, and when the flight resumes, Edgar decides to take a shortcut over the mountains, deviating from the normal route. However, the engine loses oil pressure and soon fails causing Edgar to crash land the plane on a remote ridge.
The tensions between Tillie and Edgar continue to escalate with Tillie blaming Edgar for stranding them, and Edgar calling Tillie a jinx. During the night, Tillie accidentally blows up the remains of the plane with a cigarette. Afterwards, Edgar's anger subsides as he seems to accept the hopelessness of their situation.
The next day, Edgar goes out hunting, and manages to shoot a rabbit with his pistol. However, while returning to camp he is attacked by a pack of wolves, who steal the rabbit, and badly wound his arm. Tillie manages to sew the wound shut and bandages Edgar's arm. Faced with the continued threat of the wolves, and since the remains of the plane have been destroyed, Edgar and Tillie decide to climb down the cliff to the canyon below.
During their descent, a search plane flies overhead. Edgar and Tillie jump on a ledge to try to signal the plane, but Tillie falls and breaks her leg. The two are forced to spend the night on the cliff face, and their mutual affection develops. The next day Edgar carries Tillie to the canyon floor, where he makes a travois to haul her.
When Tillie spots some telephone lines, Edgar heads off to investigate, leaving Tillie his revolver. Meanwhile, one of the search pilots has determined the location of the crash, and flies toward the crash site. As Edgar returns to the clearing where he has left Tillie, he is again attacked by a wolf, within sight of Tillie. The rescue plane flies overhead and spots Edgar being attacked by the wolf, but is powerless to do anything. Tillie manages to crawl out of her travois and shoots the wolf, saving Edgar's life. They are rescued and brought back to civilization, and the film ends with hints of a romantic relationship.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
adventure film
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
directed by George T. Miller
George T. Miller
George Trumbull Miller is a Scottish-born Australian film and television director and producer. He has directed The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Man from Snowy River, Prey and Zeus and Roxanne.-External links:...
. The story of the film was adapted by Marc Norman
Marc Norman
Marc Norman is an American screenwriter.He won, with Tom Stoppard the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, in the 71st Academy Awards of 1998, for his script of Shakespeare in Love; he also shared in the Best Picture Oscar for the film as co-producer...
from the book The Aviator written by Ernest K. Gann
Ernest K. Gann
Ernest Kellogg Gann was an American aviator, author, filmmaker, sailor, fisherman and conservationist.-Early life:...
. The film stars Rosanna Arquette
Rosanna Arquette
Rosanna Lauren Arquette is an American actress, film director, and producer.-Early life:Arquette was born in New York City, the daughter of Brenda Olivia "Mardi" , an actress, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher, and therapist, and Lewis Arquette, an actor and director. Her paternal...
as Tillie Hansen, the teenage daughter of a wealthy banker, and Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
as Edgar Anscombe, a pilot in the US Air Mail Service.
Though set in the northwestern United States, the movie was actually filmed in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
near Kranjska Gora
Kranjska Gora
Kranjska Gora is a town and a municipality on the Sava Dolinka River in the Upper Carniola region of northwest Slovenia, close to the Austrian and Italian borders.Kranjska Gora is best known as a winter sports town, being situated in the Julian Alps...
, which was then part of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
.
Plot
The film begins in 1918, at a US Army Air Corps flying school where Edgar (Christopher ReeveChristopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
) is a flight instructor giving a young pilot landing instruction. During one of the landing attempts, the plane crashes and the young pilot is killed, though Edgar survives.
Ten years pass, and Edgar has become a Contract Air Mail pilot flying the rugged CAM-5 route between Elko, Nevada
Elko, Nevada
Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
and Pasco, Washington
Pasco, Washington
Pasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...
, with a stopover in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. When asked to take a passenger, Edgar reluctantly agrees, revealing that the last time he had a passenger in his plane, it was the doomed trainee from the opening sequence.
Tillie Hansen (Rosanna Arquette
Rosanna Arquette
Rosanna Lauren Arquette is an American actress, film director, and producer.-Early life:Arquette was born in New York City, the daughter of Brenda Olivia "Mardi" , an actress, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher, and therapist, and Lewis Arquette, an actor and director. Her paternal...
) is outspoken and rebellious. She makes it clear that she does not want to go to her aunt's house, but her father demands it. He uses his influence as banker for the airline to secure passage for Tillie on Edgar's flight. Tillie annoys Edgar with her questions, and he acts coldly towards her.
During the stopover at Boise, a mechanic changes the oil in the engine, but neglects to tighten a hose. The tension between Edgar and Tillie continues to escalate, and when the flight resumes, Edgar decides to take a shortcut over the mountains, deviating from the normal route. However, the engine loses oil pressure and soon fails causing Edgar to crash land the plane on a remote ridge.
The tensions between Tillie and Edgar continue to escalate with Tillie blaming Edgar for stranding them, and Edgar calling Tillie a jinx. During the night, Tillie accidentally blows up the remains of the plane with a cigarette. Afterwards, Edgar's anger subsides as he seems to accept the hopelessness of their situation.
The next day, Edgar goes out hunting, and manages to shoot a rabbit with his pistol. However, while returning to camp he is attacked by a pack of wolves, who steal the rabbit, and badly wound his arm. Tillie manages to sew the wound shut and bandages Edgar's arm. Faced with the continued threat of the wolves, and since the remains of the plane have been destroyed, Edgar and Tillie decide to climb down the cliff to the canyon below.
During their descent, a search plane flies overhead. Edgar and Tillie jump on a ledge to try to signal the plane, but Tillie falls and breaks her leg. The two are forced to spend the night on the cliff face, and their mutual affection develops. The next day Edgar carries Tillie to the canyon floor, where he makes a travois to haul her.
When Tillie spots some telephone lines, Edgar heads off to investigate, leaving Tillie his revolver. Meanwhile, one of the search pilots has determined the location of the crash, and flies toward the crash site. As Edgar returns to the clearing where he has left Tillie, he is again attacked by a wolf, within sight of Tillie. The rescue plane flies overhead and spots Edgar being attacked by the wolf, but is powerless to do anything. Tillie manages to crawl out of her travois and shoots the wolf, saving Edgar's life. They are rescued and brought back to civilization, and the film ends with hints of a romantic relationship.
Cast
- Christopher ReeveChristopher ReeveChristopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
as Edgar Anscombe - Rosanna ArquetteRosanna ArquetteRosanna Lauren Arquette is an American actress, film director, and producer.-Early life:Arquette was born in New York City, the daughter of Brenda Olivia "Mardi" , an actress, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher, and therapist, and Lewis Arquette, an actor and director. Her paternal...
as Tillie Hansen - Jack WardenJack WardenJack Warden was an American character actor.-Early life:Warden was born John Warden Lebzelter in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Laura M. and John Warden Lebzelter, who was an engineer and technician. He was of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry...
as Moravia - Sam WanamakerSam WanamakerSamuel Wanamaker was an American film director and actor and is credited as the person most responsible for the modern recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London...
as Bruno Hansen - Scott WilsonScott WilsonScott Wilson was a judge on United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1929 to 1942.-Early life:Scott Wilson was born on January 11, 1870, in Falmouth, Maine. He graduated from Bates College in Maine in 1892 and then studied at the University of Pennsylvania...
as Jerry Stiller - Tyne DalyTyne DalyTyne Daly is an American stage and screen actress, widely known for her work as Detective Mary Beth Lacey in the television series Cagney & Lacey and as Maxine Gray in the television series Judging Amy. She is also known for her role as Alice Henderson in television series Christy...
as Evelyn Stiller - Marcia StrassmanMarcia StrassmanMarcia A. Strassman is an American actress best known for her roles as Julie Kotter in the TV sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter and Diane Szalinski in the 1989 feature film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, its first sequel Honey, I Blew Up the Kid and the 3-D film spin-off Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! which...
as Rose Stiller - Will HareWill HareWill Hare was an American actor who appeared on television and films, often playing old crusty figures and father/grandpa roles.Hare was born in Elkins, West Virginia, the son of Frances Laetitia and George Thomas Hare.-Career:He had appeared on stage, screen, and television since he was 17...
as Old Man - Robert PierceRobert PierceRobert Pierce is best known as the founder of the international charity organization World Vision in 1950...
as Student Pilot - Glenn Neufeld as George Hansen
- Frano LasićFrano LasićFrano Lasić is a Croatian actor and singer.- Television roles :* "Ruža vjetrova" as Milivoj Matošić * "Dolina sunca" as Toni Herceg * "Ples sa zvijezdama" as Frano Lasić...
as Daniel Hansen - Ron Travis as Probosky
- Jeff HardingJeff HardingJeff Harding is an American actor from New England most famed for his narration of popular books into audio format. Notably, he has read The Da Vinci Code, The Bourne Identity, Kane and Abel and Secrets Of The Code...
as Carson - Paul Reid Roman as Counterman
- Paul Lichtman as Customer
See also
- Airmails of the United StatesAirmails of the United StatesAirmails of the United States or U.S. Air Mail relates to the servicing of flown mails by the U.S. postal system within the United States, its possessions, and/or territories, marked as "Via Air Mail" , appropriately franked, and afforded any then existing class or sub-class of U.S...
describes the Contract Air Mail service and specifically the CAM-5 route which provides the setting for the film.