Announcing the Aviation In Film Blogathon!

OK, I know at least some of you are no doubt wondering where my usual announcement for the Broadway Bound Blogathon is, and be assured that it’s coming, just not yet. As you may have heard, those wacky folks on the Great White Way decided to move the Tonys to September(!), so we’ll be going back to Broadway a little later this year. More on that in a few months.

In the meantime, I had another idea. May 21, 2027 will be the one-hundredth anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s solo Atlantic flight, so I thought it would be fun to look at aviation in film. While the obvious thing would be to do this blogathon in 2027, who wants to put it off for five years? Meh, that won’t do. To paraphrase Paula Cole, “We don’t wanna wait…”

Planes are an interesting setting for movies and TV. They’re contained, as in the action takes place within the cabin and the audience is limited to what the pilot and passengers can see. They’re also open, sometimes to a dangerous degree, because obviously the pilot can’t pull over if something goes wrong. Depending on how much of a film takes place on board a plane, this naturally offers some interesting and hairy story possibilities.

Filmmakers and aviators alike love a challenge, though. UKEssays has this to say:

Flight was perhaps the decisive signal that a new, modern age has begun. Before The Great War, both film and aviation were still in their infancy, but already it was apparent that each had powerful potential to influence the world. The film industry displayed various perspectives of the new innovation: some had intentions of promoting the new technology, others used the airplane as a setting to carry their story in a more exciting manner, while others exposed the flaws and the possible destruction and as a “terrifying instrument of war.” Nevertheless, the airplane was a successful innovation that influenced culture for many years to come.

Yep, airplanes are common sights in films, especially after the rise of commercial aviation, which is why we’re not gonna limit ourselves to a particular time period. If any part of a movie or show takes place on a plane or there’s an airplane in them somewhere, we’re good.

On to…

The Rules

1. The blogathon will take place from May 20th through May 22nd. New material only, please, and each participant is limited to three posts.
2. Posts can be about any movie or TV show from any era with an airplane in it, either as a major part of the film or a scene with an airplane, or anything to do with aviation in general, excluding the Mile High Club.
3. Since airplanes in film is such a huge topic (see lists of films and shows here and here), duplicates are verboten, although the same titles can be used if included in a listicle as opposed to a straight review.
4. Posts can be sent to me on and around May 20th through the 22nd, either by leaving me a comment on the blog, my Contact page, Twitter and Instagram (both @TakingUpRoom) or by e-mail (rebeccadeniston@gmail.com).
5. Grab a banner and advertise the blogathon!

The Roster

Taking Up Room: Young Indiana Jones: Attack Of the Hawkmen (1995), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Memphis Belle (1990)

Realweegiemidget Reviews: Hanover Street (1979)

Cinema Catharsis: The Right Stuff (1983)

A Shroud Of Thoughts: TBD

Phyllis Loves Classic Movies: Come Fly With Me (1962)

The Stop Button: No Highway In the Sky (1951)

Whimsically Classic: Dive Bomber (1941)

Crítica Retrô: The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)

Silver Screenings: The Big Lift (1950)

Films From Beyond the Time Barrier: Fate Is the Hunter (1964)

Dubsism: No Time For Sergeants (1958)

The Everyday Cinephile: The Grim Game (1919)

The Flapper Dame: Island In the Sky (1953)

What’s That Mark’s Reading!?: Wings (1927)

18 Cinema Lane: The Disappearance of Flight 412 (1974)

The Banners

References

“The Airplane Impacted Our Culture History Essay.” ukessays.com. 11 2018. UKEssays. 03 2022