The Flying Irishman
This is the story of the historic 1938 flight of Douglas 'Wrong Way' Corrigan. Mr. Corrigan starred in this film, which chronicled his infamous flight. On July 17, 1938, Mr. Corrigan loaded 320 gallons of gasoline (40 hours worth) into the tiny, single engine plane. While expressing his intent to fly west to Long Beach, CA, Mr. Corrigan flew out of Floyd Bennett Field heading east over the Atlantic. Instrumentation in the plane included two compasses (both malfunctioned) and a turn-and-bank indicator. The cabin door was held shut with baling wire. Nearly 29 hours later, he landed in Baldonnel near Dublin. He forever claimed to be surprised at arriving in Ireland rather than California. He returned to the US as a hero, with a ticker tape parade in New York and received numerous medals and awards.
Insights
Plot Summary
This biographical drama chronicles the life and achievements of Douglas Corrigan, an American aviator. It focuses on his unexpected solo flight from New York to Ireland in 1938, an event that earned him the nickname 'The Flying Irishman.' The film explores his passion for aviation and the challenges he faced in pursuing his dreams.
Critical Reception
The film was produced as a B-movie, likely to capitalize on Corrigan's newfound fame. Critical reception at the time was generally moderate, focusing on its straightforward portrayal of the aviator's story. Modern reception tends to view it as a period piece reflecting the public's fascination with aviation heroes of the era.
What Reviewers Say
- A straightforward biographical account of a famous aviator.
- Lacks significant dramatic depth but provides an engaging look at a real-life adventure.
- Seen as a minor film, notable for its subject matter rather than cinematic innovation.
Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews for this 1939 film is not readily available.
Fun Fact
Douglas Corrigan himself plays a fictionalized version of himself in the film, a common practice for biographical films of the era featuring the real-life subject.
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