Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies
| Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Bill Sampson (John Erman) |
| Produced by | Bruce Wilson (James Cresson) (Robert Fryer) |
| Screenplay by | Chip Rosen (Claudia Ann Salter) |
| Story by | Steven Spielberg |
| Starring |
Cliff Robertson Pamela Franklin Eric Shea Bernadette Peters |
| Music by | Jerry Goldsmith |
| Cinematography | David M. Walsh |
| Edited by | Robert Belcher Louis Lombardo |
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Production
company |
20th Century Fox
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| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox Distribution |
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Release date
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Running time
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92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3,350,000 |
Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies is a 1973 American adventure-comedy film based on a story by Steven Spielberg. The film centers on a barnstorming pilot (Cliff Robertson) and his son (Eric Shea) as they fly around the United States in the 1920s, having adventures along the way. English actress Pamela Franklin provided the love interest. One of the driving forces behind the production, Robertson was a pilot in real life, although Hollywood stunt pilot Frank Tallman flew most of the aerial scenes.
In the early 1920s, Eli (Cliff Robertson) is a barnstorming stunt pilot in Kansas. When flying with his wife Wilma, (Patricia Smith), Eli crashes into a barn. He survives by being thrown into a hay stack, but his wife is killed. He has to raise his 11-year-old son Rodger (Eric Shea) on his own. While Eli is the parent, his young son is often the more mature. Both father and son take on the restoration of the wrecked Standard J-1 aircraft, but are at odds when Rodger paints the name "Wilma" on the side of the aircraft. Eli becomes angry and upset and slaps paint over the name, still blaming himself for his wife's death. He paints on a slogan, "Fly with Ace Eli", instead.
Wanting to cut all ties to the past, Rodger, who misses his deceased mother, douses their farm house with gasoline and sets it ablaze, taking all the old memories with it. After finishing repairs on their aircraft, Eli and Rodger set off on a barnstorming tour. To begin their odyssey, the pair land on the main street in a small town and are treated like celebrities.
Wherever Eli lands, he finds a new girlfriend, but does not form any permanent relationships. One girl in particular, Shelby (Pamela Franklin), a rich flapper, chases Eli from town to town in her car. Eventually, she joins Eli and Rodger on their trip across the country. With Rodger exploring new adventures, trying out cigarettes and alcohol, and even what Eli calls "smutty" books, he still pines for his mother. Besides learning to fly with his father as a co-pilot, Rodger becomes the manager of the tour, looking after all the finances, even paying Allison (Bernadette Peters), a prostitute. Spurred by a taunt from his father, Rodger flies their aircraft solo, even managing a bouncy landing.
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Wikipedia