The Spirit of St. Louis
Seen it?1957 | 135 min | Drama, History
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved Ford v Ferrari or Sully, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 15 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1957: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh struggles to finance and design an airplane that will make his New York to Paris flight the first solo transatlantic crossing.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
83% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$7 million worldwide on a $7 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 36K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Billy Wilder
- James StewartCharles Augustus 'Slim' Lindbergh
- Murray HamiltonBud Gurney
- Patricia SmithMirror Girl
- Bartlett RobinsonBenjamin Frank Mahoney, President Ryan Airlines Co.
- Marc ConnellyFather Hussman
- Arthur SpaceDonald Hall, Chief Engineer Ryan Airlines
- Charles WattsO.W. Schultz, Salesman Atlas Suspender Co.
- Erville AldersonBurt (uncredited)
- Frances AllenMother from Oklahoma (uncredited)
- David AlpertClerk (uncredited)