The Aviator (1985)

A 1920s mail pilot and a rich man's daughter crash-land on a mountain full of hungry wolves.

Director:

George Miller

Writers:

Ernest K. Gann (based upon the book by) (as Ernest Gann), Marc Norman (screenplay)

Stars:

Christopher Reeve, Rosanna Arquette, Jack Warden

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Reeve	...	Edgar Anscombe
Rosanna Arquette	...	Tillie Hansen
Jack Warden	...	Moravia
Sam Wanamaker	...	Bruno Hansen
Scott Wilson	...	Jerry Stiller
Tyne Daly	...	Evelyn Stiller
Marcia Strassman	...	Rose Stiller
Will Hare	...	Old Man
Robert Pierce	...	Student Pilot
Glenn Neufeld	...	George Hansen
Frano Lasic	...	Daniel Hansen
Ron Travis	...	Probosky
Jeff Harding	...	Carson
Paul Reid Roman	...	Counterman
Paul Lichtman	...	Customer

Storyline

A 1920s mail pilot and a rich man's daughter crash-land on a mountain full of hungry wolves.

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Plot Keywords:

two word title | army | year 1918 | mail pilot | 1920s | 

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Taglines:

He is a veteran pilot, a man who has seen and done it all... But now, for the first time, he has a passenger. And his greatest adventure is about to begin...

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 March 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Aviador

Filming Locations:

Yugoslavia

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,304,192

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists, Mace Neufeld Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Christopher Reeve's performance and characterization was partially inspired by Charles Lindbergh. Reeve once said: "To a certain extent I was thinking of him. The idea of a man who is capable of great acts of heroism without any self awareness, amazes me. He was a man who'd be likely to say, 'well, then I flew the Atlantic, a lot of people met me at the airport and then I went to the Ambassador's house for dinner...'. He had a flare for understatement."

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Goofs

The Boeing Stearman plane used in the film had his maiden flight in 1936. It can't have flown in the early 1920s.

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Quotes

Moravia: [on the phone] I think that someday the world will be entirely populated with bureaucrats such as yourself because the real people will do away with themselves out of frustration!

User Reviews

Enjoyable, with a really good performance by Reeves.

Chris Reeves's legacy will always be Superman, but he proves here that he was a fine actor who could really nail his character. He does a great job as an introverted, bitter pilot. The other reviewer is correct that Rosanna Arquette is annoying; however, she's not at all the worst part of the movie. If anything is annoying, it's the painfully inaccurate portrayal of wolves. Look, filmmakers, wolves do not stalk people through the woods and attack them out of the blue. This is real life, not "The Howling." Other than those small complaints, though, this simple survival story is fun and engaging, and definitely worth noting for Reeves. 8/10 stars.