Rosalind Russell played flyer Tonie Carter in this thinly disguised version of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart during her 1937 around-the-world flight.
Carter/Earhart is in love with reckless yet feckless fellow-flyer Fred MacMurray. She is asked by the Navy to fake an accident during her flight and thereby provide an excuse for a search that would enable Naval reconnaissance of suspected Japanese fortifications in the South Pacific.
On her flight, Carter herself spots the fortifications but also discovers that the Japanese are on to her ruse. She bravely crashes her plane to make the Navy search possible.
RKO didn’t confirm or deny that the movie was based on the story of Miss Earhart, but they did pay her husband George Palmer Putnam, $7,500 for his permission to make the film.
Oscar Nominations: 1
Interior Decoration (b/w): Albert S. DÁgostino and Carroll Clark, art direction; Darell Silvera and Harley Miller, set decoration.
Oscar Context:
The winner of b/w Interior Decoration was The Song of Bernadette.
CAST:
Rosalind Russell
Fred MacMurray
Herbert Marshall
Edward Ciannelli
Walter Kingsford
Damian O’Flynn
Jack Carr
Matt McHugh
Richard Loo
Charles Lung
CREDITS:
Release date: April 15, 1943
RKO.. Produced by David Hempstead.
Directed by Lothar Mendes.
Screenplay by Oliver H.P. Garrett and S.K. Lauren..
Adaptation by Jan Murfin, based on a story by Horace McCoy.
