The Winds of Kitty Hawk, a 1978 made-for-television movie, serves as a poignant and historical dramatization of one of the most significant events in the history of human flight: the Wright brothers’ first successful powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. Directed by Michael O’Herlihy, with a narrative that blends historical accuracy with cinematic drama, The Winds of Kitty Hawk stands as a tribute to the ingenuity, determination, and spirit of innovation that led to one of humanity’s greatest achievements.

The era of this movie was one in which few believed it would be possible to fly like birds.   The Wright brothers’ innovation in aerodynamics, control, and propulsion was unmatched even by renown scientist that had government sponsorship.  Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, was chosen as the site for the brothers’ experiments due to its strong winds, isolation, and soft sand, which made it a perfect location for their trial and error-based work.

Orville and Wilbur Wright, were self-taught engineers or inventors of their time. They relied on their backgrounds as bicycle mechanics. The Winds of Kitty Hawk captures their hands-on experimentation, showcasing the brothers as ordinary men who, through sheer determination, ingenuity, and tireless work, brought the dream of flight to fruition.

The plot of The Winds of Kitty Hawk focuses on the emotional and professional journey of the Wright brothers as they pursue their dream of flying. The film begins by exploring the early years of Orville and Wilbur, highlighting their close relationship as brothers and their shared passion for mechanical innovation. The early stages of the film emphasize their obsession with flight, often portraying their solitary existence in Kitty Hawk as they worked tirelessly on their experiments.

As the movie progresses, the narrative delves deeper into the technical challenges the brothers faced, as well as the personal sacrifices they made. The brothers’ work in Kitty Hawk was fraught with failure, but their perseverance never wavered. Scenes in the film show the brothers building and testing multiple prototypes, each one more refined than the last. At the heart of these sequences is the palpable tension between hope and despair, as the brothers’ success seemed always just out of reach. The film’s portrayal of this struggle resonates deeply with viewers, emphasizing the theme that innovation often comes at the cost of failure and setbacks.

One of the key moments in the film is the first successful powered flight on December 17, 1903. The film dramatizes this historic moment with a sense of triumph, showing Orville’s first flight in the Flyer, lasting just 12 seconds but achieving a distance of 120 feet. The achievement was brief but revolutionary, marking the birth of modern aviation.

One of the central themes of The Winds of Kitty Hawk is the triumph of human ingenuity over adversity. The film underscores the Wright brothers’ commitment to their dream, even in the face of personal doubts and setbacks. This determination is not portrayed as a simple, linear path to success but as a series of missteps, learning experiences, and small victories. It highlights the importance of persistence in the pursuit of one’s goals and the belief that failure is merely a steppingstone toward success. The movie honors the legacy of Orville and Wilbur Wright and serves as an inspiration to all who dare to dream.

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Coal Miner’s Daughter is offered here in tribute to Loretta Lynn, who passed this week. This film, like the song and book after which it was titled, is autobiographical. Loretta Lynn was a woman of exceptional talent, who wrote and composed her own songs without any formal education to do so. She came from abject poverty, and married at 15 (maybe 16), with 4 young children by the time she was 20. (Unimaginable to the adherents of victim virtue and white privilege, that such a person could have lived in their own lifetime.) Before her country career, she would work gathering crops with the little-ins at her side. Her husband was the instigator for the crossroad change in her life, he believed in her talent, invested in a guitar for her and then dragged her around to honky-tonks and radio stations to get her heard and discovered.

Best Actress awards

Sissy Spacek won best actress from the Academy and Golden Globe Awards for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn . The star hand picked Sissy Spacek, based on a photograph. Spacek in turn, spent time with the country singer learning her mannerisms. But for the film, Spacek sang all performances. She is also credited as the artist on the Coal Miner’s Daughter soundtrack album that reached number 2 on the country muisic billboards. Tommy Lee Jones played her husband, Oliver ” Doolittle” Lynn. Beverly D’Angelo protrayed Patsy Cline, who helped Loretta negotiate the tides of stardom, until her untimely death just a couple of years after they met.

The Library of Congress archived Coal Miner’s Daughter

Coal Miner’s Daughter has been archived by the library of congress for it’s cultural significance. The first part of the movie shows Loretta Lynn’s struggles with poverty, through childhood and the first years of her marriage. It’s a beautiful testament to the strength of character of her whole family. (Maybe Niche was right about strength). The second part of the movie follows Loretta’s climb to stardom and breakdown when she is stretched too thin. (Hallmarking that having it all, isn’t always what it seems). finally the movie ends with her return to the stage, singing Coal Miner’s Daughter, an testament to her humble roots and commitment to herself to stay grounded. Adieu to the Queen of Country.

Vinyl Records Rule at WooWho Vintage

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The movie picks up when the Memphis Belle, a B-17 Flying Fortress and her crew are set to complete 25 missions. This last mission will mean her men have completed their tour of duty, this accomplishment is significant because they will be the first group/ bombing crew, in the Eight AIr force to fulfill this prerequisite of returning from 25 bombing missions. Every mission is life threatening, and Colonel Bruce Derringer, played by John Lithgow, is jumping the gun celebrating the team’s success before they even go up in the air for their last bombing run. The Army publicist has big plans for the young men to promote the much needed sale of war bonds with a grand US tour making the heroes celebrities. But before then, the Mephis Belle must, accompanied by the rest of the squadron, fly into Bremen, Germany to obliterate an enemy plane manufacturing plant. The escorting P-51’s are unable to accompany the big bombers all the way to the target, and the vulnerable big boys are forced to fend for themselves over enemy territory and all the way home. As planes are taken out, the Mephis Bell finds herself eventually in the lead. The defensive assault below makes the target impossible to see, and her pilot decides to circle around for a second pass. Everyone takes on damage, and the flight home is riddled with flak, injury and suspense as the enemy forces continue their counter assault.

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