295:
prepared and that your performance will not suffer,' and she said, 'I disagree, Mr. Howard.' I said, 'Ms. Davis, just call me Ron,' and she said, 'No, I will call you Mr. Howard until I decide whether I like you or not.' And then (on the set) I gave her a note. And she tried it, and it worked for her. She said, 'You're right, that works much better. Let's shoot.' And at the end of the whole thing, I said, 'Well, Ms. Davis, great first day. I'll see you tomorrow."' She said, 'Okay, Ron, see you tomorrow,'" and she patted me on the ass."
294:
Ron Howard reminisced: "On working with Bette Davis during the filming of 1980's "Skyward": "She didn't much like that there was this 25-year-old from a sitcom that was directing her. I was talking to her on the phone and I said, 'Well, Ms. Davis, I'll protect you as the director and make sure you're
286:
Director Ron Howard has credited this film as helping to convince studios that he could direct feature films. Getting
General Electric to sponsor the film was a big step, and getting Bette Davis on board was also ambitious. Howard recalls that Bette Davis was initially concerned about Gilstrap's
270:
Bette Davis stars as a flight instructor at an old Texas airport. When a young girl in a wheelchair finds the airport by watching gliders fly, she decides she wants to learn how to fly. Davis teaches her to fly with some special controls adapted for her disability. Howard
Hesseman is an aircraft
312:
opined that G.E. Theater, "an indefatigable supplier of upbeat dramas," had "clearly found itself another hefty dose of safe inspiration" in this film. But he did credit the casting of paraplegic teenager Suzy
Gilstrap in the lead role, as well as the casting of
31:
287:
casting because she had no real acting experience. Davis referred to Howard to "Mr. Howard" at the beginning of the first day of filming, but he soon became "Ron," and she later highly complimented his work, telling him he could be another
1430:
556:
743:
1425:
600:
670:
455:
271:
repair service mechanic trying desperately to get an old airplane back in the air. The three, together, put the young girl and the old plane up in the air.
538:
933:
1395:
1410:
1405:
1400:
722:
501:
757:
334:
The movie was the 16th ranked prime time television show in the United States for the week of its release, with a 22.0 Nielsen rating.
1083:
303:
615:
1380:
1256:
1023:
345:. Though Gilstrap reprised her role as Julie, the cast was largely new and the production generally received poor reviews.
1435:
1420:
1415:
1246:
231:
1204:
1194:
1390:
993:
973:
793:
715:
1114:
1043:
953:
943:
813:
783:
1327:
1053:
750:
1351:
1144:
1134:
1124:
497:
1164:
571:
1385:
1296:
1276:
1174:
1033:
708:
543:
327:
983:
913:
853:
620:
506:
308:
511:
1214:
1154:
863:
695:
1266:
1073:
1013:
903:
893:
873:
641:
463:
338:
1104:
360:
318:
280:
239:
228:
81:
601:
Paralyzed by a
Falling Tree, Suzy Gilstrap Turned to Acting and Her Career Heads Skyward
1317:
1286:
1063:
963:
843:
435:
136:
57:
1374:
833:
823:
381:
288:
251:
105:
93:
1358:
1184:
883:
574:, Archive of American Television (Ron Howard Interview), retrieved 9 September 2020
408:
402:
390:
150:
654:
633:
476:
1003:
372:
366:
354:
314:
247:
243:
235:
89:
85:
77:
731:
584:
534:
322:
255:
140:
67:
30:
689:
331:
called the movie "one sweet piece of work" and a "lyrical heartwarmer."
337:
The movie's success led to a one-hour
Christmas special directed by
923:
704:
259:
199:
700:
1343:
1308:
1237:
1230:
1095:
774:
767:
205:
195:
190:
180:
172:
164:
156:
146:
132:
127:
119:
111:
101:
73:
63:
53:
45:
37:
21:
1431:Films about people with paraplegia or tetraplegia
283:, with the plot centering on the town's airport.
634:Bullseye! CBS hits rating record with two shots
557:Rockwall seeking to become ‘Film Friendly City’
716:
8:
530:
528:
258:, written by Nancy Sackett and broadcast on
1426:Films about disability in the United States
616:TV: Handicapped Girl And Her Flying Lessons
1234:
771:
723:
709:
701:
29:
18:
595:
593:
447:
502:"Skyward - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes"
7:
599:Gritten, David (7 December 1981).
16:1980 American TV series or program
14:
555:Wilfong, David (16 August 2009).
279:The film was made on location in
1396:American drama television films
423:Jeff Nicholson as Theatre Usher
420:Greta Blackburn as Miss Russell
1257:The Beatles: Eight Days a Week
934:How the Grinch Stole Christmas
432:Charley French as Boy in Class
429:Rusty McCaskey as Boy in Class
399:Jessie Lee Fulton as Secretary
1:
1411:Films scored by Lee Holdridge
561:Rockwall County Herald Banner
1406:Films directed by Ron Howard
1401:1980s English-language films
378:Ben Marley as Scott Billings
477:"Skyward (1980) - Overview"
387:Suzy Gilstrap as Julie Ward
209:November 20, 1980
1452:
414:Rhonda Minton as Stephanie
1084:The Shrinking of Treehorn
738:
417:Gene Pietragallo as Jason
396:Mark Wheeler as Mr. Olsen
28:
504:. Movies & TV Dept.
341:in December 1981 called
1044:Solo: A Star Wars Story
1024:In the Heart of the Sea
456:Bette Davis on Location
426:Kate Finlayson as Nurse
1328:Katy Perry: Part of Me
655:'Skyward' sequel flops
539:Reaching For the Stars
262:on November 20, 1980.
1381:1980 television films
1352:Imagine Entertainment
1125:Inventing the Abbotts
585:Bette Davis Interview
254:. It was directed by
1436:1980s American films
1421:Films shot in Dallas
1175:Cowboys & Aliens
669:(16 November 1980).
632:(26 November 1980).
572:Ron Howard's Skyward
537:(20 November 1980).
181:Production companies
1297:Jim Henson Idea Man
1277:Rebuilding Paradise
1205:Tick, Tick... Boom!
994:Angels & Demons
758:Unrealized projects
653:(3 December 1981).
544:The Washington Post
460:Santa Cruz Sentinel
328:The Washington Post
229:made-for-television
227:is a 1980 American
186:Major H Productions
133:Executive producers
1416:NBC original films
887:(1992, also wrote)
867:(1989, also wrote)
797:(1978, also wrote)
787:(1977, also wrote)
675:San Bernardino Sun
621:The New York Times
507:The New York Times
309:The New York Times
1368:
1367:
1339:
1338:
1226:
1225:
1215:The Beanie Bubble
974:The Da Vinci Code
659:Dayton Daily News
343:Skyward Christmas
246:, Suzy Gilstrap,
220:
219:
184:Anson Productions
120:Original language
112:Country of origin
1443:
1391:1980 drama films
1361:
1354:
1332:
1322:
1301:
1291:
1281:
1271:
1261:
1251:
1235:
1219:
1209:
1199:
1189:
1179:
1169:
1159:
1149:
1139:
1129:
1119:
1109:
1088:
1078:
1068:
1058:
1048:
1038:
1028:
1018:
1008:
998:
988:
978:
968:
958:
948:
944:A Beautiful Mind
938:
928:
918:
908:
898:
888:
878:
868:
858:
848:
838:
828:
818:
808:
798:
788:
784:Grand Theft Auto
772:
760:
753:
746:
725:
718:
711:
702:
678:
671:Don't Feel Sorry
667:
661:
651:
645:
642:Associated Press
630:
624:
613:
607:
597:
588:
587:, NBC DFW (1980)
583:Wygant, Bonnie.
581:
575:
569:
563:
553:
547:
532:
523:
522:
520:
519:
510:. Archived from
494:
488:
487:
485:
484:
473:
467:
464:Associated Press
452:
393:as Mrs. Sinclair
357:as Billie Dupree
339:Vincent McEveety
304:John J. O'Connor
216:
214:
191:Original release
33:
19:
1451:
1450:
1446:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1441:
1440:
1371:
1370:
1369:
1364:
1357:
1350:
1335:
1325:
1315:
1304:
1294:
1284:
1274:
1264:
1254:
1247:Made in America
1244:
1222:
1212:
1202:
1192:
1182:
1172:
1162:
1152:
1142:
1132:
1122:
1112:
1105:Clean and Sober
1102:
1091:
1081:
1071:
1061:
1054:Hillbilly Elegy
1051:
1041:
1031:
1021:
1011:
1001:
991:
981:
971:
961:
951:
941:
931:
921:
911:
901:
891:
881:
871:
861:
851:
841:
831:
821:
811:
801:
791:
781:
763:
756:
749:
742:
734:
729:
686:
681:
668:
664:
652:
648:
631:
627:
614:
610:
598:
591:
582:
578:
570:
566:
554:
550:
533:
526:
517:
515:
496:
495:
491:
482:
480:
475:
474:
470:
454:(20 June 1980)
453:
449:
445:
369:as Natalie Ward
363:as Koup Trenton
361:Howard Hesseman
351:
319:Howard Hesseman
301:
281:Rockwall, Texas
277:
268:
240:Howard Hesseman
212:
210:
185:
168:Robert Kern Jr.
139:
96:
92:
88:
84:
82:Howard Hesseman
80:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1449:
1447:
1439:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1373:
1372:
1366:
1365:
1363:
1362:
1355:
1347:
1345:
1341:
1340:
1337:
1336:
1334:
1333:
1323:
1318:Beyond the Mat
1312:
1310:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1302:
1292:
1287:We Feed People
1282:
1272:
1262:
1252:
1241:
1239:
1232:
1228:
1227:
1224:
1223:
1221:
1220:
1210:
1200:
1195:The Dark Tower
1190:
1180:
1170:
1160:
1150:
1145:Curious George
1140:
1130:
1120:
1110:
1099:
1097:
1093:
1092:
1090:
1089:
1079:
1069:
1064:Thirteen Lives
1059:
1049:
1039:
1029:
1019:
1009:
999:
989:
979:
969:
964:Cinderella Man
959:
949:
939:
929:
919:
909:
899:
889:
879:
869:
859:
849:
839:
829:
819:
809:
799:
789:
778:
776:
769:
765:
764:
762:
761:
754:
747:
739:
736:
735:
730:
728:
727:
720:
713:
705:
699:
698:
685:
684:External links
682:
680:
679:
662:
646:
625:
608:
589:
576:
564:
548:
524:
489:
468:
446:
444:
441:
440:
439:
436:Bill Blackwood
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
418:
415:
412:
406:
400:
397:
394:
388:
385:
379:
376:
370:
364:
358:
350:
347:
300:
297:
276:
273:
267:
264:
218:
217:
207:
203:
202:
197:
193:
192:
188:
187:
182:
178:
177:
174:
170:
169:
166:
162:
161:
158:
157:Cinematography
154:
153:
148:
144:
143:
137:Anson Williams
134:
130:
129:
125:
124:
121:
117:
116:
113:
109:
108:
103:
99:
98:
75:
71:
70:
65:
61:
60:
58:Anson Williams
55:
51:
50:
47:
43:
42:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1448:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1378:
1376:
1360:
1356:
1353:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1342:
1330:
1329:
1324:
1320:
1319:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1307:
1299:
1298:
1293:
1289:
1288:
1283:
1279:
1278:
1273:
1269:
1268:
1263:
1259:
1258:
1253:
1249:
1248:
1243:
1242:
1240:
1236:
1233:
1231:Documentaries
1229:
1217:
1216:
1211:
1207:
1206:
1201:
1197:
1196:
1191:
1187:
1186:
1181:
1177:
1176:
1171:
1167:
1166:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1151:
1147:
1146:
1141:
1137:
1136:
1131:
1127:
1126:
1121:
1117:
1116:
1111:
1107:
1106:
1101:
1100:
1098:
1094:
1086:
1085:
1080:
1076:
1075:
1070:
1066:
1065:
1060:
1056:
1055:
1050:
1046:
1045:
1040:
1036:
1035:
1030:
1026:
1025:
1020:
1016:
1015:
1010:
1006:
1005:
1000:
996:
995:
990:
986:
985:
980:
976:
975:
970:
966:
965:
960:
956:
955:
950:
946:
945:
940:
936:
935:
930:
926:
925:
920:
916:
915:
910:
906:
905:
900:
896:
895:
890:
886:
885:
880:
876:
875:
870:
866:
865:
860:
856:
855:
850:
846:
845:
840:
836:
835:
830:
826:
825:
820:
816:
815:
810:
806:
805:
800:
796:
795:
790:
786:
785:
780:
779:
777:
773:
770:
768:Feature films
766:
759:
755:
752:
748:
745:
741:
740:
737:
733:
726:
721:
719:
714:
712:
707:
706:
703:
697:
693:
692:
688:
687:
683:
676:
672:
666:
663:
660:
656:
650:
647:
643:
639:
635:
629:
626:
623:
622:
617:
612:
609:
606:
602:
596:
594:
590:
586:
580:
577:
573:
568:
565:
562:
558:
552:
549:
546:
545:
540:
536:
531:
529:
525:
514:on 2015-06-23
513:
509:
508:
503:
499:
493:
490:
478:
472:
469:
466:story), p. 16
465:
461:
457:
451:
448:
442:
437:
434:
431:
428:
425:
422:
419:
416:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
395:
392:
389:
386:
383:
382:Lisa Whelchel
380:
377:
375:as Steve Ward
374:
371:
368:
365:
362:
359:
356:
353:
352:
348:
346:
344:
340:
335:
332:
330:
329:
324:
320:
316:
311:
310:
305:
298:
296:
292:
290:
289:William Wyler
284:
282:
274:
272:
265:
263:
261:
257:
253:
252:Lisa Whelchel
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
230:
226:
225:
208:
204:
201:
198:
194:
189:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
160:Robert Jessup
159:
155:
152:
149:
145:
142:
138:
135:
131:
126:
122:
118:
115:United States
114:
110:
107:
106:Lee Holdridge
104:
100:
97:Suzy Gilstrap
95:
94:Lisa Whelchel
91:
87:
83:
79:
76:
72:
69:
66:
62:
59:
56:
52:
49:Nancy Sackett
48:
44:
40:
36:
32:
27:
24:
20:
1359:Brian Grazer
1326:
1316:
1295:
1285:
1275:
1265:
1255:
1245:
1213:
1203:
1193:
1185:The Good Lie
1183:
1173:
1163:
1153:
1143:
1133:
1123:
1113:
1103:
1082:
1072:
1062:
1052:
1042:
1032:
1022:
1012:
1002:
992:
982:
972:
962:
952:
942:
932:
922:
912:
902:
892:
884:Far and Away
882:
872:
862:
852:
842:
832:
822:
812:
803:
802:
794:Cotton Candy
792:
782:
690:
674:
665:
658:
649:
638:Courier-Post
637:
628:
619:
611:
604:
579:
567:
560:
551:
542:
516:. Retrieved
512:the original
505:
498:Hal Erickson
492:
481:. Retrieved
471:
459:
450:
409:Rance Howard
403:Bill Thurman
391:Irma P. Hall
384:as Lisa Ward
342:
336:
333:
326:
307:
302:
293:
285:
278:
269:
223:
222:
221:
173:Running time
151:John A. Kuri
22:
1115:The Chamber
1004:The Dilemma
984:Frost/Nixon
954:The Missing
814:Night Shift
751:Filmography
535:Shales, Tom
411:as Pilot #2
405:as Pilot #1
373:Clu Gulager
367:Marion Ross
355:Bette Davis
315:Bette Davis
248:Clu Gulager
244:Marion Ross
236:Bette Davis
176:100 minutes
90:Clu Gulager
86:Marion Ross
78:Bette Davis
64:Directed by
1386:1980 films
1375:Categories
1155:Changeling
864:Parenthood
732:Ron Howard
518:2015-06-22
483:2015-06-22
443:References
438:as himself
323:Tom Shales
275:Production
256:Ron Howard
232:drama film
213:1980-11-20
141:Ron Howard
128:Production
68:Ron Howard
46:Written by
1267:Pavarotti
1135:The Alamo
904:Apollo 13
894:The Paper
874:Backdraft
744:Accolades
677:(TV Week)
479:. TCM.com
299:Reception
234:starring
1344:See also
1309:Produced
1238:Directed
1165:Restless
1096:Produced
775:Directed
500:(2015).
147:Producer
102:Music by
74:Starring
54:Story by
1034:Inferno
844:Gung Ho
804:Skyward
691:Skyward
224:Skyward
211: (
206:Release
196:Network
123:English
23:Skyward
1331:(2012)
1321:(1999)
1300:(2024)
1290:(2022)
1280:(2020)
1270:(2019)
1260:(2016)
1250:(2013)
1218:(2023)
1208:(2021)
1198:(2017)
1188:(2014)
1178:(2011)
1168:(2011)
1158:(2008)
1148:(2006)
1138:(2004)
1128:(1997)
1118:(1996)
1108:(1988)
1077:(2024)
1067:(2022)
1057:(2020)
1047:(2018)
1037:(2016)
1027:(2015)
1017:(2013)
1007:(2011)
997:(2009)
987:(2008)
977:(2006)
967:(2005)
957:(2003)
947:(2001)
937:(2000)
927:(1999)
917:(1996)
914:Ransom
907:(1995)
897:(1994)
877:(1991)
857:(1988)
854:Willow
847:(1986)
837:(1985)
834:Cocoon
827:(1984)
824:Splash
817:(1982)
807:(1980)
644:story)
605:People
165:Editor
1087:(TBA)
41:Drama
38:Genre
1074:Eden
1014:Rush
924:EDtv
696:IMDb
349:Cast
317:and
266:Plot
250:and
694:at
325:of
321:.
306:of
260:NBC
200:NBC
1377::
673:,
657:,
636:,
618:,
603:,
592:^
559:,
541:,
527:^
458:,
291:.
242:,
238:,
724:e
717:t
710:v
640:(
521:.
486:.
462:(
215:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
