Scarecrow suggest: Like 'Amelia'? Try other movies about pioneer aviators

Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" (2004) explores Howard Hughes' days as a filmmaker, a businessman and an eccentric recluse. But as the title implies, the film also is about Howard Hughes the daring test pilot. One of its most exhilarating scenes involves a flight ending with Hughes, crashed, bloodied and on fire, yelling, "I'm Howard Hughes, the aviator!"

Diane Keaton plays the legendary aviator in the made-for-TV film "Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight" (1994). The story focuses on Earhart passionately pursuing her goal to fly around the world amid her sometimes rocky relationships with her husband George Putnam (Bruce Dern) and navigator Fred Noonan (Rutger Hauer). Noonan was flying with her on a second attempt to circumvent the globe when they disappeared on July 2, 1937 somewhere near the Nukumanu Islands in the South Pacific. "Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight" portrays in detail what is believed to have been going on during the last hours of their ill-fated journey. Keaton was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance.

One of our favorite aviator tales is "Porco Rosso" (1992), Hayao Miyazaki's animated fairy tale about a former World War I fighter pilot who once upon a time, after the rest of his squadron was wiped out, mysteriously turned into a pig. One day, while fighting a group of bandits trying to attack a cruise ship, his plane is damaged and he ends up seeking help from a mechanic and his spunky granddaughter. They in turn help him face his past and a dark rival.

For another real-life story of a female pioneer, there's 1983's "Heart Like a Wheel." Bonnie Bedelia stars as Shirley Muldowney, a wife and mother who became "The First Lady of Drag Racing." Shirley overcomes divorce, a turbulent affair with fellow driver Connie Kalitta (Beau Bridges), a devastating crash and drag racing's dominating machismo to win the NHRA Top Fuel World Championship in 1977.

We also recommend Werner Herzog's documentary about a German immigrant with dreams of becoming a pilot who ends up as a POW during Vietnam called "Little Dieter Needs to Fly"; the madcap dash to cross the English Channel of "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" (1965); Billy Wilder's "Spirit of St. Louis" (1957), starring James Stewart as Charles Lindbergh; and the "American Experience" documentary "The Wright Stuff" (1996) about Orville and Wilbur.

You can also find more by "Amelia" director Mira Nair in her section of in the director's area at Scarecrow Video, including "Monsoon Wedding" (2002), "Salaam Bombay!" (1989) and "Mississippi Masala" (1991).

Contributed by Scarecrow Video, 5030 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle; 206-524-8554 or www.scarecrow.com.