How Is Amelia Earheart Historically Accurate
Amelia (2009) The movie, Amelia, is historically accurate in depicting what the life of Amelia Earheart, a woman who represented change in traditional female roles through the Roaring Twenties and early thirties, would have been like. The movie elaborated on the many inventions that were new or more popular at the time such as the radio, airplane, and the automobile. The movie also had a great visual feel of the late twenties and early thirties through costume design. Another item the movie used to make it historically accurate is the roles in society such as the need for women in their traditional roles, and the fame the women who did not stay within their roles received. Music was accurate within the movie as well with its upbeat sound. Finally, the moral compass of the time in terms of getting rich truly demonstrates the fact that people were willing to do anything for money. This shows that the most important thing to people of the time was to get rich. The life of Amelia in terms of its’ historical truth is also well represented in the film. Each of these categories, technology, fashion, roles in society, music,
…show more content…
morality, as well as the historical truth about Amelia’s life evidently proves the movies accuracy. Technology during the Roaring Twenties and early thirties changed America drastically. Throughout the movie we see accurate automobile models of the time, such as the Model T Ford. In comparison to earlier times, there appears to be more vehicles on the streets. Prior to the affordable Model T, very few owned vehicles. Amelia and other pilots were shown flying planes that were still primitive, and are shown with newer models throughout the film. The movie captured the quick growth in technology during the late twenties and early thirties, as well as the interest from both men and women alike in regards to it. Another piece of important technology from the 20’s, the radio, is used several times during the movie as an entertainment system, as well as a way of broadcasting news. It was a very important part of the twenties because it was the quickest way to hear about current events, as well as the most affordable household entertainment system. The costume design in the movie is accurate. Amelia’s strange taste in style is pointed out to her by those around her. It was strange for women of the time to wear trousers. The women like Amelia, were generally flapper like women who were “different”. She had short hair and wore boy like clothing. In one scene, George Putnam, Amelia’s boss and husband, tells her he thought the trousers were because she wanted to be one of the boys, when it was really about her not liking her legs. In one scene, Amelia is also shown wearing a very low cut dress that went down to her shins. This was typically more scandalous for the older women of the time; however, it was part of the new age fashion. Women’s outfits became shorter in some cases, as well as a bit more revealing. Women began wearing what they deemed fit for themselves and used this new found freedom of choice to break free of their traditional roles. The female roles in society during the late twenties and early thirties were still very much traditional; however it was also a great turning point. It is during this period of time that the women’s roles were set to change by a loud minority who thought that it was their right to have rights. They knew they could do what men could do. Amelia demonstrated this small minority as a woman who wanted to fly like the men. She was tired of not being able to fly because people thought she was unable due to her sex. So she did what other women like her did, she stood up to societies standards and showed that even as a woman, she could fly a plane, and fly it well. Throughout the movie we do see women who have secretarial jobs, however all females are shown with male bosses, which is very historically accurate. Although women were standing up and getting jobs, it was still a male dominated society. Music changed in the twenties from classical and slow to upbeat jazz, which was fast and fun.
This is where we see black society emerging into the lives of white society in a more positive way. Although segregation was still prominent in the 20’s and 30’s, many of the most famous jazz musicians were black. Throughout the movie jazz is played excessively. In one scene, an African American woman is shown singing at a party, in another scene; Amelia and Putnam are dancing to jazz playing on the radio. The movie shows how the music was played during this time period. It was generally on the radio or played during live performances in small cabarets, dance halls and ballrooms.(10) Throughout the movie music is shown in these ways, giving the audience a feel of what it was like to listen to music and how music would be played during this time
period. The morality of the 20’s was to get rich, and to do it fast. It was also a time when you needed money to get what you want, and you needed to get what you want. Amelia wanted to fly. In the beginning of the movie, we see George Putnam, a well to do sort of guy who loved to make money. He shows the personality of many men in the 20’s. Although he started out as a publisher, author, and explorer, he became the manager of Amelia Earheart, he promoted her, and he set up all of her meetings. He helped with her rise of fame and used her to endorse products, helping her make more and more money. By the time Amelia was flying on a regular basis, it was already the early 30’s and it was hard to afford doing so. She and Putnam used her fame to make the money she needed to do what she wanted. Finally, the movie demonstrates not only what it was like for Amelia living in the 20’s and 30’s, but also her actual life itself. The movie was accurate in terms of how George was called by a rich woman from England to find a woman to be part of her sponsored flight over the Atlantic Ocean. She wanted Putnam to find a candidate suitable enough to be the first woman to do so, to help with publicity.(11) The film was also accurate in terms of their marriage, however the one inaccuracy within the film that may change the view of history is the fact that Amelia had an affair with Gene Vidal. There is no real record of the affair, besides Gore Vidal, who would have been younger than 12, putting it into her biography.(12) The film does capture her style, hair and appearance however. She apparently cut her hair shorter when she was just learning to fly, so that she would look like the other female flyers at the time.(13) The movie does not say what ended up happening to Amelia at the very end which is accurate because no one really knows what happened. The movie is fairly accurate, except for the Hollywood affair that was added which may have been true. The real history has helped to determine today’s reality, whether it was through technology, fashion, women’s roles, morals, or even the truth about Amelia who was an exceptional pilot who accomplished many things, and helped with the women’s movement. The radio has become a part of our everyday lives, without automobiles our transportation would be difficult especially considering it is highly in demand, and without planes, families living far away from each other would not be able to visit as much so inexpensively and conveniently. The fashion risks taken by women so that they could be comfortable rather than trying so hard and suffering, women would still be wearing clothes that would suffocate them. The women’s movement has also shaped today in terms of the idealism of fairness we now have and the equality women now share with men. Even the morals of making money has affected today because today’s reality is the necessary to work hard especially in a recession, to ensure you get what you want. The love of flying Amelia had unintentionally helped with developing the society in which women are treated fairly, and can do what they want with some hard work. The reality of the 20’s and 30’s is that it was a time of change, and the type that would last and continue on changing for many years, helping to shape the present and future. Due to the small inaccuracies or exaggerations throughout Amelia, it does not capture every detail of Amelia, instead morphing her true story in the views of the audience. An example would be the affair between Amelia and Gene Vidal. It portrays Amelia as an adulterer, taking away the attention from her accomplishments. This is a horrible thing to do especially because there is no proof that it did in fact happen. Another example would be the romance throughout the film between Amelia and Putnam. Her romances are not what make her great, and with those scenes taking up a great part of the film, the audience loses the correct idea of how Amelia was. The film seems to over dramatize these apparent moments within her life, in turn making the movie seem less profound and more Hollywood. This is why the film’s view of history could influence the audience into understanding that Amelia was a lustful person, rather than a great influential woman who helped change the view of women, who also accomplished a great deal of records as an aviatrix. Technology, fashion, societies’ roles, morals, and the truth in Amelia’s life are well depicted in the movie Amelia. The movie truly gives a feel of what the 20’s and 30’s was like. The real history of Amelia and the 20’s and 30’s has helped to determine todays reality and how much of it came from the changes made in the 20’s. The movie also influences popular understanding of the history to its’ audience ineffectively in terms of how Amelia is seen as an adulteress, as well as constantly romanticizing throughout the film. The film still does however, prove to be historically accurate besides those small exaggerated parts.
ENDNOTES 1. http://www.ellensplace.net/ae_celb.html 2. http://www.historyplace.com/specials/reviews/amelia.htm 3. http://drush76.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/amelia-2009-review/ 4. http://www.squidoo.com/1920s-style 5. http://www.historesearch.com/20sdep.html 6. http://www.1920-30.com/business/ 7. http://womenshistory.about.com/od/earhartamelia/p/amelia_earhart.htm 8. http://www.angelfire.com/co/pscst/car.html 9. http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1920s.html 10. http://www.jazzstandards.com/history/history-2.htm 11. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P._Putnam 12. http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/23/granddaughter-of-amelia-earharts-husband-promoter-from-fort-pierce/ 13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart#1918_Spanish_flu_pandemic
morality, as well as the historical truth about Amelia’s life evidently proves the movies accuracy. Technology during the Roaring Twenties and early thirties changed America drastically. Throughout the movie we see accurate automobile models of the time, such as the Model T Ford. In comparison to earlier times, there appears to be more vehicles on the streets. Prior to the affordable Model T, very few owned vehicles. Amelia and other pilots were shown flying planes that were still primitive, and are shown with newer models throughout the film. The movie captured the quick growth in technology during the late twenties and early thirties, as well as the interest from both men and women alike in regards to it. Another piece of important technology from the 20’s, the radio, is used several times during the movie as an entertainment system, as well as a way of broadcasting news. It was a very important part of the twenties because it was the quickest way to hear about current events, as well as the most affordable household entertainment system. The costume design in the movie is accurate. Amelia’s strange taste in style is pointed out to her by those around her. It was strange for women of the time to wear trousers. The women like Amelia, were generally flapper like women who were “different”. She had short hair and wore boy like clothing. In one scene, George Putnam, Amelia’s boss and husband, tells her he thought the trousers were because she wanted to be one of the boys, when it was really about her not liking her legs. In one scene, Amelia is also shown wearing a very low cut dress that went down to her shins. This was typically more scandalous for the older women of the time; however, it was part of the new age fashion. Women’s outfits became shorter in some cases, as well as a bit more revealing. Women began wearing what they deemed fit for themselves and used this new found freedom of choice to break free of their traditional roles. The female roles in society during the late twenties and early thirties were still very much traditional; however it was also a great turning point. It is during this period of time that the women’s roles were set to change by a loud minority who thought that it was their right to have rights. They knew they could do what men could do. Amelia demonstrated this small minority as a woman who wanted to fly like the men. She was tired of not being able to fly because people thought she was unable due to her sex. So she did what other women like her did, she stood up to societies standards and showed that even as a woman, she could fly a plane, and fly it well. Throughout the movie we do see women who have secretarial jobs, however all females are shown with male bosses, which is very historically accurate. Although women were standing up and getting jobs, it was still a male dominated society. Music changed in the twenties from classical and slow to upbeat jazz, which was fast and fun.
This is where we see black society emerging into the lives of white society in a more positive way. Although segregation was still prominent in the 20’s and 30’s, many of the most famous jazz musicians were black. Throughout the movie jazz is played excessively. In one scene, an African American woman is shown singing at a party, in another scene; Amelia and Putnam are dancing to jazz playing on the radio. The movie shows how the music was played during this time period. It was generally on the radio or played during live performances in small cabarets, dance halls and ballrooms.(10) Throughout the movie music is shown in these ways, giving the audience a feel of what it was like to listen to music and how music would be played during this time
period. The morality of the 20’s was to get rich, and to do it fast. It was also a time when you needed money to get what you want, and you needed to get what you want. Amelia wanted to fly. In the beginning of the movie, we see George Putnam, a well to do sort of guy who loved to make money. He shows the personality of many men in the 20’s. Although he started out as a publisher, author, and explorer, he became the manager of Amelia Earheart, he promoted her, and he set up all of her meetings. He helped with her rise of fame and used her to endorse products, helping her make more and more money. By the time Amelia was flying on a regular basis, it was already the early 30’s and it was hard to afford doing so. She and Putnam used her fame to make the money she needed to do what she wanted. Finally, the movie demonstrates not only what it was like for Amelia living in the 20’s and 30’s, but also her actual life itself. The movie was accurate in terms of how George was called by a rich woman from England to find a woman to be part of her sponsored flight over the Atlantic Ocean. She wanted Putnam to find a candidate suitable enough to be the first woman to do so, to help with publicity.(11) The film was also accurate in terms of their marriage, however the one inaccuracy within the film that may change the view of history is the fact that Amelia had an affair with Gene Vidal. There is no real record of the affair, besides Gore Vidal, who would have been younger than 12, putting it into her biography.(12) The film does capture her style, hair and appearance however. She apparently cut her hair shorter when she was just learning to fly, so that she would look like the other female flyers at the time.(13) The movie does not say what ended up happening to Amelia at the very end which is accurate because no one really knows what happened. The movie is fairly accurate, except for the Hollywood affair that was added which may have been true. The real history has helped to determine today’s reality, whether it was through technology, fashion, women’s roles, morals, or even the truth about Amelia who was an exceptional pilot who accomplished many things, and helped with the women’s movement. The radio has become a part of our everyday lives, without automobiles our transportation would be difficult especially considering it is highly in demand, and without planes, families living far away from each other would not be able to visit as much so inexpensively and conveniently. The fashion risks taken by women so that they could be comfortable rather than trying so hard and suffering, women would still be wearing clothes that would suffocate them. The women’s movement has also shaped today in terms of the idealism of fairness we now have and the equality women now share with men. Even the morals of making money has affected today because today’s reality is the necessary to work hard especially in a recession, to ensure you get what you want. The love of flying Amelia had unintentionally helped with developing the society in which women are treated fairly, and can do what they want with some hard work. The reality of the 20’s and 30’s is that it was a time of change, and the type that would last and continue on changing for many years, helping to shape the present and future. Due to the small inaccuracies or exaggerations throughout Amelia, it does not capture every detail of Amelia, instead morphing her true story in the views of the audience. An example would be the affair between Amelia and Gene Vidal. It portrays Amelia as an adulterer, taking away the attention from her accomplishments. This is a horrible thing to do especially because there is no proof that it did in fact happen. Another example would be the romance throughout the film between Amelia and Putnam. Her romances are not what make her great, and with those scenes taking up a great part of the film, the audience loses the correct idea of how Amelia was. The film seems to over dramatize these apparent moments within her life, in turn making the movie seem less profound and more Hollywood. This is why the film’s view of history could influence the audience into understanding that Amelia was a lustful person, rather than a great influential woman who helped change the view of women, who also accomplished a great deal of records as an aviatrix. Technology, fashion, societies’ roles, morals, and the truth in Amelia’s life are well depicted in the movie Amelia. The movie truly gives a feel of what the 20’s and 30’s was like. The real history of Amelia and the 20’s and 30’s has helped to determine todays reality and how much of it came from the changes made in the 20’s. The movie also influences popular understanding of the history to its’ audience ineffectively in terms of how Amelia is seen as an adulteress, as well as constantly romanticizing throughout the film. The film still does however, prove to be historically accurate besides those small exaggerated parts.
ENDNOTES 1. http://www.ellensplace.net/ae_celb.html 2. http://www.historyplace.com/specials/reviews/amelia.htm 3. http://drush76.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/amelia-2009-review/ 4. http://www.squidoo.com/1920s-style 5. http://www.historesearch.com/20sdep.html 6. http://www.1920-30.com/business/ 7. http://womenshistory.about.com/od/earhartamelia/p/amelia_earhart.htm 8. http://www.angelfire.com/co/pscst/car.html 9. http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1920s.html 10. http://www.jazzstandards.com/history/history-2.htm 11. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P._Putnam 12. http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/10/23/granddaughter-of-amelia-earharts-husband-promoter-from-fort-pierce/ 13. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart#1918_Spanish_flu_pandemic