User reviews

I haven't seen this movie since 1981 or so, but somewhere I still have a rotting video tape of it's first airing. I remember it to be very good, and Suzy Gilstrap as the wheelchair bound dreamer inspirational (and she was very cute). Bette Davis gave a very fiesty performance, and maybe it was a little over the top, but she was still very strong and at the top of her game before she had her stroke a few years later. This was also, it seems, Ron Howard's first "serious" movie (the others seem to have been low budget noisy films, love that Grand Theft Auto) and it kinda shows the themes of some of Howard's future projects--people overcoming obstacles to obtain a dream or just to survive.

One of Ron Howard's early directorial efforts was this small screen film Skyward where he was lcky enough to get the services of Bette Davis. First billed because of her legend Davis is in support of young Suzy Gilstrap a paraplegic girl who wants to learn to fly.

I know someone who is a leg amputee and to drve has special brakes and speed controls in cars to drive. None other than Franklin D. Roosevelt had similar alterations to automobils of the day so he could drive. If one could drive than learning to pilot a small aircraft should be no problem with the same equipment.

But parents Clu Gulager and Marion Ross treat Gilstrap like a hothouse plant though she has support from sister Lisa Whelchel.

Davis was at one time an aviatrix in the spirit of Amelia Earhart and Jacqeline Cochran. Now she runs a greasy spoon place at the local airport though she's known far and wide for her chili. She and mechanic Howard Hesseman give Gilstrap lessons and have faith in her,

Gilstrap even lands a boyfriend in football playing jock Ben Marley. In Texas that's considered catch of the year.

Skyward is a nice inspiring film with the featured attraction of the legendary Bette Davis.

I finally found the site hooray!!!!!!!!!! I write cause I love this movie. They did it in my home town of mckinney and at my high school. I was a extra in the movie and it was so fun. I remember the night it came on tv. I also remember getting to meet ron and anson and they are really fantastic people They actully sat down at the cater lunch with us all and were so nice. If Ron ever reads this please know you are one fantastic person who is a normal human being and you changed my life because your movie gave me so much self esteem about my self.Thankyou. If you would like to know what went on the movie set give me a holler I would love to reminisse about that. Thanks for reading..... Sherrie

I remember watching this many years ago. I remember that it was very uplifting to see someone reach literally higher from their confines.

I remember this as a "made for TV" movie of the time. As my father was a pilot who was rebuilding old planes in our garage, it brought home something extra.

While watching the video, I was immediately hooked into the drama of a wheelchair bound girl wanting to learn to fly.

Added to that was the performance of Bettie Davis along with Suzy Gilstrap as the girl.

The icing on the cake was the Christian Eagle plane depicted in the movie. IMHO, there could have not been a better all around showing.

A young girl bound in a wheelchair has dreams of flying. With her daily feelings of depression, helplessness, and loneliness, she longs to break free from her doldrums and dare to do what others tell her she can't. She recently moved to a new neighborhood with her father and mother (played by Happy Days' Marion Ross) and sister (played by The Facts of Life's Lisa Whelchel.) Feeling out of place and not wanting to be in a class with other people in her situation, she drifts over to a local airport, where Howard Hesseman (WKRP in Cincinnati) is a plane mechanic. With his encouragement and the little extra nudge, she immerses herself into the wonderland above her. Her flying instructor is none other than Bette Davis, who is one tough cookie. But, she knows that her parents would be dead set against all this. Also, a "babe," as she describes him, befriends her, and their relationship is very sweet. He could have any girl in the school. But he really wanted to be with her. The film's authenticity and love of the subject matter and its characters come through to the viewer. This feel-good TV movie was directed by Ron Howard and is a very special film, and one of the few that will stay with you long afterwards.

I was living in Rockwall TX. when that movie was being filmed. I noticed sailplanes over head and was told about a Ron Howard filming a new movie. It rekindled my pursuit of being a solo sailplane pilot. Next week I was off to Caddo Mills airport to pick up sky sailing where I left off. My instructor was an English chap, Derek Piggott. I don't remember how many duel instruction flights ( lost my log book) but I do remember my first solo like it was yesterday. I plan on getting back in the air again this summer. I hope I will not have to relearn every thing all over again and that I still retain some flight coordination. Only one way to find out, wish me luck. TDK

Julie (Suzy Barbieri) is a teenager who is confined to a motorized wheelchair. She also is about to experience her first taste of independence...she's being mainstreamed and is going to attend her local high school. But like many disabled people, she doesn't like being the oddball and doesn't want to be held back. So, it's not surprising when she decides that she wants to learn to fly! But there is a problem.... Julie is afraid to ask her parents' permission so she forges their signatures. What's next? And, what will her overprotective parents do when they learn the truth?

The film deserves kudos for actually casting a disabled person to play the lead (though oddly she's listed 7th in the credits on IMDB). Too many films and TV shows (such as "The Shape of Water" and "Glee") just hire able-bodied folks...taking away jobs from needy disabled folks. Plus, considering they aren't actually disabled, they often don't do a great job in the parts.

As far as the acting goes, Barbieri is good and it helps that she has the able support of some fine actors, such as Bette Davis, Howard Hessman, Marion Ross and Clu Gulager. Well worth seeing.

By the way, this was Ron Howard's first film as a director. The script was co-written by Anson Williams and Marion Ross acts in the film...and it's like a "Happy Days" reunion!