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The Flying Irishman

Name: The Flying Irishman
Director: Leigh Jason
Released: 1939
Duration: 71 min

Representation Score

0.6/10

Minimal

1939

Director

Leigh Jason

Runtime

71 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film serves as a traditional biographical tribute to Douglas Corrigan. It reinforces the social hierarchies of the 1930s by centering on individual masculine ability to act and nationalistic heroism. The narrative structure follows a celebratory arc that prioritizes a singular Western success story. This approach lacks complexity and fails to challenge established cultural norms. Ultimately, the work functions as a reinforcement of conventional social structures rather than a critique of them.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Flying Irishman have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with non-binary or transgender identities. It follows a traditional biography centered on a male aviator.

How does The Flying Irishman portray gender?

Limited

The story focuses almost entirely on the actions of a single male protagonist. It emphasizes traditional masculine traits like technical skill and physical endurance.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Flying Irishman?

Limited

The narrative centers on an Irish-American identity within a Western context. It highlights ethnic background through the lens of American assimilation and success.

How does The Flying Irishman represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film promotes traditional Western values such as patriotism and individual merit. It celebrates the hero through state-sanctioned honors and nationalistic achievement.

Does The Flying Irishman include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no indication of characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The focus remains strictly on the aviation feat and its aftermath.

Present on Screen

Provides a focused biographical account of a specific historical aviation event.

Limited or Absent

Lacks diverse character perspectives beyond the central male protagonist.
Reinforces traditional gender hierarchies and narrow cultural values.
Fails to include representation for LGBTQ+ or disabled individuals.

Official Synopsis

This is the story of the historic 1938 flight of Douglas 'Wrong Way' Corrigan. Mr. Corrigan starred in this film, which chronicled his infamous flight. On July 17, 1938, Mr. Corrigan loaded 320 gallons of gasoline (40 hours worth) into the tiny, single engine plane. While expressing his intent to fly west to Long Beach, CA, Mr. Corrigan flew out of Floyd Bennett Field heading east over the Atlantic. Instrumentation in the plane included two compasses (both malfunctioned) and a turn-and-bank indicator. The cabin door was held shut with baling wire. Nearly 29 hours later, he landed in Baldonnel near Dublin. He forever claimed to be surprised at arriving in Ireland rather than California. He returned to the US as a hero, with a ticker tape parade in New York and received numerous medals and awards.

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