Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Historical drama

The Spirit of St. Louis (1957): Cast & Plot

The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) movie poster

The Spirit of St. Louis is a 1957 historical drama directed by Billy Wilder, starring James Stewart as Charles Augustus 'Slim' Lindbergh, Richard Deacon and Frances Allen. It runs 2 hours 15 minutes.

Loading streaming availability…
The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 15m (135 min)
Director
Billy Wilder
Genres
History , Drama , Adventure
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Spirit of St. Louis About?

The premise of The Spirit of St. Louis without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Charles Lindbergh battles financial and engineering hurdles as he designs and builds the Spirit of St. Louis, determined to prove a solo pilot can cross the Atlantic. The film follows his relentless pursuit of the historic 1927 New York‑to‑Paris flight, showcasing his courage, ingenuity and personal sacrifice.

The Spirit of St. Louis Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • transatlantic flight
  • atlantic ocean
  • year 1927
  • endurance
  • airplane cockpit
  • flying over the ocean
  • u.s. hero
  • airplane pilot
  • aeroport de paris le bourget
  • missouri
  • iceberg
  • single engine airplane
+38 more
  • new york city
  • ocean crossing
  • national hero
  • pilot
  • based on book
  • france
  • ireland
  • pulitzer prize source
  • st. john's newfoundland and labrador
  • aerial camera shot
  • goggles
  • place name in title
  • original author as character
  • flashback
  • compact mirror
  • aviation science
  • prologue
  • epic drama
  • long island new york
  • aviation history
  • in medias res
  • quest adventure
  • epic adventure
  • globetrotting adventure
  • heroic adventure
  • airplane construction
  • charles lindbergh character
  • financier
  • long voyage
  • air show
  • barnstormer
  • magnetic compass
  • diner
  • fly the insect
  • lambert field st. louis
  • california
  • ticker tape parade
  • prayer
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

The Spirit of St. Louis Cast & Characters

James Stewart leads the cast as Charles Augustus 'Slim' Lindbergh, with Richard Deacon as Charles Levine - President, Columbia Aircraft Co. (uncredited) and Frances Allen as Mother from Oklahoma (uncredited). Directed by Billy Wilder; 82 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Spirit of St. Louis

· 78 more
Show all 82 cast members
Plot

The Spirit of St. Louis Plot Summary

What happens in The Spirit of St. Louis from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 6-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Charles A. “Slim” Lindbergh eyes the clock on May 19, 1927, and the hum of Roosevelt Field above Long Island feels louder than the engines he has known. He sits in a hotel room waiting for the weather to clear, while reporters cluster below and his nerves keep him awake. The burden of history hovers over him, and the film invites us to see the man behind the myth as he quietly rehearses the long night ahead. The scene then folds back in time, inviting us to ride along with the pilot on a memory-laden journey that stretches from the midwestern skies to the bright lights of Paris, and back again to the cheering crowds of New York.

Full summary

The whole story of The Spirit of St. Louis, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Spirit of St. Louis Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Spirit of St. Louis.

The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Spirit of St. Louis?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the aircraft Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic?

Cars

Cars in The Spirit of St. Louis

17 cars on screen, including the 1920 Buick Model K-46 and the Ford Model T.

All 17 cars
  • 1920 Buick Model K-46 in The Spirit of St. Louis 1920 Buick Model K-46 Important role
  • Ford Model T in The Spirit of St. Louis Ford Model T Minor role
  • Ford Model TT in The Spirit of St. Louis Ford Model TT Minor role
  • 1916 Harley-Davidson Model J in The Spirit of St. Louis 1916 Harley-Davidson Model J Minor role
Details

The Spirit of St. Louis Also Known As

18 alternative titles, including “壮志凌云” and “L'aquila solitaria”.

Also known as
  • 壮志凌云
  • L'aquila solitaria
  • Lindbergh - Mein Flug über den Ozean
  • El héroe solitario
  • L'Odyssée de Charles Lindbergh
  • A St. Louis-i lélek
  • Atlantik Fatihi
  • A Águia Solitária
  • Águia Solitária
  • Дух Сент-Луиса
  • 林白征空记
  • El águila solitaria
+6 more
  • 翼よ!あれが巴里の灯だ
  • Duh St. Louisa
  • 저것이 파리의 등불이다
  • L’esperit de St. Louis
  • Yksinäinen kotka
  • W duchu St. Louis

Seen The Spirit of St. Louis?

FAQ

The Spirit of St. Louis FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Spirit of St. Louis, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Spirit of St. Louis?

The Spirit of St. Louis runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).

When was The Spirit of St. Louis released?

The Spirit of St. Louis was released on April 1, 1957.

Who directed The Spirit of St. Louis?

The Spirit of St. Louis was directed by Billy Wilder.

More films by Billy Wilder

Who is in the cast of The Spirit of St. Louis?

The Spirit of St. Louis stars James Stewart as Charles Augustus 'Slim' Lindbergh, Richard Deacon as Charles Levine - President, Columbia Aircraft Co. (uncredited) and Frances Allen as Mother from Oklahoma (uncredited), among 82 credited actors.

Does The Spirit of St. Louis have a post-credit scene?

No. The Spirit of St. Louis has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app