Amelia 2009

Adventure

Biography

Drama

Romance

Box Office

$20M

Budget

$40M

Runtime

111 min

Language

English

Directed by

Mira Nair

Made by

Fox Searchlight Pictures

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Amelia Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Amelia (2009). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

On June 1, 1937, Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan embark on a bold attempt to circumnavigate the globe, setting a course that will test skills, nerve, and the endurance of a team under public scrutiny. The film unfolds through a series of intimate vignettes and flashbacks, tracing Earhart’s life from a Kansas prairie girl spellbound by the sight of aircraft overhead to a pioneering aviator shaping the course of women in flight.

In 1928, the charismatic publishing titan George Putnam invites Earhart to become the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean — though she initially participates as a passenger. When she takes control of the flight, the mission becomes a public triumph, and she quickly rises as the era’s most famous woman pilot. Putnam helps her pen a book chronicling the journey, a move that mirrors his earlier success with Charles Lindbergh’s We. The partnership deepens, and the couple eventually marries, though their union is marked by unforeseen tensions, including a “cruel” pledge embedded in their wedding contract.

As Earhart continues to push the boundaries, she fuels a string of aviation records. In 1932 she achieves a historic solo crossing of the Atlantic, a feat that cements her place in history. Yet behind the headlines, personal conflicts simmer; she enters a complicated affair with Gene Vidal, a relationship that unsettles Putnam. His quiet—but firm—reminders about the demands of celebrity endorsements underscore how the pursuit of fame can intersect with the practical demands of flying.

After a period of balancing public appearances with private ambition, Earhart returns to her husband as she gears up for her most ambitious voyage yet: a round-the-world flight in a Lockheed Model 10 Electra, sponsored by Purdue University, with [Noonan] as navigator. Vidal notes that the greatest challenge will be locating the tiny Howland Island, a crucial waypoint that could decide the mission’s fate. The couple’s first attempt ends in Hawaii, where a landing gear collapse forces an arduous rebuild before they can try again. The plan evolves, opting for a reverse approach to the Pacific crossing.

On July 2, 1937, Earhart and Noonan set out toward Howland Island. Tensions mount as the Coast Guard cutter Itasca, tasked with guiding them, experiences a dire radio problem: a direction finder runs on a dead battery, and miscommunications hamper contact. With fuel dwindling, the duo presses on, only to vanish into the vast Pacific. A massive search ensues but fails to locate them, and Earhart’s legend—built on fearless pursuit and public fascination—remains intact, shaping how generations remember the era of early aviation and the enduring image of a woman who dared to fly farther than anyone before her.

This portrayal preserves the balance between Earhart’s groundbreaking achievements and the personal costs that accompanied her ascent, offering a rich, nuanced look at the woman behind the headlines.

The film emphasizes the moment when passion for flight meets the realities of fame, partnership, and the uncertainties of long-distance exploration, all while keeping a steady, factual tone that respects the historical record.

The narrative invites viewers to consider not only the daring flights but also the relationships that supported and complicated them, including the partnerships with Putnam and Vidal, and the steady presence of Noonan as the trusted navigator.

Note: References to the primary cast names are linked to the corresponding actor pages as requested. Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, Gene Vidal.

Amelia Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Amelia (2009) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Earhart grows up fascinated by flight

As a girl on the Kansas prairie, Amelia Earhart dreams of aircraft overhead. The film uses flashbacks to trace her early fascination and how aviation shapes her ambitions. These vignettes establish the roots of her later courage.

Childhood (1920s) Kansas, USA

First transatlantic cross as a passenger

In 1928, she is recruited by George Putnam to become the first woman to cross the Atlantic as a passenger. The successful flight thrusts her into the public spotlight as the era's most famous woman pilot. Putnam helps her publish a memoir about the voyage.

1928 Atlantic Ocean

Publication and rising fame

Putnam assists Earhart in writing a book chronicling the flight, further elevating her profile. The media attention also solidifies her status as an aviation icon. Their collaboration foreshadows a powerful partnership.

Late 1920s New York, USA

Marriage and the wedding contract pledge

Earhart and Putnam marry, and she plays a role in shaping her image and career. The film notes a cruel pledge in their wedding contract, hinting at the power dynamics of celebrity life. The marriage anchors her life while her freedom remains a constant tension.

1931 California, USA

Solo transatlantic flight

In 1932, Earhart recreates her earlier crossing but now flies solo, becoming the first female pilot to complete the feat. The solo flight redefines women's aviation and cements her hero status. The voyage also deepens her commitment to breaking barriers.

1932 Over the Atlantic Ocean

Affair with Gene Vidal and domestic tensions

Over the next five years, Earhart has an affair with Gene Vidal. Putnam reacts with jealousy and insists his presence at home is necessary for her career. The personal turmoil sits alongside her public mission.

1932-1937 Home life, United States

Return to husband while preparing for a new flight

Despite the turmoil, Earhart returns to her husband as she focuses on the next record-breaking quest. She negotiates endorsements and media appearances that fund her flying. Their partnership persists even as tensions simmer.

Early 1930s to 1937 United States

Planning the around-the-world flight with Noonan

Earhart plans to fly around the world in a Lockheed Model 10 Electra, with navigator Fred Noonan, funded by Purdue University. The biggest obstacle is locating Howland Island. The combination of veteran aircraft, sponsorship, and ambition sets the stage for a historic attempt.

1937 United States / Pacific Ocean

First flight attempt ends in Hawaii

Their initial attempt ends in a runway crash in Hawaii when the landing gear collapses. The Electra requires extensive repairs before another attempt can be made. The team remains determined to continue despite the setback.

1937 Hawaii, USA

Repairs and revised route

After repairs, Earhart and Noonan launch a second attempt, choosing a reverse direction so the long Pacific crossing comes last. The team relies on sponsorship and careful planning as the clock runs down.

1937 Pacific route towards Howland Island

Departure from Howland Island on July 2, 1937

Earhart and Noonan depart Howland Island bound for the next leg of their global circuit on July 2, 1937. The Coast Guard ship Itasca monitors the radio direction finder, but the device has a dead battery and contact remains elusive. Tension grows as fuel levels fall.

July 2, 1937 Howland Island

Radio troubles and disappearance

Radio troubles intensify as Itasca cannot establish reliable contact with the Electra, leaving Earhart without clear guidance. The flight continues with dwindling fuel, pushing them further into uncertain territory. The sense of vulnerability underscores the peril of the mission.

July 1937 Pacific Ocean near Howland Island

Vanishing and search

With fuel exhausted, Earhart and Noonan vanish into the vast Pacific and are never seen again. A massive search is launched but fails to locate them, turning the mystery into a defining moment of aviation lore. Regardless of the outcome, Earhart's disappearance solidifies her status as an enduring aviation icon.

July-August 1937 Pacific Ocean near Howland Island

Legacy and enduring inspiration

The film closes by highlighting Earhart's legacy as a pioneer who inspired generations of pilots and feminists. Her courage and trailblazing achievements endure beyond the unanswered questions of her disappearance. Earhart remains a symbol of bold exploration and boundary-breaking ambition.

Post-1937

Amelia Characters

Explore all characters from Amelia (2009). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank)

Amelia is a pioneering pilot driven by ambition and resilience, who rises to become the era's most famous woman aviator. The film traces her through childhood inspiration to record-setting flights, while balancing public appearances, sponsorships, and intimate relationships. Her determination and focus shape both her career and the personal costs that accompany celebrity.

✈️ Aviator 💪 Determined 🧭 Public figure

George Putnam (Ewan McGregor)

George is a charismatic publishing magnate who becomes Amelia's husband and manager. He crafts her public image, funds her flights, and helps turn her feats into lasting narrative and endorsement opportunities. His protective, sometimes jealous, behavior reveals the tension between control and devotion within a high-profile marriage.

🎩 Promoter 💼 Manager 💬 Charismatic

Gene Vidal (Richard Gere)

Gene is Amelia's romantic liaison during the height of her fame, providing a counterpoint to Putnam's control. Their affair introduces personal risk and emotional complexity, highlighting the conflict between private desire and public duty. He is depicted as intelligent and alluring, contributing to the film's dramatic tension.

📚 Intellectual ❤️ Romantic ⚖️ Complicated

Amelia Settings

Learn where and when Amelia (2009) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1928–1937

The story spans the late 1920s through the 1930s, an era of rapid aviation advancement and growing celebrity culture around pilots. It highlights Earhart's milestone flights—the 1928 transatlantic journey as a passenger, the 1932 solo crossing, and the 1937 around-the-world attempt. The decade captures the push for record-setting feats, media attention, and sponsorships that defined the era. The disappearance during the 1937 flight marks a tragic, iconic end to the voyage and reinforces her lasting legacy.

Location

Kansas, Hawaii, Howland Island, Pacific Ocean

The film starts on the Kansas prairie, where Earhart's fascination with flight takes root. It then follows the journeys that take her from domestic settings to the wider world, including Hawaii and the perilous Pacific crossing toward Howland Island. The settings culminate in the vast expanse of the ocean, underscoring the scale and danger of the circumnavigation attempt.

🗺️ Kansas setting ✈️ Aviation history 🌊 Oceanic expedition

Amelia Themes

Discover the main themes in Amelia (2009). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

✨

Fame

The film examines how public adulation reshapes Amelia's life, merging groundbreaking achievements with intense media scrutiny. Fame brings endorsement deals, scheduled appearances, and a crafted public persona. It also creates pressure to perform and perpetual visibility, influencing personal choices and professional decisions.

🧭

Adventure

Flight and exploration drive the narrative, highlighting the danger and thrill of breaking boundaries. Earhart's ambition pushes her to take on one daring flight after another, often against logistical and physical odds. The sense of mission is matched by the logistical challenges of navigation, weather, and technology.

💔

Relationships

The story explores complex dynamics between Amelia, her husband George Putnam, and Gene Vidal. Jealousy, control, and romance test professional aspirations against personal loyalties. These relationships reveal the personal costs and compromises that accompany a life of public achievement.

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Amelia Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Amelia (2009). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the soaring optimism of the 1930s, a world still fresh with the smell of gasoline and the thrill of new horizons forms the backdrop for a story that blends public adulation with private yearning. Airports are bustling cathedrals of ambition, newspapers race to chronicle every daring feat, and the sky itself feels like a limitless frontier waiting to be charted. Within this era of daring pioneers, the film paints a vivid portrait of an age where fame and fear travel side by side on the wind.

At the heart of the tale is Amelia Earhart, a Kansas‑born dreamer whose fascination with the hum of aircraft above the prairie evolves into a relentless pursuit of the impossible. Her charisma captures the imagination of a nation, while her inner drive pushes her to break barriers that few even imagine crossing. Partnered with the savvy publishing magnate George Putnam, whose strategic mind helps turn her flights into cultural milestones, Amelia also navigates a complicated, lingering connection with the intellectual Gene Vidal, whose presence adds both tension and depth to her personal world. Beside her, the steady and skilled Fred Noonan serves as a trusted navigator, embodying the quiet partnership that underpins her most audacious endeavors.

The film’s tone is intimate yet expansive, shifting through vignettes and flashbacks that stitch together the mosaic of Amelia’s life—from the awe‑struck girl watching planes to the celebrated aviator stepping into history’s spotlight. Its style balances the glitter of public triumph with the hushed moments of doubt and desire, inviting viewers to feel the pulse of an era where each take‑off carried the weight of expectation and every landing promised a new chapter. As the narrative unfolds, the audience senses an imminent, monumental journey that will test skill, resolve, and the fragile ties that bind, leaving a lingering curiosity about how far a woman will go when the sky is the only limit.

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