Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby's primary photo
  • Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby (2010)
  • 110 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby (2010)
110 min | Documentary, Biography, History

Amelia Earhart and 19 other women defied convention by racing across the sky in 1929 to compete in the first women's national air derby. With just a compass and road map to guide them, they navigated through rough weather, mechanical ...See moreAmelia Earhart and 19 other women defied convention by racing across the sky in 1929 to compete in the first women's national air derby. With just a compass and road map to guide them, they navigated through rough weather, mechanical failures, public scrutiny and rumors of sabotage. Wearing breeches and goggles during the day and ball gowns in the evening, these aviators challenged stereotypes by proving women could be independent, competitive, self-sufficient, intelligent, graceful and above all, really good pilots. Breaking Through The Clouds shows actual footage from the 1929 air race, aerial recreations using planes like the women flew in the derby, interviews with legendary pilots Elinor Smith and Patty Wagstaff as well as family members of the pilots and aviation experts. Written by Anonymous See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Producer
Composer
Nanette Malher (original music score composed by)
Cinematographer
Trending

Become a member to see MOVIEmeter and news information about Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby.

Status
Edit Released
Updated Feb 24, 2010

Contacts

Become a member to see contact information for Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women's National Air Derby.

Cast

+ Add Cast
40 cast members
Name Known for
Cheryl Baker
Self - Aviation Historian / Close Friend of Bobbi Trout Self - Aviation Historian / Close Friend of Bobbi Trout   See fewer
Florence 'Pancho' Barnes
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) (as Pancho Barnes) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) (as Pancho Barnes)   See fewer
Margaret Whitman Blair
Self - Author: 'The Roaring Twenty' Self - Author: 'The Roaring Twenty'   See fewer
Terry Carbonell
Self - Air Racer with Team Wild Mama Self - Air Racer with Team Wild Mama   See fewer
Julie Clark
Self - Airshow Pilot Self - Airshow Pilot   See fewer
Dorothy Cochrane
Self - Curator, National Air & Space Museum Self - Curator, National Air & Space Museum   See fewer
Marvel Crosson
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Louis D'Elia
Self - Custodian, Pancho Barnes Trust Estate (as Lou D'Elia) Self - Custodian, Pancho Barnes Trust Estate (as Lou D'Elia)   See fewer
Susan Dusenbury
Self - Piloted Louise Thaden's 'Travel Air' in 1989 Recreation of the 1929 Women's National Air Derby Race Self - Piloted Louise Thaden's 'Travel Air' in 1989 Recreation of the 1929 Women's National Air Derby Race   See fewer
Amelia Earhart
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Ruth Elder
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Claire Mae Fahy
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Edith Foltz
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Mary Haizlip
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Monica Hoffman
Self - Recreation Actress Self - Recreation Actress   See fewer
Andrew King
Self - Vintage Aviation Consultant Self - Vintage Aviation Consultant   See fewer
Opal Kunz
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Jessie Miller
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) (as Chubbie Miller) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) (as Chubbie Miller)   See fewer
Molly Moores
Self - Narrator (voice) Self - Narrator (voice)   See fewer
Ruth Nichols
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Blanche W. Noyes
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Gladys O'Donnell
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Phoebe Omlie
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Neva Paris
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Margaret Perry
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Thea Rasche
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Will Rogers
Self - Comedian / Event Newspaper Reporter (archive footage) Self - Comedian / Event Newspaper Reporter (archive footage)   See fewer
Barbara Schultz
Self - Author, 'Pancho: The Biography of Florence Pancho Barnes (as Barbara H. Schultz) Self - Author, 'Pancho: The Biography of Florence Pancho Barnes (as Barbara H. Schultz)   See fewer
Janann Sherman
Self - Author, 'Walking on Air: The Aerial Adventures of Phoebe Omlie' (as Dr. Janann Sherman) Self - Author, 'Walking on Air: The Aerial Adventures of Phoebe Omlie' (as Dr. Janann Sherman)   See fewer
Elinor Smith
Self - Contributor and Legendary Pilot (as Elinor Smith Sullivan) Self - Contributor and Legendary Pilot (as Elinor Smith Sullivan)   See fewer
Patrick Sullivan
Self - Son of Elinor Smith Sullivan Self - Son of Elinor Smith Sullivan   See fewer
Louise Thaden
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Bobbi Trout
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Hazel Trout
Self - Sister-in-Law of Bobbi Trout Self - Sister-in-Law of Bobbi Trout   See fewer
Mary E. von Mach
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Patty Wagstaff
Self - National Aerobatic Champion / Airshow Pilot Self - National Aerobatic Champion / Airshow Pilot   See fewer
Vera Dawn Walker
Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage) Self - Pilot Contestant, 1929 National Women's Air Derby (archive footage)   See fewer
Pat Thaden Webb
Self - Daughter of Louise Thaden Self - Daughter of Louise Thaden   See fewer
Matt Witkowski
Self - Voice of Walter Herschel Beech (voice) (as Matthew Witkowski) Self - Voice of Walter Herschel Beech (voice) (as Matthew Witkowski)   See fewer
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.
There was an issue loading this tab.

MOVIEmeter

Members only

Become a member to access additional data

Ratings Breakdown