Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies
“The story of Ace Eli... when planes were young and the world was innocent... except for Ace's son Rodger... Rodger of the Skies.”
Synopsis
The story of Ace Eli Walford, a 1920s stunt flyer who barnstorms around the country, taking his eleven-year-old son Rodger with him as he goes from town to town. The place is rural Kansas, and the time is midsummer in the early nineteen-twenties, not long after World War I. Eli (Cliff Robertson), a barn storming pilot who has the emotional make-up of an 11-year-old, and Rodger (Eric Shea), his 11-year-old son who possesses the wisdom of the ancients, set off to see the world, which means flying all the way to San Willow. To Eli, San Willow seems to be as fabled as Xanadu and quite as remote. In essence, "Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies" is about the adventures of Rodger and Eli getting from nowhere to nowhere. Eli, a killer with the ladies at first, always leaves them unsatisfied. He seems to have a sex problem. Rodger spends a lot of his time getting his dad out of scrapes. He also drinks, smokes and goes to sleep at night crying for his deceased mom.
Top Cast
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Cliff Robertson
Ace Eli Walford
Eric Shea
Roger Walford
Pamela Franklin
Shelby
Rosemary Murphy
Hannah
Bernadette Peters
Allison
Alice Ghostley
Sister Lite
Kelly Jean Peters
Rachel
Don Keefer
Mr. Parsons
Patricia Smith
Mrs. Wilma Walford
Royal Dano
Jake
Robert Hamm
Dumb Dickie
Herb Gatlin
Frank Savage
Arthur Malet
Brother Watson
Ariana Munker
Betty Jo
Hope Summers
Laura
Jim Boles
Abraham
Lew Brown
Harrison
Brent Hurst
Mrs. Parsons
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 31, 1973
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Erman
- Screenplay & Story
- Claudia Salter
- Original Score
- Jerry Goldsmith
- Original Title
- Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 29m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Erman
Claudia Salter, Steven Spielberg
Jerry Goldsmith
David M. Walsh
Lou Lombardo, Robert Belcher
James Cresson, Robert Fryer
Department Leadership Roster
James Cresson
Producer
Robert Fryer
Producer
John Erman
Director
Claudia Salter
Screenplay
David M. Walsh
Director of Photography
Lou Lombardo
Editor
Theadora Van Runkle
Costume Design
Robert Belcher
Editor
Jerry Goldsmith
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies about?
The story of Ace Eli Walford, a 1920s stunt flyer who barnstorms around the country, taking his eleven-year-old son Rodger with him as he goes from town to town. The place is rural Kansas, and the time is midsummer in the early nineteen-twenties, not long after World War I. Eli (Cliff Robertson), a barn storming pilot who has the emotional make-up of an 11-year-old, and Rodger (Eric Shea), his 11-year-old son who possesses the wisdom of the ancients, set off to see the world, which means flying all the way to San Willow. To Eli, San Willow seems to be as fabled as Xanadu and quite as remote. In essence, "Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies" is about the adventures of Rodger and Eli getting from nowhere to nowhere. Eli, a killer with the ladies at first, always leaves them unsatisfied. He seems to have a sex problem. Rodger spends a lot of his time getting his dad out of scrapes. He also drinks, smokes and goes to sleep at night crying for his deceased mom.
Who directed Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies?
Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies was directed by John Erman.
Who stars in Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies?
The principal cast of Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies includes Cliff Robertson, Eric Shea, Pamela Franklin, Rosemary Murphy, Bernadette Peters.
When was Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies released and how long is it?
Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies was released in 1973 with a total runtime of 1h 29m.
Who composed the musical score for Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies?
Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).