Height of political correctness: Film turns balloonist into woman
THE makers of the latest Eddie Redmayne film have been accused of taking political correctness to new heights.
The Aeronauts is based on the true story of two daring Victorians who broke the altitude record for a hot air balloon flight.
But even though the producers promised an ‘authentic’ portrayal of the adventure, they have written one of the men out of history and replaced him with a fictitious female character.
Henry Coxwell, who designed, built and piloted the balloon, becomes Amelia Wren, a wealthy young widow.
Mrs Wren is played by Felicity Jones, who starred with Redmayne in The Theory Of Everything.
Redmayne plays meteorologist James Glaisher, who, with Coxwell, narrowly avoided death in the 1862 flight. Coxwell’s omission from the film, which began shooting in Britain last month, has angered scientists and historians.
They questioned why the makers invented Mrs Wren when there are plenty of real Victorian women scientists worthy of being portrayed on screen. Keith Moore, the head librarian for the Royal Society, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘It’s a great shame that Henry isn’t portrayed because he performed very well and saved the life of a leading scientist.
‘It was exceptionally brave. Glaisher was just looking at his instruments – he was very much the cargo.’ Coxwell and Glaisher took off from Wolverhampton in a giant coal gas-filled balloon named the Mammoth.
They began to rise uncontrollably and experts estimate that they reached 37,000ft, a record which stood for 65 years. The two men had difficulty breathing and were unable to disentangle a cord used to release gas to make the balloon lose height.
Glashier said later that he had expected to die. But Coxwell, who had drifted in and out of consciousness, managed to climb up into the rigging and grip the cord with his teeth, allowing them to descend.
In publicity shots for The Aeronauts, produced by Amazon Studios and due for release next year, Redmayne and Miss Jones are seen 2,000ft up in the balloon. The film also stars Sir Tom Courtenay, Tim McInnerny, Anne Reid and Rebecca Front.
‘It’s a shame, he was exceptionally brave’