The movie was a box office disaster when originally released in 1957, grossing less than $3 million and costing about $7 million.
Producer Jack L. Warner was strongly opposed to the casting of James Stewart, which he believed caused the film to flop on its release in 1957. Warner felt a young and less well-known actor was needed to play Lindbergh.
Charles A. Lindbergh was extremely dissatisfied with James Stewart's portrayal of him in this film. Despite this, Stewart did succeed in accurately recreating the technical aspects of flying throughout the film; Lindbergh himself was particularly impressed by the moment when Stewart taps the oil gauge while starting the engine, the sort of passing detail only an experienced pilot like Stewart would know.