John Travolta talks working with his daughter on his directorial debut: “Her presence in this movie… to me, it’s A Star Is Born”

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Even before he was five years old, John Travolta was fascinated by airplanes. Growing up in New Jersey near Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia airports, he’d often watch planes fly overhead. He remembers they were quite loud back then, and he’d wonder about the people on board and what it must be like to fly.

Before becoming famous in films like Grease and Saturday Night Fever, he earned his pilot’s license at age 22. During a flight in the early 1990s, he was forced to land in Maine because of thick fog and had to spend the night at a hotel. Lying awake, he was overwhelmed with memories from his childhood. By the time the fog cleared and he could fly again, he had the idea for a story. That story eventually became his children’s book, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, published in 1997, which tells the tale of a boy’s first airplane experience.

John Travolta is now sharing the story he dreamed about as a child, marking his first time directing a film. It’s a heartwarming tribute to the early days of flight. He recently presented the movie at the Cannes Film Festival – where he was seen wearing a stylish cream beret – before it becomes available on Apple TV. Cannes is a particularly meaningful place for Travolta, as he has a photo in his hotel room of Uma Thurman, his co-star in Pulp Fiction, the film that earned the festival’s top prize and revitalized his career.

The night before, the festival surprised him with an honorary Palme d’Or, which deeply moved him. “I truly didn’t know it was going to happen,” he says, emphasizing his sincerity. He looks over at his daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, who is sitting with him. Ella, 26, also appears in the film as Doris, a flight attendant. The story is told from the perspective of Jeff, an eight-year-old boy (played by Clark Shotwell) on his first plane ride with his mother, Helen (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett), aboard an old TWA propeller plane.

Ella previously acted with her father in the 2019 thriller Eye for an Eye, but this new film feels like a perfect fit for her, capturing the stylish atmosphere of the early 1960s. John Travolta raves about her performance, comparing it to the emergence of a major star. He says her presence is ‘magnificent’ and he specifically directed the film to showcase her in a way reminiscent of classic Hollywood icons like Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Grace Kelly – and she delivers beautifully.

Ella shares her father’s passion for aviation, having been captivated by planes from a young age. She especially loves this particular movie because it captures the nostalgic charm of early flying, which is how her father always presented it to her. She remembers a time when even getting dressed up to fly was part of the experience, and that’s something she cherishes, recognizing how different things are today.

Propeller relies heavily on nostalgia, much like jet fuel, evident in details like the recurring joke about chicken cordon bleu and the fact that passengers used to be able to smoke on planes. Travolta explains, “It’s strange, but when I was a kid, the combination of cigarette smoke and chicken cordon bleu instantly signaled that I was on a plane.” He fondly remembers this mix of smoke and food, associating it with a whole era of travel – feeling like home on planes, buses, and in cars.

John Travolta narrates this story, which is loosely based on his own childhood and holds deep personal meaning for him. He shares that the character of Jeff’s mother is named after his own mother, Helen, who was a performer. Travolta fondly remembers how his mother had a knack for finding designer clothes – like Christian Dior and Chanel – at bargain prices through church basement sales. This meant that even as a 12-year-old, he was able to wear stylish suits for just a few dollars, proving his family always had flair, even without a lot of money.

This film is especially meaningful for John Travolta, marking his return to public life after the loss of his wife, Kelly Preston, to breast cancer in 2020. He lovingly dedicates the movie to her, as well as his parents, siblings, and children – Ella, Ben, and his son Jett, who tragically passed away at age 16 from a seizure. Travolta explains that these family members are the foundation of his life and the source of his inspiration. He credits them with giving him the support and encouragement he needed to achieve his dreams.

I absolutely love how the director describes Propeller as a tribute to classic cinema! It’s full of little musical moments from films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which really adds to the atmosphere. He’s right – I think those older movies knew how to use music so much better than a lot of films today. And honestly, a 1960s setting just needs some Frank Sinatra, and ‘Come Fly with Me’ is perfect!

Interestingly, John Travolta flew himself to the Cannes Film Festival in his own jet and even cooked chicken cordon bleu for the film crew, referencing a scene from the movie. He explained that he enjoys handling the most challenging parts of flying – takeoff and landing – and then relaxes by going back to eat when the flight becomes routine.

Now that his first film has been well-received at Cannes, will he direct another? He’s unsure, explaining that this project was truly unique and he’d need to feel just as passionate about the next one, otherwise it would just feel like work.

You can watch Propeller One-Way Night Coach on Apple TV starting Thursday, May 29th. New users can try Apple TV for free for seven days.

Authors

James Mottram

James Mottram is a London-based film critic, journalist, and author.

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2026-05-25 19:39