Apollo 13 (1995)

Three astronauts must devise a strategy to return to Earth safely after their spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Jim Lovell (book), Jeffrey Kluger (book),

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon

Won 2 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton	...	Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon	...	Jack Swigert
Gary Sinise	...	Ken Mattingly
Ed Harris	...	Gene Kranz
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Marilyn Lovell
Mary Kate Schellhardt	...	Barbara Lovell
Emily Ann Lloyd	...	Susan Lovell
Miko Hughes	...	Jeffrey Lovell
Max Elliott Slade	...	Jay Lovell
Jean Speegle Howard	...	Blanch Lovell
Tracy Reiner	...	Mary Haise
David Andrews	...	Pete Conrad
Michele Little	...	Jane Conrad (as Michelle Little)
Chris Ellis	...	Deke Slayton

Storyline

Based on the true story of the ill-fated 13th Apollo mission bound for the moon. Astronauts Lovell, Haise and Swigert were scheduled to fly Apollo 14, but are moved up to 13. It's 1970, and America have already achieved their lunar landing goal, so there's little interest in this "routine" flight.. until that is, things go very wrong, and prospects of a safe return fade.

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Plot Keywords:

space | astronaut | moon | nasa | apollo 13 | 

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Taglines:

Houston, we have a problem.

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and emotional intensity

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 June 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Apollo 13: The IMAX Experience

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$62,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$200,645 (USA) (20 September 2002)

Gross:

$1,736,281 (USA) (9 April 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min 256 min (Anniversary Edition IMAX) 280 min (Universal's 100th Anniversary Blu-Ray Edition)

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo DTS IMAX 6-Track (IMAX version) Dolby SR

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to his portrayal of astronaut Jim Lovell in this movie, Tom Hanks had an asteroid "12818 Tomhanks (1996 GU8)" named in his honor (1996).

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Goofs

In April 1970, Jim Lovell's daughter can be seen holding The Beatles' "Let it Be" album, which wasn't released until May 1970.

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Quotes

Patty: How do you go to the bathroom in space?
Jim Lovell: Well, um... I tell you it's a very complicated procedure that involves cranking down the window and looking for a gas station.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Incredible Melting Man (1996)

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Soundtracks

"SPIRIT IN THE SKY"
Written and Performed by Norman Greenbaum
Courtesy of Trans/Tone Productions

User Reviews

This is really some movie

I can watch this film over and over. Not only because I am so terribly interested in the exploration of space and the historical events that have taken place - but because it's a great film with excellent performances and a truth-telling style. Heck, even Lovell's wife dropping the wedding ring in the shower the day of the launch is true!

Just the fact that this film is true makes it even more enjoyable. It's hard to understand how in the hell one can make it back to Earth and survive with a fatally crippled space-craft. It's even harder to appreciate just how close they actually got to dying out there.

The performances are astounding. Ed Harris is just stupendous as Gene Krantz, and Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Garty Sinise and Bill Paxton (who seems to always get the role as the whiner...) are also great.

As Hanks put it: this story is one of the greatest ever. The question is, how do you get home? That question is as old as humanity itself.

You can tell he put his heart and soul into this one. And the fact that this happened to the American space explorers is hardly noticeable. Good job.