Apollo 13 (1995)

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Jim Lovell (book) &
Jeffrey Kluger (book) ...

Release Date:

30 June 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History

Tagline:

Houston, we have a problem.

Plot:

True story of the moon-bound mission that developed severe trouble and the men that rescued it with skill and dedication.

Plot Keywords:

Space | Astronaut | Moon | Apollo 13 | Lunar Mission

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Apollo 13: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and emotional intensity.

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS | IMAX 6-Track (IMAX version)

Certification:

South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #33862)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The cast and crew flew between 500 and 600 parabolic arcs in NASA's KC-135 airplane (nicknamed the "Vomit Comet") to achieve real weightlessness. Each of the arcs got them 23 seconds of zero gravity. All of these flights were completed in 13 days. The actual KC135 used (NASA serial number N930NA) was decommissioned in 2000 after 27 years of service and is on display at Ellington Field.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the scene where Lovell is fantasizing about taking his first steps on the moon, the front of the LM is shown in full sunlight. In reality, they always landed with the sun at their backs, in order to use the shadow of the LM as a point of reference during their descent. The front side of the LM should have been in shadow.

Quotes:

Congressman: Now Jim, people in my state keep asking why we're continuing to fund this program now that we've beaten the Russians to the Moon.
Jim Lovell: Imagine if Christopher Columbus had come back from the New World and no one returned in his footsteps.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mad About You: The New Friend (#6.8)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

I CAN SEE FOR MILES

Made Me Want To Study The Real Apollo 13 Astronauts

This was a very well-done true story of a space mission that came extremely close to being a disaster, but the astronauts miraculously made it home safely. Except for some language problems, it's good storytelling and so interesting that it made me want to study the real Apollo 13 astronauts.

The movie is fairly long at 140 minutes and there is not much "action" but there is a lot of suspense and first-rating acting, both of which should keep anyone's interest. Knowing this was a true story makes one all the more involved with it. You can usually count of Director Ron Howard putting out an interesting and well-photographed film.

What also was interesting to me, too, was to see these actors, most of whom usually play volatile characters- or did prior to this film - act in such low-key roles. I refer to Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon.

By the way, one of the young Lovell children was played by Miko Hughes, who became a co- star in a film - "Mercury Rising" - several years later.

For such a tense story, with these astronauts lives on the line, none of the astronauts or people at NASA or anyone's family members are ever seeing praying throughout this ordeal! You can bet, in real life, a lot of prayers were answered on this mission.

Overall, this is good movie-making and recommended.