Apollo 13 (1995)

NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Jim Lovell (book), Jeffrey Kluger (book)

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon

Won 2 Oscars. Another 26 wins & 59 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 The US has 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:

1970s | survival | astronaut | space mission | rescue | 

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Taglines:

Failure is not an option.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and emotional intensity

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bill Paxton's line "I could eat the ass out of a dead rhinoceros" was not said by Fred Haise. It was made up the day of filming by Gary Busey, who was visiting the set at the time and they thought it would be a good country boy line. Busey had previously said the line in another film he starred in, "Point Break (1991)."

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Goofs

When Marilyn Lovell is standing in front of the sliding glass door in her kitchen, a crew member is briefly visible on the left side of the window.

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Quotes

R.E.T.R.O. White: Flight, we are looking at a typhoon warning on the edge of the prime recovery zone.
Gene Kranz: Say again, RETRO?
R.E.T.R.O. White: Flight, we are looking at a typhoon warning on the edge of the prime recovery zone. Now, this is just a warning, it could miss them...
Gene Kranz: Yeah, only if their luck changes.

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Alternate Versions

The IMAX version either mutes or skips over a lot of the language from the original theatrical version. Uses of "g-----n", "s--t", "a-s" "J---s" are either deleted or muted while milder profanities like hell and damn remain intact. Additionally Swigert's scene in the shower with his girlfriend is omitted as well as Marilyn Lovell losing her wedding ring in the shower drain and Jim and Marilyn making love in their backyard This is truly the more PG rated version of the film. Although the theatrical cut was also rated PG it really should have been PG-13 due to the language. This version would be much more suitable for a PG rating.

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Connections

Referenced in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Nuclear Weapons and the United States (2014)

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Soundtracks

Honky Tonkin'
Written and Performed by Hank Williams
Courtesy of Mercury Nashville
by arrangement with Polygram Special Markets

User Reviews

Great Movie

My first job as an engineering graduate in 1960 was with NASA. I was fortunate enough to have been a Project Engineer on the Apollo Program, and I am familiar with the technical aspects of the program. But this movie was not as much about the technical aspects of the program as it was about a thrilling, real-life drama that just happened to take place during a glorious time and a once-in-a-lifetime project. Despite all of the little technical errors, Ron Howard and his crew have put together a superb film, one that deserved the 9 Academy Award nominations which it received. I wish that present-day film-makers would concentrate on happy situations, like this one, instead of the constant barrage of drivel to which we, the movie-going public, are made subject. Long live NASA and long live courage!!

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 June 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Apollo 13: The IMAX Experience

Filming Locations:

Lankershim Boulevard & Hesby Street - North Hollywood, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$52,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,353,380, 2 July 1995

Gross USA:

$173,837,933

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$355,237,933

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min 106 min (IMAX Version)

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1