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 & 57 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 | astronaut | survival | rescue | trapped in space | 

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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

Details

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the movie, Jim Lovell is shown driving a red Chevrolet Corvette. This is a nod to an actual program conceived by Jim Rathmann, a Florida Chevrolet dealer, and Ed Cole, who was President of GM at the time. The program offered astronauts a choice of two new cars every year, of which one choice was almost always a Corvette. Mr. Lovell did indeed own a 1968 Corvette, however, his Corvette was silver in color, not the red depicted in the movie. It recently sold through Mecum Auto Auctions. The Apollo 12 crew, Conrad, Gordon and Bean, had identical Corvettes.

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Goofs

Apollo/Saturn assemblies were transported to the pad with the support tower in front. The short overhead shot shows the rocket in front.

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Quotes

Grumman Rep: Gene, I want you to understand we've never tried this before: burn, cold soak, burn, cold soak, burn, manual control.
Gene Kranz: Look, it will ignite, will it not?
Grumman Rep: I just want you to know the engine's never been tried like this. That's all I'm trying to tell you.
Gene Kranz: Look, I know what you're trying to do. I guarantee you, I won't hold you personally responsible. If it lights, it lights. Let Lovell do the rest.

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Alternate Versions

A digitally remastered IMAX-format version was released in September 2002. It is about 20 minutes shorter in running time than the original theatrical version. Some of the missing scenes are the dinner that the astronauts have aboard the ship that results in Fred Haise being sick into a plastic bag, and Marilyn Lovell telling the off the press.

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Connections

Featured in Smashing UK Top 10: Top 10 Film Quotes (2013)

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Soundtracks

Blue Moon
Written by Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Performed by The Mavericks
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc

User Reviews

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.