The Challenger Disaster (2013)

Factual drama exploring the truth behind the space shuttle Challenger's 1986 disintegration.

Director:

James Hawes

Writer:

Kate Gartside

Stars:

Bruce Greenwood, William Hurt, Joanne Whalley

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Bruce Greenwood	...	General Kutyna
William Hurt	...	Richard Feynman
Joanne Whalley	...	Gweneth Feynman
Brian Dennehy	...	Rogers
Kevin McNally	...	Mulloy
Eve Best	...	Sally Ride
Meganne Young	...	Michelle Feynman (as Megan Young)
Liesl Ahlers	...	Hotel Receptionist
Henry Goodman	...	Dr. Weiss
Langley Kirkwood	...	Avionics Engineer
Sean Cameron Michael	...	Judson Lovingood (as Sean C. Michael)
Stephen Jennings	...	Neil Armstrong
Nick Boraine	...	SRB Engineer
Danny Keogh	...	Head Of Recovery
Robert Hobbs	...	Allan J Macdonald

Storyline

When Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds into its flight on the morning of 28 January 1986, it represented one of the most shocking events in the history of American spaceflight. A Presidential Commission was immediately convened to explore what had gone wrong, but with the vast complexity of the space shuttle and so many vested interests involved in the investigation, discovering the truth presented an almost impossible challenge. A truly independent member of the investigation was Richard Feynman. One of the most accomplished scientists of his generation, he worked on the Manhattan Project building the first atom bomb and won the Nobel Prize for his breakthroughs in quantum physics. Feynman deployed exceptional integrity, charm and relentless scientific logic to investigate the secrets of the Shuttle disaster and in doing so, helped make the US Space Programme safer.

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Plot Keywords:

investigation | feynman | space shuttle | scientist | disaster | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

73 Seconds: The Challenger Investigation

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films,Erste Weltweit Medien,Moonlighting Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

William Hurt and Brian Dennehy share the screen again 30 years later after their partnership in Gorky Park (1983).

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Goofs

When Feynman vomits in the men's room, he flushes the toilet on a modern automatic-flush toilet. These toilets did not exist in 1986.

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Quotes

Rogers: The other commissioners are just being respectful.
Richard Feynman: And you're saying I'm not? You understand the implications of the oxygen being activated? I do. The astronauts had to do that themselves. Which means they were ALIVE for at least some of those two minutes and thirty six seconds before they slammed into the ocean. Mr Rogers I'm an atheist, I personally doubt they're touching the face of God so I prefer to show my respect by finding the CAUSE of their appalling deaths and not stand around looking...

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Connections

Follows Challenger (1990)

User Reviews

Absorbing, Entertaining, Factual. A must see to understand one of 20th Century's defining moments.

After the dramatic opening scenes where realism is achieved by using actual footage of the "Challenger disaster", the movie slowly develops as the audience begins to realize that what they are experiencing is not merely a factual drama/documentary about an unfortunate malfunction, but rather a thriller with "Good Guys" and "Villains" The choice of William Hurt to play Richard Feynman was brilliant. Hurt is acknowledged as a character actor who lives and breathes every role that he accepts and as the movie progresses it is remarkable that the viewer becomes so involved with the character that they actually forget that it is an impersonation. Hurt who in real life is a complex, some say awkward person, brings aspects of his own complexity to the role.

Joanne Whalley is supportive as his wife, but the story is very much that of theoretical physicist Richard Feynman.

Bruce Greenwood is a vital link in the whole drama. He deserves a lot of credit for his strong portrayal of General Kutyna a disciplined loyal military man who acts as the catalyst for the truth to prevail. Greenwood looks like he was born in a uniform. He assumes the role as naturally as if he'd taken leave from the battlefield to make the movie.

Eve Best provides a solid and sensitive performance as Sally Ride (First woman in space). Her role in the Rogers Commission remains a mystery and we only learn of it just before the credits roll.

Brian Dennehy as William P. Rogers (Chairman and, former secretary of state) exudes the physical appearance of a persuasive man who has his own agenda and delivers a powerful performance. Dennehy is a master at conveying meaning in a story merely through the raising of an eyebrow, a glint in his eye or a subtle shift of body position.

One needs to make special mention of the good performance by many of the South Africans who were used in supporting roles. In particular Robert Hobbs who plays Allan J Macdonald a man torn between doing what is right whilst realizing the personal cost that might result.

There is no mention of the members who made up the "Rogers Commission". (Not even in the credits). The commission was comprised of some of the most influential members of the military and should surely be identified.

James Hawes directs with firmness and allows the story to flow and develop with fascinating insights into Feynman the scientist, but also Feynman the man and husband who had to fight his own person battles as a subplot.

Lukas Strebel camera shots are interesting. I feel the use of camera positioning where half the frame is blocked was at first novel, but maybe repeated too often and in some scenes it would have been better to allow the subject to take up the full frame.

The ending comes suddenly almost as if the editor had to condense the material into exactly 90 TV minutes. It is rumored that there might be a movie release where the running time will increase to 120 minutes. The Challenger is scheduled for the Discovery channel in the USA in November. Most probably renamed "73" – (Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight).