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The Challenger Disaster

Original title: The Challenger
  • TV Movie
  • 2013
  • TV-14
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
William Hurt, Brian Dennehy, Eve Best, and Bruce Greenwood in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
DramaHistory

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

  • Director
    • James Hawes
  • Writer
    • Kate Gartside
  • Stars
    • Joanne Whalley
    • William Hurt
    • Eve Best
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    4.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Hawes
    • Writer
      • Kate Gartside
    • Stars
      • Joanne Whalley
      • William Hurt
      • Eve Best
    • 29User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Photos11

    William Hurt in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    William Hurt in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    William Hurt in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    Sean Cameron Michael in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    Kevin McNally, Sean Cameron Michael, and David Sherwood in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    William Hurt, Brian Dennehy, Eve Best, and Bruce Greenwood in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    William Hurt, Brian Dennehy, Eve Best, and Bruce Greenwood in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    William Hurt, Brian Dennehy, Eve Best, and Bruce Greenwood in The Challenger Disaster (2013)
    William Hurt, Brian Dennehy, Eve Best, and Bruce Greenwood in The Challenger Disaster (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joanne Whalley
    Joanne Whalley
    • Gweneth Feynman
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Richard Feynman
    Eve Best
    Eve Best
    • Sally Ride
    Kevin McNally
    Kevin McNally
    • Mulloy
    Brian Dennehy
    Brian Dennehy
    • Rogers
    Bruce Greenwood
    Bruce Greenwood
    • General Kutyna
    Langley Kirkwood
    Langley Kirkwood
    • Avionics Engineer
    Nick Boraine
    Nick Boraine
    • SRB Engineer
    Meganne Young
    Meganne Young
    • Michelle Feynman
    • (as Megan Young)
    Henry Goodman
    Henry Goodman
    • Dr. Weiss
    Sean Cameron Michael
    Sean Cameron Michael
    • Judson Lovingood
    • (as Sean C. Michael)
    Danny Keogh
    Danny Keogh
    • Head Of Recovery
    Stevel Marc
    Stevel Marc
    • Taxi Driver
    Stephen Jennings
    Stephen Jennings
    • Neil Armstrong
    Liesl Ahlers
    Liesl Ahlers
    • Hotel Receptionist
    Robert Hobbs
    Robert Hobbs
    • Allan J Macdonald
    Adam Neill
    Adam Neill
    • Blade Engineer
    Nicholas Pauling
    Nicholas Pauling
    • Bill Graham
    • Director
      • James Hawes
    • Writer
      • Kate Gartside
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Hurt and Brian Dennehy share the screen again 30 years later after their partnership in Gorky Park (1983).
    • Goofs
      When Feynman visits the Shuttle factory, the flight deck interior is clearly that of a Boeing 747-200. You can see the flight engineer's panel and the four throttles on the centre console, also the windscreen layout gives it away.
    • 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 sad.

    • Connections
      Follows Challenger (1990)

    User reviews29

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    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).
    helpful•18
    2
    • iwhoknows
    • Apr 14, 2013

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 16, 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 73 Seconds: The Challenger Investigation
    • Production companies
      • BBC Films
      • Erste Weltweit Medien
      • Moonlighting Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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