The Right Stuff (1983)

Philip Kaufman's intimate epic about the Mercury astronauts (based on Tom Wolfe's book) was one of the most ambitious and spectacularly exciting movies of the 1980s. It surprised almost everybody by not becoming a smash hit. By all rights, the film should have been every bit the success that Apollo 13 would later become; The Right Stuff is not only just as thrilling, but it is also a bigger and better movie. Combining history (both established and revisionist), grand mythmaking (and myth puncturing), adventure, melodrama, behind-the-scenes dish, spectacular visuals, and a down-to-earth sense of humor, The Right Stuff chronicles NASA's efforts to put a man in orbit. Such an achievement would be the first step toward President Kennedy's goal of reaching the moon, and, perhaps most important of all, would win a crucial public relations/morale victory over the Soviets, who had delivered a stunning blow to American pride by launching Sputnik, the first satellite. The movie contrasts the daring feats of the unsung test pilots--one of whom, Chuck Yeager, embodied more than anyone else the skill and spirit of Wolfe's title--against the heavily publicized (and sanitized) accomplishments of the Mercury astronauts. Through no fault of their own, the spacemen became prisoners of the heroic images the government created for them in order to capture the public's imagination. The casting is inspired; the film features Sam Shepard as the legendary Yeager, Ed Harris as John Glenn, Dennis Quaid as "Gordo" Cooper, Scott Glenn as Alan Shepard, Fred Ward as Gus Grissom, Scott Wilson as Scott Crossfield, and Pamela Reed and Veronica Cartwright are superb in their thankless roles as astronauts' wives. --Jim Emerson Amazon.com

great movie!

This is a movie about pioneers and explorers in our time. The story really lets you see how it must have all looked and felt in the eyes - and hearts - of the American men who first reached the stars. It all really came alive for me in this movie. I watch it over and over! July 10, 2008

This is just a fantastic movie!

About a month ago, myself and three classmates of mine had to watch this film for our end-of-the-year movie assignment in our U.S. History class. It gives me great pleasure to say that this film blew us all away.

The film, in essence, is really two stories that remain largely unrelated: the first half is the story of Chuck Yeager, the Air Force test pilot who was the first to break the sound barrier; the second half is the story of the first seven astronauts and the struggles they faced. Philip Kaufman wisely chose to combine both films into one very long movie, as the connections between the two parts are extremely contrasting, but are correlated in very subtle but prominent ways.

In the first film, Sam Shepard brings a quiet yet extremely likeable personality to the character of Chuck Yeager, a man who understands the heroism of his role but remains humbled by it and also by the people who surround him, especially his wife (played wonderfully by Barbara Hershey). The very beginning of this segment immediately connects the viewer to the challenges of the test pilot and shows how it affects Yeager and those around him. Yeager handles it all with a nonchalant yet sincerely-acknowledging attitude that is undoubtedly my favorite role in the movie.

The second portion of the movie documents the story of the first American astronauts (who all embodied "The Right Stuff") and the challenges they faced within the face of the government and the Cold War as well as the American press and public. Among the seven astronauts, Dennis Quaid brings an extremely arrogant presence to Gordon "Hot Dog" Cooper (he performs this role so well I couldn't help but grin every time he spoke). Ed Harris brings a sturdy and professional attitude to the most famous of the seven, John Glenn, that is award-worthy. Scott Glenn portrays the first American in space, Alan Shepard, with a dutiful attitude towards his mission.

Throughout the movie, the interweaving of these stories combine for a complete understanding of the innovations of this time period. These two connected stories, along with occasional airflight or spaceflight sequences (these scenes being backed by a fantastic orchestral soundtrack that won an Academy Award, and rightfully so) and real NASA and USAF footage, combine for a whopping 193 minutes that is thick in detail and passion. This is a fantastic film that captures all sides of a prominent time in American history. July 9, 2008

The Right Stuff

How much do you really know about the beginnings of the space program and how it all came about? This movie sets the scene and gives an insight into the brave men who took the Western World into the space age. Chuck Jaeger, the first man to break the sound barrier and survive, makes a cameo appearance while all actors put a human face to those brave Mercury Pilots who not only risked all but gave us the names of the sons in Thunderbirds. Great performances by each of the stars and well worth a look. March 14, 2008

A Great Story and Movie

I was at Edwards AFB when they filmed this movie in 1982. Two years before, as a young lieutenant I arrived there to become quickly immersed in the lore of the place: Pancho Barnes, Rogers dry lake, leiman ridge, the rocket tests, the flight test center, and, who else, Chuck Yeager. I met the man himself once after Hal Needham, and Stan Barrett broke the sound barrier with their rocket car. Yeager helped them get support for their project.

This movie is great entertainment but was hurt at the time because the cold war was still going on. PBS's Nova series recently provided some clues as to why Tom Wolf described test pilots as those who "nobody knew their names." It seems that the Air Force had a parallel project to NASA's moon shot. Of course, Tom Wolf couldn't talk about it. When I was an Air Force officer there were rumors. My test area was the rocket site not the flight test center so I was far and away from the truth or the rumor. The Air Force program, according to Nova, was to put a space station in orbit to replace the U-2 because the airplane was vulnerable to Soviet missiles.

All in all, the Right Stuff is a tribute to those in both programs. It captures the flavor of the time with flare and charm that is sometimes missing in Wolf's book. I especially like the musical score. This is an excellent movie well worth the 193 minutes it will take to savor it.

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February 16, 2008

A Good but Somewhat Disjointed History of the Mercury 7 Astronauts

Much of this movie shows events prior to the first manned American space flight, and I focus my review only on that latter part. Some of the transitions between scenes are abrupt, and the viewer who is unfamiliar with Mercury-flight history may at times have difficulty following what is going on.

The movie captures Alan Shepard's famous comment: "Why don't you solve your little problems and light this candle!", the sinking of the Liberty Bell 7, John Glenn and the heat-shield problem, Gordo Cooper and his joyful 22-orbit flight. It also reflects the sting of Soviet successes, which, at that time, had always predated American ones.

There is a scene from the Muchea (Sp?) Tracking Station in Western Australia. Gordo Cooper is sent there to communicate with Glenn as he passes overhead. Nearby aborigines build a big fire. Glenn reports seeing the lights of Perth. Then comes the sunrise over the Pacific and those "fireflies".

This movie includes clips of the actual events (e. g., President JFK pinning an award on the chest of Alan Shepard; Gus Grissom being lifted out of the water by a helicopter, etc.) cleverly interspersed with actors playing the roles. There is an actor who plays the venerable Walter Cronkite in reporting on the flights. Finally, there are scenes depicting the astronauts' personal lives. For instance, John Glenn supports his wife when she doesn't want TV reporters intruding upon her life.
January 20, 2008

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