THE RIGHT STUFF

 "THE RIGHT STUFF" --- (1983) ---

MY THOUGHTS: I was a young girl when we were involved in "the space race." Both in school and at home, we watched the televised launches and splash downs. The whole country did, as well as others from around the world. We held our breath when the astronauts lifted off, and we looked for them when they landed in the ocean, eager for the moment when the hatch would open, and we could see that they had made it safely back to earth. Everyone knew the names of the astronauts. Schools were named after them, as were the streets in new suburban developments all across the country. They were heroes. They had been to space and came home to tell is all about it. To watch a movie about it all, and how they came to be astronauts and what the experience was like for them and their families, was something I couldn't wait to watch. I think they did an amazing job with this film. It was well-written and had an amazing cast. I have watched it many times over and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know about the space program, is interested in a part of American History or just wants to watch a great drama. This would be the right movie!

SYNOPSIS: "This adaptation of the non-fiction novel by Tom Wolfe chronicles the first 15 years of America's space program. By focusing on the lives of the Mercury astronauts, including John Glenn and Alan Shepard, the film recounts the dangers and frustrations experienced by those involved with NASA's earliest achievements. It also depicts their family lives and the personal crises they endured during an era of great political turmoil and technological innovation."

STARRING: Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn, Dennis Quaid, Chuck Yeager, Fred Ward, Barbara Hershey, Veronica Cartwright, Jeff Goldblum, Mary Jo Deschanel and Charles Frank.

SCREENPLAY: Philip Kaufman; Based on "The Right Stuff" by Tom Wolfe.

DIRECTOR: Philip Kaufman

AWARDS & OTHER HONORS:

It was nominated for eight ( 8 ) Academy Awards and won four (4) for:

"Best Film Editing"

"Best Original Score"

"Best Sound"

"Best Sound Effects Editing"

It was nominated for nineteen (19) additional awards, by various entities, and won twelve (12) of them.