Tom Hanks on the Apollo 13 Film and the NASA Space Program (1995)

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• published: 10 May 2013
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Apollo 13 is a 1995 American docudrama film directed by Ron Howard. The film stars Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan and Ed Harris. The screenplay by William Broyles, Jr. and Al Reinert, that dramatizes the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, is an adaptation of the book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 by astronaut Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger. The film depicts astronauts Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise aboard Apollo 13 for America's third Moon landing mission. En route, an on-board explosion deprives their spacecraft of most of its oxygen supply and electric power, forcing NASA's flight controllers to abort the Moon landing, and turning the mission into a struggle to get the three men home safely. Howard went to great lengths to create a technically accurate movie, employing NASA's technical assistance in astronaut and flight controller training for his cast, and even obtaining permission to film scenes aboard a reduced gravity aircraft for realistic depiction of the "weightlessness" experienced by the astronauts in space. Released in the United States on June 30, 1995, Apollo 13 garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for many awards, with nine Academy Awards including Best Film Editing and Best Sound.[3] In total, the film grossed over $355 million worldwide during its theatrical releases. Cast: Tom Hanks as Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell. Jim Lovell stated that before the book was even written, the rights were being shopped to potential buyers[4] and that his first reaction was that actor Kevin Costner would be a good choice to play him.[5][6] However, by the time Howard acquired the director's position, Costner's name never came up in serious discussion, and Hanks had already been interested in doing a film based on Apollo 13. When Hanks' representative informed him that there was a script being passed around, he had the script sent to him.[4] John Travolta was initially offered the role of Lovell, but declined.[7] Gary Sinise as Apollo 13 prime Command Module Pilot (CMP) Ken Mattingly. Sinise was invited by Howard to read for any of the characters, and chose Mattingly.[4] Kevin Bacon as Apollo 13 backup CMP Jack Swigert. Bill Paxton as Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise. Ed Harris as White team Flight Director Gene Kranz. Harris described the film as "cramming for a final exam". Harris described Gene Kranz as "corny and like a dinosaur", but was respected by the crew.[4] Kathleen Quinlan as Lovell's wife Marilyn. Chris Ellis as Director of Flight Crew Operations Deke Slayton. Joe Spano as "NASA Director", a composite character based loosely on Chris Kraft. Marc McClure as Black team Flight Director Glynn Lunney. Clint Howard as White team EECOM (Electrical, Environmental and Consumables Manager) Sy Liebergot. Ray McKinnon as White team FIDO (Flight Dyamics Officer). Todd Louiso as White Team FAO (Flight Activities Officer). Loren Dean as EECOM John Aaron. Xander Berkeley as "Henry Hurt", a fictional NASA Office of Public Affairs staff member.[8] David Andrews as Apollo 12 Commander Pete Conrad Christian Clemenson as Flight surgeon Dr. Charles Berry Ben Marley as Apollo 13 backup Commander John Young Brett Cullen as CAPCOM 1 Ned Vaughn as CAPCOM 2 Tracy Reiner as Haise's then-wife Mary Mary Kate Schellhardt as Lovell's older daughter Barbara. Max Elliott Slade as Lovell's older son James (Jay), who attended military school at the time of the flight. Emily Ann Lloyd as Lovell's younger daughter Susan. Miko Hughes as Lovell's younger son Jeffrey. Thom Barry as an orderly at Blanch's retirement home. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13_%28film%29 photo by Alan Light [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons